News Update
March 26, 2014
Leading Beef Brand has
‘Psychologically Healthy Workplace’
In recognition of its efforts to create a healthy, high-performing work environment, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) received the American Psychological Association (APA) 2014 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. One of four employers across North America similarly recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., this month, CAB previously won a state-level award that qualified for the APA award nomination.
The company, which works with cattle ranchers, retailers and chefs to market the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand, excelled in its efforts to foster employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, overall wellness, work-life balance and employee recognition.
CAB’s workplace practices have reaped rewards for the company and its employees, such as single-digit percentage increases in health insurance renewal premiums, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“The health and well-being of our employees and their families are very important,” says Brent Eichar, the brand’s senior vice president. “When we are at our best, we better serve our families, our community, our customers and the CAB brand that we proudly represent.”
Divisional brainstorming sessions, biweekly breakfast meetings, team-building training, workshops and community outreach all build positive relationships among staff. The progressive approach to health issues includes a comprehensive wellness program that pays for gym membership, provides periodic group stretch sessions, facilitates a bimonthly weight-loss management group, and offers optional weigh-ins, blood-pressure checks and 15- to 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions. A clinical psychologist is onsite monthly to provide stress management sessions and confidential personal appointments at no cost to employees.
For more information, please view the full release here.
AI Cowculator Application Now Available
The utilization of estrous synchronization or ovulation synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) has potential to influence the economic efficiency of cow-calf enterprises by improving a producer’s opportunity to shorten the calving season, increase calf uniformity, have earlier births during the calving season, enhance preweaning growth, and heavier calves at weaning. However, additional costs may also be associated with these protocols such as labor, time and facilities.
In order to aid the decision-making process, researchers at the University of Florida North Florida Research and Education Center have developed a smartphone application for Android and iPhone/iPad users called the “AI Cowculator,” which may be useful to beef producers to incorporate their own costs and determine the value of estrous synchronization in their own operations.
The AI Cowculator may be downloaded free of charge and is a decision-aid tool to assist producers to determine whether they should consider FTAI rather than purchasing herd sires for their cow herds. In addition, the application contains a locator to determine where products may be purchased and technicians who can provide the service, along with additional resources and a link to the AI Cowculator social media. Producers and members of the allied industry are encouraged to download the AI Cowculator and utilize this tool to assist in making bull buying and breeding-season decisions. For users who do not have an Android or iPhone/iPad Smartphone device or would prefer to user a personal computer, an Excel-based version is available and can be downloaded.
For more information on the AI Cowculator, including a guide on how to use it, visit the webpage at http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/AICowculator, or telephone 850-394-3124.
EPA and Army Corps Proposal Expands Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corp of Engineers (Corps) proposed March 25 an expansion of their federal authority over “waters of the United States.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is deeply concerned by this vast overreach by the EPA and the presidential administration. Under this expansion, essentially all waters in the country would be subject to regulation by the EPA and the Corps, regardless of size or continuity of flow.
“This is a step too far, even by an agency and an administration notorious for over-regulation,” said NCBA President Bob McCan, Victoria, Texas, cattleman. “This proposal by EPA and the Corps would require cattlemen like me to obtain costly and burdensome permits to take care of everyday chores like moving cattle across a wet pasture or cleaning out a dugout. These permits will stifle economic growth and inhibit future prosperity without a corresponding environmental benefit. This proposed regulation and the burdensome federal permitting scheme will only hinder producers’ ability to undertake necessary tasks and, in turn, result in an exodus of ranchers from the field.”
Almost all activities on our open land will now touch a “water of the United States” under the expanded definition. For the first time, ditches are included in the definition of a “tributary” and now will come under federal jurisdiction. Activities near a jurisdictional ditch will now require a federal permit. Many cattle operations will be required to get Sec. 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, Sec. 404 Dredge and Fill permits or Sec. 311 Spill Prevention Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) spill plans.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Workshop for Farm/Ranch Women Set for April and May in Georgetown
New U.S. census data indicates that in Texas, more women are managing farms today than any time since 2007, and a series of workshops is scheduled for Georgetown to help cater to this trend, according to an expert.
Annie’s Project is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in the modern farm enterprise, said Jason Johnson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, Stephenville. The series will be offered in six sessions, from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday April 15 through May 20, at the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County, 3151 S.E. Inner Loop, Suite A in Georgetown.
By providing essential education about managing a farm or ranch, Annie’s Project empowers farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information, Johnson said.
“Often farm women do not feel comfortable in the coffee shop network that is so familiar to farm and ranch men,” Johnson said. “Annie’s project provides a place where farm women can learn both from the perspectives of local agricultural professionals, as well as the experiences of other class members.”
“The program is based on the experiences of farm wives who spend their lifetime learning how to be an involved business partner with their farm husbands,” Johnson said. “The reality is that more than 90% of farm women usually end up managing their personal and farm business finances at some point in their lives as a result of death, divorce or disability.”
Participants will receive training in critical decision-making and information areas addressing production risk management, marketing risk management, financial risk management, estate planning resources, legal risk management and human resources risk management.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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