News Update
May 25, 2012
API and Association Offices Closed Memorial Day
The offices of Angus Productions Inc. and the American Angus Association will be closed Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.
June 15 Is Deadline to Sponsor Angus Foundation Golf Tournament
In conjunction with the 2012 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), the 12th Annual Angus Foundation Golf Tournament will be Tuesday, July 17, at the Quail Chase Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. The tournament is open to both adults and youth. There are many other sponsorship levels available. Sponsorship deadline is June 15.
Funds raised through team entry fees and event sponsorships support the Foundation's education, youth and research efforts. Find out more about how you and your Angus farm can be recognized as a sponsor or participate in the 2012 Angus Foundation Golf Tournament as a player at www.angusfoundation.org.
Note These Junior Events, Deadlines
• June 1:
— Ownership and entry deadlines for the NJAS
— Entries for the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) writing, photography and graphic-design contests
— NJAA Board Applications
— Entry and recipe deadline for the Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off
Please note there are no exceptions to any of the ownership and entry deadlines. Please contact the Association if you need assistance meeting the deadlines. For more information, contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100 or go to www.angus.org/njaa.
Junior members can save time by submitting their entries for shows online. Simply log on to www.angus.org/njaa and provide the necessary information, including a Visa® or MasterCard® number to cover entry and bedding fees. Online entries are subject to the same entry deadlines as those submitted via mail, so don’t wait until the last minute. No late entries are accepted for any reason.
UK Ag Meteorologist Warns of Livestock Heat Stress Threat
A significant warming trend is on the way as Kentuckians celebrate the Memorial Day weekend. University of Kentucky (UK) Agricultural Meteorologist Tom Priddy said livestock heat stress would increase into the danger category and even approach the emergency category. He expects dry conditions to continue through the upcoming weekend with above-normal temperatures.
"The combination of hot, muggy weather conditions prompts some real concern for humans, as well as livestock and pets," he said. "The livestock heat stress index is a combination of air temperature and humidity. That one-two punch makes it hazardous for people and animals. Dew point temperatures above 65° lead officials to declare conditions dangerous for livestock."
The Livestock Heat Stress Index helps producers know when heat stress could create a problem for their animals, Priddy added.
Periods of heat stress call for livestock producers to be vigilant in making sure their animals are able to withstand the conditions.
UK College of Agriculture Dairy Specialist Jeffrey Bewley said the most important things producers can do are to provide cool, clean water and shade, with buildings as open as possible to help keep animals' internal body temperature within normal limits. Sprinkler systems that periodically spray a cool mist on the animals also are beneficial.
To keep cattle from becoming overheated, producers should not work cattle during periods of heat stress.
"Certainly, you do not want to work cattle with this kind of weather — veterinarian work, reproductive checks or vaccinations," Bewley said.
Producers should also avoid transporting livestock during a heat danger or emergency period. If they must move animals during this time, producers should try to do so with fewer animals per load. Planning trips so producers immediately can load animals before leaving and quickly unload upon arrival can help minimize the risk.
Visit the UK Ag Weather Center website at http://weather.uky.edu.
'FFA Rally to Fight Hunger' Planned for 2012 Convention
The National FFA Organization announced plans for an "FFA Rally to Fight Hunger" at the 2012 National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct. 24-26, to help feed children and adults suffering from food insecurity. Launched as part of the organization's "Feeding the World – Starting at Home" initiative to fight hunger, the rally will engage as many as 10,000 FFA members from across the country and local volunteers. Their goal is to package one million meals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to combat hunger.
Working with Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization, FFA members from across the nation will assemble meals and gather additional supplements to provide relief from hunger and malnutrition. Approximately half of the meals will be distributed in the Indianapolis area. Others will be shipped to designated locations domestically and internationally.
For the full release, visit www.ffa.org/PressRoom/PressReleases/Pages/
FFARallytoFightHunger.aspx#.
JBS to Host Summer Cow-Calf/Stocker Producer Meeting
JBS is offering an open invitation for cow-calf and stocker producers to visit Loveland, Colo., this summer and spend a day discussing key industry trends in the cattle and beef business. The event will feature JBS's divisional leaders speaking on cattle procurement, domestic and international beef sales, and worldwide meat protein conditions. A market outlook presentation and review of branded beef programs and cattle supply chains will also be provided.
The meeting will begin on the evening of Aug. 7, with a reception and hors d'oeuvres. An 8 a.m. start is planned on Aug. 8, with speakers scheduled through early afternoon. Lunch will be provided for all attendees. The final hour of the meeting is blocked for a question/answer session with the audience and speakers. Adjournment is scheduled for 3 p.m.
A block of rooms at the Embassy Suites Hotel (meeting location) has been reserved at the corporate rate of $94 per night. Please call 970-593-6200 and indicate that you are with JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding. Other lodging opportunities in the immediate area include Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites.
Please RSVP as soon as possible, as we expect large meeting attendance. Cow-calf and stocker producers won't want to miss this informative and educational event!
RSVP info: Melissa Clinton, 970-506-8363 or email at melissa.clinton@jbssa.com
OIE Adopts Livestock Welfare Standards
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) adopted new general guidelines for animal welfare in livestock production and wording on the welfare of cattle bred for meat.
The new guidelines contain criteria and indicators to measure the welfare of beef cattle, nutrition of feed, lighting for cattle that do not have access to natural light, bedding and other aspects of cattle breeding conditions, the organization said. The OIE also decided on new texts regarding responsible use of antibiotics in food animals.
"In 2011, the delegates of the OIE did not reach a consensus on a text on animal welfare of broiler chickens and this year's consensus on livestock is a huge step forward," Bernard Vallat, OIE director general said in an online statement. "This is a historical event that opens way to the adoption of animal welfare standards of other farm animal production."
OIE is an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. As of 2011, the organization had 178 member countries.
Deadline Extended to Sign Up for NFU Women's Conference
National Farmers Union (NFU) announced today that the deadline has been extended to sign up for its upcoming Women's Conference. Based on the well-respected "Annie's Project" education program, it is a conference for farm and rural women. The event, set for June 21-23, will provide participants with tools and information to confidently manage risks in their farm or ranch operations. Registration is open to anyone who is interested.
Registration materials must be postmarked by June 7.
"Women have been the cornerstones of family farm agriculture, going back to the days of homesteading," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "This conference gives women the opportunity to gain an understanding of and experience in farm risk management."
For the full release, visit www.nfu.org/news/209-outreach/1108-deadline-extended-to-sign-up-for-nfu-womens-conference.
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