News Update
January 31, 2012
Application for Auxiliary Leadership Conference Due March 1
The American Angus Auxiliary will host its first Leadership Conference April 14-16 in Saint Joseph, Mo. Twenty women will be selected from applications to participate in the event with the Auxiliary’s 10-member Executive Committee. If you would like to be one of those 20, access the application online at www.angusauxiliary.com or request an application from Auxiliary President Anne Lampe at alampe@wbsnet.org or 620-874-4273. The application deadline is March 1.
March 1 Also Application Deadline for Beef Leaders Institute
The fifth annual Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) will be June 17-20, 2012. This event is limited to 20 Association members between the ages of 25 and 45 each year. Applications are available online at http://www.angus.org/pub/2012BLIApplication.pdf and must be submitted to the Activities Department by March 1.
The event is designed to provide insight to all segments of the beef industry with the goal that attendees will be stronger, more effective leaders for the Angus breed and beef industry now and in the future.
The Association and the Angus Foundation will provide transportation, lodging, meals and materials during the BLI. Attendees will be responsible for round-trip transportation between their home and the beginning and ending points. For more information call 816-383-5100.
Deere & Co. Supports Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
Deere & Co. (collectively called John Deere) generously supports the nonprofit organization Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK). John Deere consists of three major business segments (agriculture and turf, construction and forestry, and credit). Those segments, along with the support operations of parts and power systems, are focused on helping customers be more productive as they help to improve the quality of life for people around the world.
“Deere & Company’s generous gift will allow us to continue creating educational materials and presentations to teach our youth about the importance of farm safety,” said David Schweitz, executive director of FS4JK.
FS4JK was created in 1987 by Marilyn Adams after the death of her 11-year-old son. The organization works to raise awareness about the health and safety hazards that are an inherent part of the rural environment in which children live, work, and play. More than 130 chapters in the United States and Canada conduct safety and health programs within their communities.
Thanks to the support of agri-business sponsors like Deere & Co., FS4JK is able to provide their volunteers with up-to-date and pertinent safety education and demonstration resources.
For more information visit www.fs4jk.org.
Butler to Speak to Producers in Nebraska
J. Dudley Butler, former administrator of the USDA Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), left his official USDA post Jan. 26. He will make his first public appearance at 7:30 p.m., at the O’Neill Community Center, O’Neill, Neb., Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Butler was a part of the reformist team chosen by the Obama Administration to restore competition to U.S. livestock markets. He was the architect of the now diminished GIPSA rule.
Butler will describe to O’Neill area cattle producers the state of competition in the U.S. cattle industry and answer the question “What’s next for independent cattle producers?”
Also speaking at the Feb. 7 event will be Steve Stanke from the Nebraska Brand Committee. Stanke will update area cattle producers on the status of Nebraska’s brand program.
In addition, Bill Bullard, CEO of Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), will also make a presentation regarding the status of country of origin labeling (COOL), the USDA’s latest plan to implement a nationwide animal identification system, and new amendments to U.S. import laws that have relaxed U.S. protections against the introduction of foreign animal diseases.
The public is invited to attend this unprecedented and informative meeting about the current and future direction of the U.S. cattle industry and the speakers will entertain questions from the audience at the conclusion of their presentations.
Merck Animal Health to Centralize Functions at Headquarters
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, announced Jan. 31 that it intends to centralize certain functions at the existing Merck Campus in Summit, N.J.
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The plan, taken as part of the business’s worldwide strategic plan and blueprint for significant growth, will result in centralizing most commercial, marketing and corporate headquarter functions in Summit. This worldwide plan follows the announcement in March 2011 that the animal health business remains a core part of Merck, its renaming to Merck Animal Health (MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada) and an extensive evaluation of the business and its strategy, including its geographical footprint.
“Merck Animal Health is one of the largest and most profitable animal health businesses in the world and well-positioned in a number of fast-growing segments within the global animal health market. We believe that we can operate more effectively and efficiently with the centralization of our headquarter functions in the U.S.,” commented Rick De Luca, Merck Animal Health president. “This will lead to a more integrated leadership team, and strengthen the team cohesion required to operate at the highest level globally. It will also place us in the important U.S. market and brings us closer to our parent company to align in strategy and leverage our shared rich resources.”
The structures of the HQ and the specific units and individual positions it will comprise have been outlined in a plan. The plan is expected to affect a limited number of positions at Merck’s Animal Health site in Boxmeer (the Netherlands), among others.
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In that respect, a local proposed decision and its implications for the organization in the Netherlands — redundancies are estimated to be in the order of 65 — is now subject to Works Council consultation. The company is working closely with the Works Council to address questions and provide support wherever needed. Potentially affected employees have been informed.
It is important to stress that the Boxmeer site will remain a pivotal part of the Merck Animal Health global business and strategy. The vital Biological R&D operation and a large and strong manufacturing organization will remain at Boxmeer, which is expected to continue to employ approximately 1,700 employees.
2012 Beef Feedlot Roundtables at Three Locations in February
Beef feedlot managers, owners, employees and supporting industry personnel will learn the latest in feedlot health, nutrition, environment and economics at the 2012 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 14-16 in West Point, Lexington and Bridgeport, Neb., with remote connections to locations in Iowa.
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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension Roundtables will be offered Feb. 14 at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point, Feb. 15 at the Holiday Inn Express in Lexington and Feb. 16 at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport.
Registration is from 7:45 a.m.-8:15 a.m. with introduction and welcome at 8:15 by local extension personnel.
University and industry representatives will speak on feedlot animal health, nutrition and environmental topics, which will include a producer panel on manure management, the environmental impact of cattle and a research update.
The Nebraska Beef Council will give an update on new beef products and sponsor lunch.
Feedlot economics and research topics include feeding options with more expensive inputs, use of technology, and risk protection. The program will conclude with a research update and adjourn by 4 p.m.
Preregistration is available by phone, fax, email or mail and is requested by Feb. 3. Cost is $25 and will be accepted with a preregistration at the door. Cost for those who have not preregistered will be $40. For more information or a registration form contact Matt Luebbe at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, phone: 308-632-1397, fax: 308-632-1365 or email mluebbe2@unl.edu.
The Beef Feedlot Roundtable is sponsored by UNL Extension in the University’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Morning topics will cover feedlot economics and environment with the following presentations: market outlook and risk management, Shane Ellis, Iowa State University; feedlot cattle footprints, Terry Mader, UNL Extension; manure values and BFNMP$ program, Matt Luebbe, UNL Extension-Panhandle Research and Extension Center; producer panel on manure value and challenges, local producers and industry; and Beef Council update, Lisa Brass and Ann Marie Bosshamer.
Afternoon sessions will cover feedlot health and nutrition with the following presentations: Digital Dermatitis: an emerging challenge for feedlot cattle, Jan Shearer, Iowa State University; grain adaptation and roughages, Galen Erickson, UNL Animal Science; use of technology and impact on feedlot production, Heather DePra, UNL Extension; research update: Galen Erickson, UNL Animal Science, Terry Mader, NEREC, and Matt Luebbe, PHREC.
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