News Update
October 5, 2011
Expanded Meat Exports, Jobs at Stake in Free Trade Agreements
Submission of the three pending free trade agreements to Congress by President Barack Obama is a positive step toward improving the U.S. balance of trade and creating new American jobs, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USDA has estimated approval of the agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia will increase U.S. ag exports by a total of $2.3 billion annually and generate 20,000 jobs.
For the red meat industry alone, the South Korean free trade agreement is expected to boost U.S. beef exports to more than $1 billion per year over the 15-year implementation period, up from $518 million in 2010. U.S. pork exports to South Korea are projected to more than double to $400 million annually under the agreement.
Korea is the fourth largest value market for both U.S. beef and pork exports. The free trade agreement will reduce current duties of 40% on beef and 25% on pork to zero in 15 years.
Although news of movement on the three agreements generally was welcomed, it was accompanied by some degree of criticism.
“The trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea have been delayed for three years by the Obama administration, so it is welcome news that President Obama finally submitted them to Congress,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran from Kansas.
NCBA President Bill Donald said cattlemen will not rest easy until the agreements are fully implemented. The Montana cattleman is hopeful bipartisan support that exists for the agreements will help push the pacts to final passage by Congress very soon.
For more information visit www.kla.org.
Beef Checkoff Helping to Motivate Health Professionals
The beef checkoff’s nutrition communications program helps motivate health professionals to recommend beef because they recognize that Americans need to eat beef and can eat beef every day to live strong and be strong. The program provides nutrition leaders with the reasons to believe in beef’s contribution to improving health since nearly half of Americans say they are trying to consume more protein, and more than three-quarters of Americans reportedly change the types of food and/or food components to improve the healthfulness of their diet.
That’s why each fall, your beef checkoff attends the American Dietetic Association (ADA) annual meeting — the world's largest meeting of food and nutrition experts — where more than 6,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers and industry leaders address key issues affecting the health of all Americans. This year’s annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) featured more than 100 research and educational presentations, lectures, debates, panel discussions and culinary demonstrations. More than 350 exhibitors, including your beef checkoff, showcased healthy foods and nutrition education materials.
“When I started doing beef promotion in 1994, I gave out beef samples in a grocery store, and consumers refused to take them because their doctors told them they can’t eat red meat. Now, I see the American Heart Association logo or seal on packages of lean beef. That is a huge step in educating nutritionists and dietitians,” says Jeanne Harland, a beef producer from Illinois and vice chairman of the beef checkoff's Joint Nutrition and Health Committee. “That mindset is changed by attending shows like ADA and the work that our state and national partners do with influencers,” she added. “It’s all about education and showing these nutrition leaders sound checkoff research to base their decisions on. It’s exciting to see actual results.”
This year, the beef checkoff also supported a session titled, “Interpreting Epidemiology: Another New Study… Now What Do I Say?” Sixty-four percent of consumers cite too much conflicting information about which foods are healthy as a roadblock to healthful eating. Registered dietitians need to be able to interpret the most current research for their clients, organizations and the media succinctly and clearly. This session provided concrete examples of how to review epidemiological research and create one or two sentences that puts the research in perspective.
“Most of the questions we received centered around how the lean cuts of beef fit into a weight-loss program,” says Bill Brandenberg, a beef producer from California who met with conference participants at the beef checkoff booth. “As a cattle feeder from the Imperial Valley, it was good for attendees to see a producer face sharing the message about how beef is high in protein, low in fat, and a low-calorie option at mealtime. The younger generation has a lot more concerns about the safety of food and antibiotic use, but they were open-minded and asked great questions.”
In addition, the checkoff’s presence at the trade show included recipe demonstrations and samples, a resource CD, educational materials, a “Beef Nutrition IQ and You” challenge and giveaways of the checkoff-funded Healthy Beef Cookbook.
For more information about checkoff-funded activities, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.
AFBF Urges Congress to Hold Line on Capital Gains Rate
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to maintain capital gains rates at the current 15% level and strongly backs legislation introduced Tuesday that would eliminate the sunset of the current tax rates for capital gains and dividends.
The bills introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and in the House by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) will provide greater tax certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman. Under current law, the top long-term capital gains tax rate will rise to 20% on Jan. 1, 2013. The Crapo and Roskam bills would kill that increase.
