News Update
Sept. 28, 2010

National Angus Conference & Tour Coverage Online

Whether you were among the 630-plus Angus ranchers at the 2010 National Angus Conference & Tour or only wished you could “Meet in Montana,” you won’t want to miss comprehensive online coverage of the event. Attendees traveled from 33 states and three countries to attend the annual conference and tour Sept. 15-17 in Bozeman, Mont. The event was the largest of its kind in recent history, thanks to a great lineup of conference speakers, outstanding scenery and tour stops that attracted hundreds in addition to registered attendees.

Thirteen buses carried attendees to agricultural venues and Angus operations throughout the region, where they were able to enjoy food, friends, guest herds and some of the state’s top Angus cattle. The conference portion of the event took place earlier in the week, with presentations centered on opportunities and challenges facing the beef industry.

The American Angus Association hosted the National Angus Conference & Tour along with the South Montana Angus Association and major partner, Purina Mills.

Visit the following online resources for coverage:

• www.nationalangusconference.com — Angus Productions Inc. (API) provides comprehensive coverage of the 2010 National Angus Conference and Tour, including presentation summaries, PowerPoints and audio, where available; photos; speaker biographies; tour stop information; and archives to past events.
  
• www.angus.org — Further coverage, including videos, releases and individual interviews, is available on the Newsroom and Video pages of the American Angus Association website. Contact the Public Relations and Communications department at 816-383-5100 or calbers@angus.org for footage or more information.
  

The long-running National Angus Conference and Tour will continue next year in Georgia with assistance from the Georgia Angus Association. For more information, contact the Association at 816-383-5100.

“The Brand That Changed Beef”

It started as a reaction to a bad steak, and grew into a brand recognizable from Detroit to Dubai, Seattle to San Juan, Tokyo to Toronto and most places in between.

The story is one that has been told many times, but can now be read by a wide audience with the publication of an exclusive history book — The Brand That Changed Beef: How the Certified Angus Beef® Brand Became a Worldwide Icon of Quality.

The book, to be launched Oct. 1, details the brand’s ascent, from its roots as an answer to a tough steak on rancher Harold Etling’s plate; through expansion into international markets, its presence at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah; and its present-day partnerships. A moving narrative, the book is the result of historical research and countless interviews with scores of sources, and it is complemented by hundreds of full-color photographs and year-specific time capsules.

Mick Colvin, executive director from the brand’s inception through 1999, is just one of those who offers insight into the early days, when the fledging nonprofit was nearly shut down before it ever began. Current president John Stika, who assumed his post in 2006, shares his thoughts on the brand’s unprecedented growth during the past seven years.
Dedicated to the staff, licensees, board members, producers and others who contributed to its success, the book is authored by Fred Minnick. It retails for $39.95 and can be purchased at www.cabpartners.com starting in October. There will be no shipping cost if paid by credit card.

Special opportunity this week. The specially bound, No. 1 issue will sell to the highest bidder at the Mick Colvin Scholarship Benefit Auction at the CAB Annual Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this Sat., Oct. 2. Those who want to own this piece of history may submit bids to the attention of Christy Johnson, special projects manager for Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) (cjohnson@certifiedangusbeef.com), 330-345-2333, ext. 247, by noon Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, Oct. 1.

“This is a handmade, one-of-a-kind cover for copy No. 1 of our history book. It features hand-tooled leather and black cowhide,” Johnson says. Past items at the benefit auction have sold for anywhere from $100 to more than $5,000, so there is no way to estimate, but those interested are encouraged to submit their limit amount. Of course, the book will sell when there are no more competing bids, and will not continue up to your maximum.

Poland Angus Ranch to Host Annual Judging Contest

Poland Angus Ranch (PAR) invites you to their Angus expected progeny difference (EPD) Judging Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, at the Poland Angus Ranch. The contest will be at Richard Poland’s, which from Isabel, is one mile east, three miles south, one mile east and 1/2 mile north. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. and the contest starts at 9 a.m.

A brief explanation of EPDs and PAR’s perspective on cattle selection and evaluation will be presented by Richard Poland prior to the contest start. The contest will include four classes of females and four classes of bulls. Senior 4-H and FFA A-teams will give two sets of oral reasons, and junior 4-H and FFA B-teams will answer questions on two classes. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Preregister by Oct. 9 to ensure meal space. To register, contact Richard Poland at 620-739-4587 or e-mail: polandangus@havilandtelco.com.

— Release by Kansas Angus Association.

Tight Beef Supplies Are Hot Topic In Buenos Aires

World Meat Congress 2010 is underway in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with industry experts from across the globe gathering to discuss current trends and future challenges in meat production and consumption.

While the focus of the conference is global, this year’s venue has specifically cast a spotlight on Argentina’s dwindling beef supplies — which are the result of severe drought and interventionist government policies that have hampered its beef industry’s ability to export. According to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Economist Erin Daley, this has emerged as one of the meeting’s dominant topics.

“These circumstances are making grain farming much more attractive than ranching, contributing to a shift in this region’s land use,” said Daley. She adds that while the Argentine government’s intent in limiting exports was to keep domestic beef supplies plentiful and prices low, the result has been quite the opposite as producers have shifted resources, beef supplies have tightened and domestic beef consumption has declined sharply.

“Argentina’s policy of trying to maintain low domestic prices, because beef is such a staple in that country, has seriously backfired,” Daley said. “The constraints on exports have made it impossible for beef producers to be profitable because they are essentially under a price cap, and they cannot capitalize on improving global beef prices. This makes it that much more tempting to move land and resources in a different direction, such as planting soybeans. Combine these circumstances with a severe drought that was already causing a reduction in the herd, and you have a very tough environment for cattle producers.”

While these local issues have made a strong impression on conference attendees, the main focus of World Meat Congress 2010 is sustainability. Daley said the meeting attracts an impressive collection of experts to address the challenges faced by beef and pork producers across the world.

“It’s interesting to hear the concerns about environmental issues and the limitations the industry faces with regard to availability of land and other resources,” she said. “Going forward, there are many serious challenges with regard to maintaining and growing world meat production, and this conference allows us to hear a variety of interesting perspectives.”

Today, Sept. 28, at the World Meat Congress, USMEF Senior Vice President Joel Haggard spoke on challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. pork and beef industries. USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng will moderate the meeting’s closing roundtable discussion on Wednesday, which focuses on the long-term future of the global meat industry. More information is available at www.worldmeatcongress2010.com.

— Release by USMEF.

National Western Stock Show Names Marshall Ernst as Livestock Manager

Marshall Ernst of Windsor, Colo., has been named livestock manager at National Western Stock Show (NWSS). The announcement was made today by Marvin Witt, NWSS vice president of operations.

“Marshall’s been a livestock producer his entire life,” Witt said. “His comprehensive firsthand knowledge of all phases of agri-business and the food industry are a perfect fit [for] our livestock shows and sales.”

Ernst, currently owner of Ernst Herefords of Greeley, has a long history with National Western. He’s shown both in the yards and on the hill and serves on the NWSS Livestock Yards Committee. An active member of the Hereford industry, Marshall was chairman of the board of directors of Certified Hereford Beef LLC and served on the board of directors of the American Hereford Association.

— Release by NWSS.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.