News Update
Dec. 1, 2010

CAB Colvin Scholarship deadline Dec. 3

College juniors and seniors who are beef industry leaders have until this Friday, Dec. 3, to apply for five 2011 scholarships totaling $15,000. Applications (see www.certifiedangusbeef.com/press/colvin) will be judged on activities and scholastic achievement, essay and verbal communication skills and reference letters.

The top award is $5,000; second, $4,000; third, $3,000; fourth, $2,000; and fifth, $1,000. The top two win all-expense-paid trips to the 2011 Certified Angus Beef® Annual Conference, Sept. 22-24, 2011, in Sun River, Ore. Winners will be announced in January.

PLC Leads Opposition to Possible Omnibus Public Lands Bill

The Public Lands Council (PLC); American Sheep Industry Association (ASI); National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA); and 15 other livestock groups have submitted letters to congressional leadership and to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, stating their opposition to both an omnibus public lands measure and legislation to increase funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) during the lame-duck session. While such legislation has not been introduced, both measures would have the potential to threaten the livelihoods of livestock producers.

In the letter, the livestock groups express concern over reports of the possible introduction of a bill including as many as 60 different land bills, 20 of which could be new wilderness designations in 13 states (possibly exceeding 2 million acres). The letter also addresses Secretary Salazar’s statement of support for such a bill, as well as his support for legislation for full funding of LWCF. Funds from LWCF would be used in part to acquire private land, including inholdings, for the purpose of conservation. This would open the door to the possibility of greater restriction on activities such as livestock grazing.

“With the economy in the state that it is, and our livestock producers already struggling to make ends meet, the last thing we can afford is more federal land acquisition and more restrictions on those lands,” said PLC President John Falen, a federal lands rancher out of Orovada, Nev. “Adding more land to the federal fold, and removing federal lands ranchers — the on-the-ground stewards of the range — will only add cost to taxpayers.”

The letter calls on elected and appointed officials to proceed on the principles of limited federal spending, continued use of our nation’s natural resources and local input in the decision-making process to ensure the continuation of responsible productivity on public lands.

— Release by PLC.

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on USDA Farm Income Report

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement yesterday, Nov. 30, on the farm income report:

“Today’s farm income report shows that America’s farmers and ranchers are helping to lead the country’s economic recovery. All three measures of farm sector earnings have experienced a rapid rebound in 2010 and other indicators — such as farm asset values — point to a sustainable recovery. According to today’s numbers, farmers are earning 31% more for their products than they made last year. And it is making a real difference for America’s farm families, whose household income should rise 7.8% in 2010 from 2009. That’s good economic news for rural America as our national economy continues to gain strength.

“A combination of factors has made these numbers possible, including the successful implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill, the Obama Administration’s Recovery Act, and increased exports in the agricultural sector — which was already one of the only major sectors of the economy with a trade surplus.

“The dedication of our farmers and ranchers is second to none. They have worked hard to keep their debt low and to capitalize on a broader economic recovery. And their willingness to adapt, innovate and embrace new research and technologies has ensured their success for decades and ensures they will remain resilient in the years to come.”

The Farm Income Forecast can be found here.

— Release by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Marketing Beef Locally is Theme of Upcoming MSU Extension Webinar Series

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension invites livestock producers to participate in a series of upcoming webinars focused on considerations that producers should take into account when marketing their product locally.

The webinar series will include four sessions, each held on its own date. Participants can take part at a host site (listed below) or on a home computer. Registration will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. at each site (or for online participants wanting to test their Internet connection) with the program taking place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Dec. 14: Consumer Trends with Allen Williams, CEO of Kansas-based Tallgrass Beef Co., and Kerry Smith, livestock and meat marketing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS);
• Jan. 11: Meat Inspection, Beef Carcass Breakdown and Value Beef Cuts with MSU Extension educator Jeannine Schweihofer;
• Feb. 8: Introduction to Beef Quality Terminology and Beef Pricing with MSU Extension educators Schweihofer, Kevin Gould and Jerry Lindquist; and “What Are They Looking for?” a panel discussion featuring Michigan meat packers ; and
• March 15: Producer Success Stories with Bob Perry, University of Kentucky, representing the Kentucky Cooperative, and a panel of Michigan beef producers currently selling product directly to local markets (panel members include representatives from Grahams Organics and Grahams Meats, Heffron Farms, Moody Meats, Tirrell Centennial Farm LLC and Wernette Natural Beef); and Resources for Producers: An Introduction to the MSU Product Center with MSU Extension educator Brenda Reau;

Host sites will be MSU Extension offices in Delta, Gladwin, Lapeer, Monroe, Oscoda and St. Joseph counties; the Ionia County Intermediate School District; Lake City Experiment Station; the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education and the Ontonagon County Courthouse.

The $15 per session ($50 for all four sessions) registration fee is due Dec. 7. No refunds will be given after Dec. 7. To register, contact Carla McLachlan by calling 517-432-5402 or e-mailing her at mclachl2@msu.edu. Detailed registration information can also be found at http://beef.msu.edu.

— Release by MSU Extension.

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