“Farm Bureau calls on Congress to pass these important bills introduced today by Sen. Crapo and Rep. Roskam,” Stallman said Tuesday. “The legislation will prevent tax rates on capital gains and dividends from increasing. Allowing these tax rates to increase would undermine economic recovery efforts. Keeping tax rates for capital gains at the current level is vital for the health of both the U.S. economy as a whole and for the farm and ranch economy.”
Stallman explained that low capital gains tax rates increase the incentive for U.S. farmers and ranchers to invest in assets to grow their businesses and help them remain productive and profitable. Higher capital gains taxes make it difficult for many family farms, which make up 98% of total farms across the United States, to obtain land, buildings and animals they need to stay efficient.
“Farm and ranch owners are disproportionally affected by capital gains tax increases. Nationwide, 40% of all agricultural producers report some capital gains, nearly double the share for all taxpayers,” Stallman said.
“The impact of capital gains taxes on farming and ranching is significant because production agriculture requires large investments in land and buildings that are held for long periods of time,” he explained. “Because capital gains taxes are imposed when buildings and farmland are sold, it is more difficult for producers to shed unneeded assets to generate revenue to adapt and upgrade their operations. Capital gains taxes also threaten the transfer of land to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, putting the future of agriculture at risk.”
Learn the Myths and Facts of the “Meatless Monday” Campaign
The Animal Agriculture Alliance offers a collection of new resources to help agriculture advocates understand the myths of the “Meatless Monday” campaign. “Meatless Monday” is not just a grassroots effort to celebrate healthy eating but a well-funded radical initiative pushing an extreme animal rights and environmental agenda. While the public may be misled by its clever marketing and celebrity endorsements, the agriculture community should be aware that the campaign promotes false claims about the animal agriculture industry with the ultimate goal of eliminating meat consumption, and therefore, consumer choice.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance believes the goals of “Meatless Monday” are not in line with the average consumer. The Alliance has crafted resources for agriculture, foodservice and student groups to utilize in order to inform others about the myths of the campaign.
Resources Include:
- “Why Meat?” Guide — an overview of the history of the Meatless Monday campaign and the components of a healthy diet.
- Talking Points: Meat's Role in the Diet — discusses the value of animal protein as a part of a balanced diet.
- What is “Meatless Monday”? — the program is funded by the same wealthy benefactor who funded the makers of “The Meatrix” videos.
- Meat and Poultry Resource Guide — facts about the nutritional benefits of including animal protein in the diet.
- How to Host An Agriculture Advocacy Event on Campus — helps student groups host agriculture outreach events on campus.
Resource:
- Op-Ed: The Myth of Meatless Mondays … Alleviating the Consumer’s Conscience without Affecting Climate Change — Jude Capper of Washington State University discusses the misconceptions of “Meatless Monday” and the Environmental Working Group’s recent claims against animal agriculture.
These resources are all accessible, and available free for downloading and printing, from the Alliance website. They can be found under the Current Issues tab under Meatless Monday. We encourage you to use these resources and share with others you feel would benefit from them. If you have any questions feel free to contact Communications Director Sarah Hubbart.
Accelerated Genetics Celebrates 70th Birthday
Happy Birthday, Accelerated Genetics! That's right, Accelerated Genetics is 70 years young and going strong. Since March of this year Accelerated Genetics has been celebrating its birthday through various means.
The theme for this momentus achievement is ‘Celebrating 70 Years of Innovation.’ “Throughout our rich history, we have been the innovators, early adopters of new ideas, leading us to the new age of diversification, all directed by the needs of our customers,” comments Joel Groskreutz, Accelerated Genetics’ President and CEO.
Accelerated Genetics is a cooperative symbolized by strength and vision. The strength of the cooperative is truly its people. Employees are known for their integrity of conducting business and their knowledge of the sires, products and services they provide.
The vision of Accelerated Genetics comes from utilizing member involvment of the cooperative. Groskreutz continues, “I believe in that principle. Our customer’s input is important and provides the vision needed to direct the company’s operations.”
A great past leads to an exciting future. During Accelerated Genetics’ 70 years, service has been the cornerstone of the business. When producers buy from Accelerated Genetics, not only do they receive high-quality genetics, they also gain access to a whole variety of value-added services.
Providing these services is a highly trained, experienced team of professionals who take pride in helping their customers be succesful. Today, and in the future, even greater service is the priority at Accelerated Genetics with an approach to customizable service, because every herd has different needs.
“Working with our loyal customers for over 70 years has truly been an exciting adventure. We are poised for the future with great sires and products, new, innovative technologies, and service opportunities that target our customer’s needs,” adds Groskreutz.
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