News Update
January 2, 2015
I Am Angus Broadcasts Jan. 5
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is a tradition more than a century in the making, and the area surrounding the base of the Rocky Mountains has played a significant role in the cattle industry through the years. On Monday, Jan. 5, the American Angus Association presents a tribute to that heritage with a special NWSS-episode of I Am Angus®.
Tune in to the hour-long documentary series at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST) Jan. 5 on RFD-TV.
“At the start of each new year, our eyes turn toward Denver for the National Western. In this episode of I Am Angus we recount why families travel, year after year, to Colorado for one of the nation’s most competitive livestock events,” says Eric Grant, Angus Productions Inc. (API) president and general manager.
I Am Angus is an hour-long documentary series produced entirely by the American Angus Association that introduces the individuals, families and history involved with farms and ranches throughout the country. The people and places featured in the Jan. 5 episode are listed below.
- • For the past 24 years, Evan Rayl has been riding the train to the NWSS from his home in Bridgewater, Iowa. We follow along in his adventure with his wife, Shirley, and good friend, Kevin Sothman.
- Historian Charles Albi of the Colorado Railroad Museum explores the role of the railroads in the growth and development of the U.S. cattle industry.
- Dan Green, longtime publisher and historian from Denver, Colo., shares stories from across the NWSS, including the one-of-a-kind pen and carload competition, and one of the most notorious years at the show — when the steer that won the 1972 junior show, named Big Mac, ended up being a fraud.
- Jim Baldridge’s Secret Seasoning is a favorite stop while in the Yards, and Bob and Becky Tiedeman share how the family got their start in the business.
- Colorado Brand Commissioner Chris Whitney shares the history of livestock branding — and why it’s still important for identifying livestock in the West.
- Tom Brink, who recently launched the Top Dollar Angus program, talks about the history and development of the High Plains cattle feeding industry and his tenure at JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding.
- We learn from Walt Barnhart, author of Kenny’s Shoes, about Kenny Monfort, a pioneering Colorado cattleman who reshaped the worldwide cattle feeding and beef packing industries forever.
- Visit Denver hatter Lee Keltner in his shop in the NWSS Yards and learn how he is keeping an Old West tradition alive.
The Jan. 5 I Am Angus episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health. RFD-TV is distributed by more than 625 cable operators, and can be found on DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231. Check local listings for more information.
To watch segments from past shows, visit the Association’s website or YouTube channel.
USCA Submits Comments Opposing Argentina Beef Imports
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued comments this week (Dec. 31) opposing the proposed importation of beef products from Northern Argentina. The USDA Animal Health and Plant Inspection Services (APHIS) issued a notice on August 29 that would allow regions in Northern Argentina to resume imports of beef products into the United States. USCA’s comments focused on the ongoing concerns of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country and surrounding region.
USCA President Danni Beer, Keldron, S.D., commented on the proposed notice, “USCA firmly believes that the USDA APHIS needs to take a step back from this proposed notice and consider the potential ramifications such action could have on the U.S. cattle industry.”
“The health of the U.S. cattle herd is USCA’s primary concern. The U.S. has maintained a status of FMD-free by the World Health Organization for decades; to put this status and the safety of our herd in jeopardy requires an in-depth and lengthy process, focused on producer and industry input. U.S. producers do not take the issue of FMD lightly and neither should the administration.”
USCA’s comments focused on the proposed region’s proximity to areas within Argentina and South America still known to have FMD, in addition to concerns regarding the impact of wildlife and the current protocol utilized by Northern Argentina for the detection and management of the virus. As stated in USCA’s comments, Argentina has had multiple detected cases of FMD since 2000 and “Every safeguard and prevention measure must be firmly in place before any discussions should be initiated regarding trade with a region or continent known to have FMD.”
Beer concluded, “The health of our country’s cattle herd is not worth the risk of opening trade with this region. USCA has requested the USDA APHIS to reconsider the proposed notice for trade with Northern Argentina and will continue to oppose any action taken on this issue before industry concerns are properly addressed.”
USCA’s comments may be found here.
CAB Brand Chef on “Cutthroat Kitchen” Jan. 4
As cattle producers welcome the New Year, they are invited to tune in this Sunday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST to watch “Cutthroat Kitchen” on the Food Network. Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand Chef Ashley Pado will appear on the fun-filled show, where four chefs use their culinary skills to overcome outlandish obstacles in the kitchen. Tune in, or set the DVR, to see how Chef Ashley fares.
Retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurateurs who visit the CAB Education & Culinary Center enjoy Chef Ashley’s culinary skills. She also brings her food styling experience from Hollywood studios to our videos and product photos. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College, she’s no stranger to food TV, having been named a national finalist on Fox’s Master Chef.
NFU President Calls 2014 “A Positive and Progressive Year for Family Farming”
The passage of the 2014 Farm Bill and the continued strong bipartisan support for both country-of-origin labeling (COOL) and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were among the top public policy highlights that mark 2014 as a positive and progressive year for family farming, said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union (NFU) president. He added that 2015 is already looking like a year with great potential for positive change.
“Passage of the five-year farm bill, which not only included important crop insurance safety net provisions for family farmers and ranchers, but also reduced overall farm spending, ensured that when disaster strikes, farmers and ranchers have a back-up plan in hand,” said Johnson. “All while helping to reduce the overall federal deficit,” he said.
COOL, which has been under unremitting attack by multinational meatpackers, as well as the nation’s top trade competitors, continues to enjoy widespread support among both livestock producers and the public. A May 2013 poll revealed that more than 90% of consumers support the labeling law. “The Obama administration is continuing its efforts to work with the World Trade Organization to ensure that American consumers know where their food is from,” he said. “COOL is good farm policy and good consumer policy.”
The RFS, which has greatly reduced the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, remains on track, and NFU is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to embrace the targets passed by Congress. “The RFS has breathed new life into rural America; making sure it stays on track is one of NFU’s top priorities,” said Johnson.
This past year also saw a worldwide effort through the United Nations to spotlight the important role of family farming both domestically and internationally. One of the highlights of the yearlong celebration was the passage of a resolution in the U.S. Senate designating 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). NFU led the U.S. Committee for IYFF and played a key role in having the resolution adopted by the Senate. “Recognizing the critical role family farmers play in providing food, fuel, feed and fiber to the global population and alleviating hunger and poverty was important because we need to be developing our future farmers — both in the United States and abroad — right now,” said Johnson.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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