News Update
January 20, 2015
A New Online Look
After typing a few simple keywords, Internet users are immediately delivered an endless pool of websites, social media pages, news articles and information. There’s more research, more tutorials and more tools available than ever before.
Yet with so much information, it can be challenging to navigate to what is most useful.
For businesses and organizations, the key is providing practical and engaging online content in a simple format that’s user-friendly and reliable. The American Angus Association recently released substantial updates to the organization’s website, www.angus.org, including improved navigation of the multifaceted site.
Now, a streamlined interface makes it easier to find specific resources using drop-down menus focused on essential topics ranging from performance and management to marketing, sales and news.
“Our organization is proud to host one of the most widely used websites in the beef cattle industry,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “It’s our challenge to continue to adapt online tools that provide Angus breeders what they need to improve their herds and run successful businesses.”
When visiting the new homepage, take a minute to check out a few of the Association’s most widely used pages.
Search the animal registry and access AAA Login
If you have an animal’s name or registration number, you can search for them in the Association’s database. There, you will be able to see the pedigree and performance information associated with that animal, its ancestors or progeny. In addition, you can also search for American Angus Association members throughout the country.
Enter your member code and password to access AAA Login — a powerful recordkeeping program that assists with herd management and links to Association services. AAA Login navigation currently remains the same, but keep an eye out in the future for more intuitive design updates and menu changes.
Find breaking news and Association announcements
The newsroom is home to everything you need to know from the Association: the latest announcements, news headlines and reminders. By clicking on the “News” drop-down menu, you can also access video segments from The Angus Report and I Am Angus, and visit the Angus Journal website to catch up on the latest issue and online-only content.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Farmers and Ranchers Still Optimistic
Despite Washington’s Past Dysfunction
While America’s farmers and ranchers achieved notable victories on the farm bill and waterways infrastructure legislation in 2014, agriculture must push harder for important policy reforms in 2015, according to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman.
Stallman, a cattle and rice farmer from Columbus, Texas, told Farm Bureau members gathered for their annual convention in San Diego that progress in Washington will only come through real but principled compromise.
“We cannot ignore the extremes of the left and right, but we must speak to the center: the legislators in both parties who go to Washington because they want to make policy and get things done,” Stallman said. “It’s time for Congress to get back to work — to do their job so you can do yours.”
Stallman said that time to act in 2015 will likely be shortened due to pressure created by the 2016 elections for Congress and the presidency.
“Farm Bureau members will need to be aggressive, and we will need to begin our advocacy efforts as soon as possible,” Stallman said. “Farm Bureau members will also need to cut through the political noise.”
While true opportunities for policy progress could grow slim by the time fall rolls around, Stallman detailed the long list of jobs that remain before Congress, including:
- Immigration reform, which must include a reliable and legal workforce for America’s farms and ranches;
- A national, fact-based approach to food labeling, rather than patchwork regulation that only raises the price of food while doing nothing for food safety;
- Tax rules that will encourage economic growth and multi-generational farming and;
- Policies to continue growing our nation’s energy independence through the production of all forms of energy, including those that come from America’s farms and ranches.
Yes, he said, it was time for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to ditch the widely reviled Waters of the United States proposal, which would regulate land use under the guise of the Clean Water Act.
For more information, please view the full release here.
East Texas Pasture Management Program
set Feb. 20 at Overton, Texas
This year’s East Texas Pasture Management Program, set Feb. 20 at Overton, will concentrate mainly on the finer points of weed control, according to Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist.
“Weed control continues to be an important part of our overall forage management plan,” Corriher-Olson said. “This program will provide critical information to prepare you for the upcoming weed season.”
The 2015 program will be hosted at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.
As in previous years, this year’s program will offer the latest in management strategies and a newly updated herbicide price-comparison CD, which is included with registration.
“Determining treatment cost per acre is important when evaluating herbicides and insecticides,” said Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist and a program presenter. “This CD allows producers to easily calculate costs at common application rates and also compare the amount of active ingredients applied for multiple products with the same active ingredients.”
Advance registration by Feb. 19 is $25; on-site registration will be $35. To register in advance, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu or call Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604. Check-in and registration will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the program adjourning at 6 p.m.
Attendees can earn five continuing education units toward the renewal of their Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator’s licenses: one hour in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest management and three in the general category.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
CattleFax Webinar Helps Producers in High-Price Environment
Cow-calf producers are at a fork in the road, according to CattleFax, the global leader in beef industry research, analysis and information. The current expansion environment has produced record profitability and exposed the segment to more financial and production risk than any other time in recent history. CattleFax will address this challenge during its next Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar at 5:30 p.m. MST, Jan. 21, 2015.
Calf prices are nearly $100 per hundredweight (cwt.) higher than last year at this time, and bred cow values have increased nearly $1,000 per head in the last year. The dynamic market shift occurring in 2014 has motivated cow-calf expansion and created indecision at the same time.
During the one-hour session, CattleFax analysts Mike Murphy and Lance Zimmerman will discuss how producers can navigate marketing decisions and business plans for the next five to 10 years. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/meetings.aspx.
Elanco Animal Health is sponsoring the webinar — making it free for all cattle and beef producers to benefit from CattleFax’s analysis and perspective on factors influencing the cow-calf, stocker and backgrounding businesses. The webinar will include:
- A winter and spring 2015 market outlook for breeding cattle, calf, feeder-cattle and feedstuff markets
- Advice on high-return cow herd and bull-purchasing decisions
- Considerations on the long-term implications of U.S. beef cow herd expansion
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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