News Update
February 14, 2012
American Agri-Women Midyear Meeting 2012
The 2012 American Agri-Women (AAW) Midyear Meeting will be in Nebraska City, Neb., Thursday, March 29, through Sunday, April 1, at Lied Lodge. The AAW Midyear meeting focus will be to discuss current policies and positions under the direction of Anna Morrison, AAW StART (Strategic Action Response Team) coordinator. Speakers, who will present in-depth information on vital issues facing the agricultural industry, include Gary Sides, cattle nutritionist, Pfizer Animal Health, and Melissa Keyes, Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. There will be a panel discussion on animal rights, moderated by Mindy Paterson, AAW Horse Welfare chairwoman.
A welcome reception and wine tasting event will be hosted by Nebraska Agri-Women at 5 p.m. Thursday evening, following StART Committee meetings and the AAW Executive Board meeting earlier that day.
Registration begins Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. The AAW Board of Directors and AAW Resource Center meetings will convene on Friday. All AAW members are welcome to attend all meetings.
The registration fee is $150. Everyone who is interested in attending is welcome to register. To register, visit www.americanagriwomen.org or contact Peggy Clark at 937-604-2026 or at treasurer@americanagriwomen.org. Flight arrangements can be made into Lincoln or Omaha with shuttles available at $27 per person. Call Lied Lodge at least 7 days in advance to make shuttle arrangements. Vans are also available at a prorated cost per person. AAW block room rates are $93 per night plus taxes for single occupancy and $103 plus taxes for double occupancy. Make your reservations before March 8 and mention AAW Midyear Meeting when making your reservations. Contact the Lied Lodge registration desk at 1-800-546-5433.
For more information on the AAW Midyear meeting, contact Karen Yost, at president@americanagriwomen.org, 406-794-0888 or visit www.americanagriwomen.org.
Lean Beef: The Shining New Star in American Heart Month
The mouth-watering taste of lean beef has won millions of American hearts, yet this nutrient-rich food has also disappeared from some dinner plates, due to long-held misperceptions that eating beef increases risk factors for heart disease. Now, a new clinical study offers additional evidence that Americans can enjoy lean beef daily as part of a healthy diet, and actually protect their heart by lowering cholesterol levels.
Science continues to document a growing number of healthy benefits from eating lean beef. Now the BOLD study (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) offers substantive evidence of another advantage — lean beef offers the same heart-healthy benefits as lean white meats and plant proteins, when consumed as part of a healthy diet, according to Pennsylvania State University researchers, who conducted the study.
"This new study shows that adding lean beef to a heart-healthy diet can lower heart disease risk by reducing levels of total and LDL, or "bad" cholesterol," said Audrey Monroe, registered dietitian and director of nutrition for the Kansas Beef Council.
The BOLD clinical study found that consuming lean beef daily as part of a heart-healthy diet actually lowered LDL cholesterol by 10% — and was as effective in doing so as the most recommended heart-healthy diets, which often emphasize plant and other animal proteins and limit beef.
"The improvements in heart health risk factors seen from the BOLD diet are as effective as those from the DASH diet and other highly respected cardiac diets, many of which emphasize plant proteins," Monroe noted. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, which is considered the gold standard for heart-healthy diets.
During the past several years, emerging science has shown that lean beef is a highly effective protein in sustaining healthy bodies, contributing significantly to bone, blood and muscle health, cognitive functions, weight management and energy levels in humans of all ages.
"The BOLD study is one of several scientific studies recently to conclude that red meat is not associated with an increased heart disease risk," said Monroe, adding that the consistency of the studies allows health professionals to recommend lean beef as part of a heart-friendly diet.
A 3-ounce serving of lean beef is about 150 calories and an important source of 10 essential nutrients. Three lean beef cuts have been certified to display the American Heart Association's heart-check and there are now 29 other beef cuts recognized as lean, including all-time favorites such as T-bone steak and 95% lean ground beef.
Findings from the BOLD study, which was funded by the $1 per head beef checkoff, were published in the January edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "We encourage health professionals and consumers in Missouri to find out more about the findings of this important study and how lean beef can be part of a heart healthy diet," said Missouri Beef Industry Council Director of Communications Kaity Holtman.
I Am Angus Airs Feb. 16 on RFD-TV
In its popular television series I Am Angus, this month the American Angus Association explores many of the challenges facing the cattle industry — everything from global climate change to animal welfare — and provides fresh perspectives on the positive contributions ranchers make to improve the environment and feed a growing world population.
