News Update
February 24, 2014
Attend the
‘Women Connected’ Conference
The American Angus Auxiliary is hosting its second “Women Connected” conference this spring, April 12-14 in Saint Joseph, Mo. The event will bring together 20 Angus cattlewomen, Auxiliary members and others involved in the Angus industry for a three-day leadership experience. Interested participants are encouraged to apply prior to the March 1 deadline, and applications can be found online.
“The first Women Connected Conference in 2012 was a great success, it is the Auxiliary’s goal to build on past experiences and carry out the conference by engaging participants in conversation and friendship,” says Anne Lampe, American Angus Auxiliary Women Connected chair. “Our hope for this conference is that women will leave more empowered and educated on the issues facing our industry.”
The event will entail a wide range of speakers covering leadership, telling your story and connecting with American Angus Association staff and programs.
“During the conference, attendees are truly able to connect with other women who share many similarities, from our appreciation of the Angus breed to our personal relationships,” says 2012 attendee Sheyna Strommen, Fort Rice, N.D.
Thanks to generous support from the Angus Foundation, the selected 20 participants are awarded free registration, lodging and meals. The only financial responsibility is transportation to and from the Kansas City airport or Saint Joseph, Mo.
International BVDV/Pestivirus Symposium in October
“Pestiviruses: Old Enemies, New Challenges” will be the theme of a joint meeting of the 6th U.S. Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Symposium and European Society of Veterinary Virology (ESVV) Pestivirus Symposium. The meeting will be at the Sheraton Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 14-15.
This is the first time that the U.S. BVDV group and the ESVV group will jointly meet. The objective of the symposium is to bring together scientists, animal health industry representatives, veterinary practitioners, educators, cattle producers and policy makers to discuss how the latest BVDV/pestivirus research findings can be used improve the health of beef and dairy cattle and control emerging disease problems.
The symposium will feature presentations by scientists working with pestiviruses including BVDV, classical swine fever virus, border disease viruses and emerging pestiviruses such as HoBi-like viruses and Bungowannah. Following presentations by internationally recognized speakers, there will be ample time for audience discussion. Topics include pestiviruses and the immune system, in utero infections, pestiviruses and genetic variability, species and subgenotypes, BVDV-control programs, new hosts and new pestiviruses, pestivirus in wild ruminants, HoBi-like viruses, regulations on fetal bovine serum, Bungowannah, border disease, and more. Abstracts and posters will also be featured at the conference.
The Symposium will take place immediately prior to the 57th annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)/118th annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA).
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Elanco Announces Agreement to
Acquire Lohmann Animal Health
Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY), announced Feb. 24 an agreement to acquire Lohmann SE (Lohmann Animal Health), a privately-held company headquartered in Cuxhaven, Germany. Lohmann Animal Health is a global leader in the supply of poultry vaccines, and also markets a range of feed additives. The acquisition will establish Elanco as a global poultry leader, solidify Elanco’s vaccine presence, broaden Elanco’s product offerings, and significantly augment Elanco’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities.
“Effectively competing in the animal vaccine segment is a cornerstone of Elanco’s long-term strategy and is one more way we will expand the value we create for customers,” said Jeff Simmons, senior vice president of Eli Lilly and Co. and president of Elanco Animal Health. “The addition of Lohmann Animal Health provides a unique opportunity for Elanco to expand our presence in the global poultry market and to enter the global poultry vaccine market with a solid base, established products, and global commercial and manufacturing capabilities.”
This acquisition complements Elanco’s mission to help the global food chain deliver a safe, affordable, sufficient food supply. “We believe innovation in food production is one of the most important ingredients to feeding a growing global population,” Simmons said. “Elanco has continued to invest significantly in animal health in the past few years, growing businesses and expanding our pipeline. This acquisition will support further pipeline growth and build on Elanco’s proven track record for successfully delivering new innovation and integrating acquisitions. We will continue to seek opportunities that support those efforts.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Statement from Agriculture Secretary on the
2012 Census of Agriculture Preliminary Results
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement Feb. 20 on the 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary results:
“The preliminary data released today provide a snapshot of a strong rural America that has remained stable during difficult economic times.
“We have slowed significantly the loss of farmland, which has totaled 72 million acres since 1982. New tools provided in the 2014 Farm Bill will help to further slow and reverse this trend.
“The data confirm that farm income is at a record high. However, the prolonged drought and lack of disaster assistance have made it more difficult for livestock producers and mid-sized farms to survive. The 2014 Farm Bill guarantees disaster assistance and provides additional stability for farmers and ranchers.
“A bright spot in the data is the slight increase in young farmers and the stable number of small farms and large-scale farms. This reflects our work to grow both local and regional food systems and exports, but we must do more for mid-sized operations. The 2014 Farm Bill will expand support for beginning farmers and new market opportunities for all producers.
“Finally, the data illustrate the strength of diversity in crop production, markets, people and land use across the agricultural sector. While the aging nature of the farming population is a concern, we are hopeful that as we attract and retain the next generation of talent into rural America, this trend can also be reversed.”
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