News Update
February 15, 2013
Angus Foundation Introduces
New Angus Calf Tie to its Merchandise Portfolio
From shirts and jackets to sunglasses and beautiful prints, the Angus Foundation has many items available for sale that depict and represent the Angus breed. An exciting new feature in the Angus Foundation’s portfolio of merchandise is a beautiful 100% silk Angus calf tie. The tie is now available for purchase at www.angusfoundation.org.
Rockmount Ranch Wear, located in Denver, Colo., produced the new tie as it has several other ties the Angus Foundation has sold in the past. The popularity of the ties appeals to a broad spectrum of individuals, from ranchers to bankers.
This new beautiful rust and maroon colored tie includes the repeated word “Angus” that fades into an image of an Angus calf lying in the grass at the bottom. The Angus Foundation’s logo is integrated into the backside of the tie, along with the tie number label.
“It’s always exciting to bring new items into our Angus Foundation’s merchandise apparel offering,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Start early on your Father’s Day or even Christmas gift shopping for this year by going online today and purchasing this silk Angus tie with the beautiful baby calf featured.”
Two other ties, also produced by Rockmount Ranch Wear, are also available to purchase. These ties, also 100% silk, include a maroon tie with an Angus bull head pattern that appears in horizontal rows and a tan tie with a prominent Angus bull interspersed in rows. All ties are $35 each. When online at www.angusfoundation.org, go to “Merchandise and Other Funding” in the left-hand navigation, and click “Merchandise.” You can also call 816-383-5100 with your tie order.
Sale proceeds from Angus Foundation merchandise, including the tie purchases, help support the Foundation’s youth, education and research programs.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Oklahoma Cow-Calf Producers Face Critical Decisions
The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is recommending that cow-calf producers plan now for the next two-to-four months, regardless of whether the producer has a spring- or fall-calving herd.
“Recent revisions to cattle data, weather conditions that can greatly affect production costs, and various potential market effects underscore the importance of making sound decisions when it comes to driving a cattle operation to profit,” said Derrell Peel, OSU Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist.
Oklahoma beef cow numbers declined a modest 1.3% in 2012, down to 1.754 million head. The USDA recent cattle report cited revisions to its previously reported 2012 numbers, which included increasing the Jan. 1, 2012 estimate of Oklahoma beef cows to 1.778 million head.
With these revisions, it now appears the loss of beef cows in 2011 was 238,000 head, a decrease of 11.8% from the Jan. 1, 2011 total. The latest inventory of beef replacement heifers indicated a decrease of 12.5% below the revised 2012 figure.
“The inventory of beef replacement heifers was 280,000 head, which represents slightly less than 16% of the beef cow herd,” Peel said. “This is the lowest beef replacement heifer percentage in Oklahoma in more than 20 years.”
Relative to the national numbers, it appears that Oklahoma managed to hold onto more beef cows in 2012 but kept fewer potential replacement heifers.
In addition, critical drought conditions continue in Oklahoma, with the entire state in D2 severe to D4 exceptional categories on the Drought Monitor, with 90% of the state rated as being in D3 extreme or D4 levels of drought.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Statement by American Farm Bureau Federation President Regarding Launch of U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations
“The beginning of comprehensive trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union holds the promise of expanded market access and an improved, science-based regulatory approach for agriculture and food. Farm Bureau is encouraged that some long-standing issues hindering trade between the U.S. and the EU, such as sanitary standards for beef, have lately been addressed. A constant commitment to removing barriers to agricultural trade is necessary in order to achieve a worthwhile agreement for U.S. agriculture.
“The misuse of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, including the EU’s restrictions on genetically engineered crops, has long been a tactic to impede trade. We will look closely to these negotiations to move past this trade-distorting tactic and fully embrace a rules-based trading system with standards based upon scientific assessment.
“Farmers and ranchers have been frustrated over the seemingly endless array of non-tariff barriers Europe applies to many of our agricultural commodities and products. We are cautiously hopeful that these negotiations will yield positive results for U.S. agriculture.”
New Iowa State Cow-Calf Specialist
Ready To Work with Beef Industry
Growing up on an Indiana diversified crop and livestock farm and having the opportunity to become involved in the beef industry early in his life helped create Patrick Gunn’s passion. Showing cattle and being actively involved in 4-H and state junior beef associations shaped the passion.
Undergraduate and graduate work with utilization of biofuel byproducts in beef cattle diets while maintaining those ties with the cattle associations strengthened the passion. Now as the new cow-calf specialist at Iowa State University (ISU), he’s embarking on a career that will allow that passion to flourish.
“Even prior to college, I had the ultimate goal of fostering a career that would allow me to work with beef producers on a daily basis, and assist those producers in making management decisions that would increase both productivity and profitability,” Gunn said. “And, although I am confident in my abilities, I know that the trust of a producer can only be earned over time, so I plan to utilize our network of experts both on campus and across the state to efficiently and effectively answer the questions presented by producers.”
Gunn, who joined the ISU animal science department faculty earlier this month, said his appointment is 60% extension, 25% applied research and 15% teaching. His first priority is to meet with as many beef producers on a face-to-face basis as possible.
For more information and the full release, click here.
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