The episode, which airs Thursday at 10 p.m. EST (9 p.m., CST) on RFD-TV, is titled "They Speak for Us." The program goes beyond the fencelines to tell the stories of scientists, agriculture advocates and others whose stories and perspectives are not often told in the mainstream media.
"Our normal focus is to tell the stories of people who raise beef," says Eric Grant, Association director of public relations. "But we're taking a different tack this time. In this episode, we're telling the stories of people who defend beef and the people who raise it."
I Am Angus focuses on the heart of the cattle business — its people, their heritage and why they've chosen to be involved in agriculture. The documentary series explores each sector of the industry, Angus heritage and how animal agriculture meets the challenge of feeding a growing population.
Featured in the Feb. 16 episode are:
- Frank Mitloehner, an air quality researcher from the University of California–Davis.
- Dan Dagget, an environmentalist and author.
- C.J. Hadley, author, photographer and publisher of Range magazine.
- Christian Hagen, a wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- Bernie Rollin, an animal ethicist from Colorado State University.
- Alan and Phillip Bridges, Bridges Angus Farm, Lexington, Ga.
- Mort Kent, protein specialist for US Foods.
- Temple Grandin, professor, author and consultant.
- Jude Capper, Washington State University professor of dairy sciences.
I Am Angus is sponsored by the Igenity® Profile for Angus. The program airs on RFD-TV, which is distributed by more than 625 cable operators. The network can be found on DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231. Check local listings for more information. To watch segments from past episodes, visit www.angus.org.
Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program Applications Due March 15
Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) Program is seeking applicants for its new class, which will begin in July 2012. TALL is a two-year leadership development program managed by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Applications for the newest class, Class XIII, are due March 15, 2012. Application forms may be found online at http://tall.tamu.edu.
"Texas agriculture has a need for individuals who can lead our industry as it faces new and unique challenges. These individuals will provide the leadership, insight and direction to ensure agricultural viability for the future, "said Jim Mazurkiewicz, AgriLife Extension leadership program director.
The program invests 455 hours of intensive training per person in seminars, speakers and domestic and international study trips over two years, Mazurkiewicz added. Class XIII will travel to Brazil.
The program is equivalent to the time spent obtaining a master's degree in agriculture. The typical class size is about 25, and tuition is $2,500.
Mazurkiewicz said, "The goal of the program is to create a strong network within Texas agriculture by having representation from all agricultural industries and geographic regions."
Participants include traditional crop producers, ranchers, bankers and attorneys, as well as those who work in lumber, food processing, agricultural corporations and horticultural industries.
55th Anniversary of the Missouri Angus Breeders' Futurity
The Missouri Angus Association is excited to host the 55th Anniversary of the Missouri Angus Breeders' Futurity scheduled for Feb. 24-26 in Columbia, Mo. The weekend event is full of exciting activities and events highlighted by the Futurity Show on the 25 at 9:30 a.m. and the Futurity Sale on the 26 at 11 a.m.
Cattle will begin arriving as early as Wednesday evening and all cattle will be in place by Friday morning at the Trowbridge Livestock Center, 1024 Ashland Rd., Columbia, MO 65211, where they will be processed and checked in to prepare for the show the next day. Friday, beginning at 8 p.m., the Missouri Angus Association will host a social at the Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center located at 2601 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, MO 65203. Stoney Creek is the hotel headquarters and can be reached at 573-442-6400.
At the conclusion of the show on Saturday there will be a junior showmanship contest with three age divisions; winners from the senior division will go on to represent Missouri at the National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest. The Missouri Juniors will have a meeting at the conclusion of the showmanship contest and the Auxiliary will also host a meeting that afternoon. At 3 p.m., the Missouri Angus Association Annual Membership Meeting will take place in the salering at the Livestock Center.
That evening, beginning at 6 p.m., there will be hospitality available before the banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. featuring a Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Prime Rib Dinner. Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets for the banquet will go on sale during the show and only a limited number will be sold. During the banquet, awards will be presented for the Missouri Angus Breeder of the Year, Show Bull and Female of the Year, Commercial Producer of the Year, Herdsman of the Year, Pioneer Breeder, as well as Junior Member of the Year and many junior scholarships. In addition, the annual advertising auction will take place during the banquet to sell coveted placement in the Missouri Angus Trails publication, as well as advertising space in the Missouri Angus Directory.
The weekend will conclude with the highlight of the entire event when 98 lots including 63 females, 33 bulls and two embryo and pick of ET heifer packages will be offered during the 55th Missouri Angus Breeders' Futurity Sale. Sale books can be requested from the Missouri Angus Association at 417-995-3000, worthington@missouriangus.org or viewed online at www.missouriangus.org.
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