News Update
April 1, 2011

Kansas Angus Auxiliary Scholarship Deadline is April 15

The Kansas Angus Auxiliary Scholarship application for high school seniors is online at http://www.angusauxiliary.com. The deadline to submit an application to the Kansas state chairman is April 15, 2011. A completed application must be postmarked by April 15 and mailed to Kansas Angus Auxiliary Scholarship Chairwoman Trisha Breuel, 4489 Hwy. K68, Wellsville, KS 66092. The top male and the top female applicants from Kansas will be eligible to compete in the national contest. Miss American Angus finalists are selected from the national scholarship applicants.

Angus Foundation Scholarships — In 2011, the Angus Foundation will make available general scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in higher education. Applications are available online at http://www.angusfoundation.org. Foundation scholarship applications are due May 1.

— Release by Kansas Angus Association.

Vilsack Appoints Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Members

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack today, April 1, appointed the members of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) for 2011 through 2012. The AAQTF provides recommendations and guidance on the development and implementation of USDA policy related to agricultural air quality.

“These leaders in farming, industry, health and science bring a broad range of interests, knowledge and geographic diversity, and will be invaluable in providing guidance as the Administration pursues sound scientific research on agricultural air quality issues,” Vilsack said. “This task force will continue to help USDA have a broad set of voices at the table as we work together to develop sound policies that will help us win the future.”

The AAQTF was established under the 1996 Farm Bill and is charged with:

1. Providing recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding air quality and its relationship to agriculture based on sound scientific findings;
2. Reviewing research on agricultural air quality supported by federal agencies;
3. Promoting intergovernmental (federal, state, local and tribal) coordination in establishing agricultural air quality policy to avoid duplication of efforts; and
4. Ensuring that air quality conservation practices supported by USDA are based on peer-reviewed research and are economically feasible for agricultural producers.

The task force is chaired by Dave White, chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). During the last two years, the task force supported NRCS in developing science-based conservation practices that enhance air quality and reduce the impact of emissions associated with agricultural practices. It also helped USDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prioritize the research agenda for agriculture-related air quality concerns and develop emission-estimating methodologies for animal feeding operations.

The 2011-2012 AAQTF members represent 15 states and include agricultural producers, academia and representatives of industry groups. They include:

Arizona: Kevin Rogers, agricultural producer; California: Kevin Abernathy, California Dairy Campaign; Cynthia Cory, California Farm Bureau; Manuel Cunha Jr., Nisei Farmers League; Paul Martin, Western United Dairymen; Richard McVaigh, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; James Seiber, University of California-Davis; Florida: Yuch Ping Hsieh, Florida A&M University; Iowa: Chris Petersen, agricultural producer; Hongwei Xin, Iowa State University; Kansas: Charles Rice, Kansas State University; Louisiana: Annette Sharp, agricultural producer; New York: Douglas Shelmidine, agricultural producer; North Carolina: Sally Shaver, Health/Regulation Consultant; Lisa Greene, RTI Int’l; Maryland: D’Ann Williams, Johns Hopkins University; Missouri: Terry Spence, Agricultural Producer; Ohio: Leon Weaver, agricultural producer; Pennsylvania: Eileen Wheeler, Penn State University; Tennessee: Robert Burns, University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Texas: Robert Avant Jr., Texas AgriLife Research; Brock Faulkner, Texas A&M University; Bryan Shaw, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Virginia: William Angstadt, agricultural consultant; and William Herz, The Fertilizer Institute.

Additional information about the AAQTF is available online at: http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/AAQTF/index.html.

— Release by USDA.

Agricultural Groups Unite to Create Global Organization to Combat Food Security Issues

In the wake of global food security concerns, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has joined more than 50 agricultural groups and cooperative organizations from across the world to create the World Farmers Organization (WFO). The organization’s purpose is to bring farmers and cooperatives together to exchange ideas and find solutions to global food security issues.

“Farmers and ranchers, not just in the United States but also around the world, are facing shrinking profit margins and finding it more difficult to make a living,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We need to ensure farming and ranching remain economically viable as the world population continues to grow, or else we will be facing severe food shortages in the near future.”

World food demand is expected to increase by 70% by 2050.

“We need to grow the world’s food supply, but we also need to do it in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” said Johnson. “Many farmers in other countries are facing severe difficulties resulting from climate change and misguided government policies. Farmers around the world need to come together as a group to ensure conditions do not get worse for these producers. We will need as many family farmers and ranchers as we can get in order to meet world food demand.”

The organization will meet again later this year to continue working on food security, environmental, trade, and education and research issues. The new organization will be headquartered in Rome, Italy, which is also home of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). WFO is expected to work closely with FAO and their programs around the world.

— Release by NFU.

Pfizer Animal Health Invests in the Future of Veterinarians

As part of its ongoing commitment to invest in the future of the veterinary profession, Pfizer Animal Health announced April 1 the recipients of its second annual student scholarship program. Pfizer awarded $2,500 each to 300 second- and third-year veterinary students at accredited universities throughout the United States and the Caribbean, for a total of $750,000.

A total of 1,562 students applied for the scholarship. Students were chosen based on several criteria, including academic excellence, professional interests (small animal, large, mixed, research, academia, etc.), diversity, leadership and potential for contribution to the veterinary profession. Of the total group of 2011 scholars, 32% are students from diverse backgrounds, 50% are studying to practice food and mixed animal veterinary medicine, 35% will go into small animal practice and the remainder will go into other areas, such as academia, research and public practice. For a list of scholarship recipients, please visit: vets.pfizerah.com.

The program is part of a three-year, $2 million initiative that Pfizer Animal Health created in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), which administers the funds. Its goal is to support students from a myriad of socio-economic backgrounds studying across a diverse array of species and veterinary disciplines.

“We’re working to support students’ dreams to become veterinarians in several ways, from education and hands-on training to research and the Pfizer Animal Health scholarship program, which allows us to help lessen the financial debt that our students face today,” said Michael McFarland, group director Veterinary Medical Services at Pfizer Animal Health. “We are honored to help pave the way for professional success for these students.”

More than 2,500 students will graduate from veterinary schools this year, with an average loan debt of nearly $140,000, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In response to the rising debt load and to help ensure there are enough qualified veterinarians in the years ahead, Pfizer Animal Health and the AVMF have grown the scholarship program by 26% in terms of funding since its inaugural year in 2010.

The scholarship program is a component of Pfizer Animal Health’s Commitment to Veterinarians initiative — which offers support through training and education, research and development, investing in the future of veterinarians, and philanthropy.

“One of the primary missions of the AVMF for the past 50 years has been supporting the educational needs of veterinary students,” said Michael Cathey, executive director, AVMF. “We are pleased to partner with Pfizer Animal Health on the single largest annual source of veterinary student scholarships.”

— Release by Pfizer Animal Health.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, Angus Productions Inc.