News Update
February 02, 2015
Angus Convention to Host First-ever International Genomics Symposium
The American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) will host the first-ever International Genomics Symposium as part of the 2015 Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show.
The event takes place Nov. 3 in Overland Park, Kan., and will provide cattle producers with cutting-edge information about advancements in genomics technology — and how these advances impact their businesses.
The symposium is sponsored by GeneSeek, a leading provider of comprehensive genomics solutions to the cattle industry, including the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP-HD).
“We are excited about the symposium and what it will mean for the cattle business,” says Dan Moser, AGI president. “Genomics is rapidly reshaping the way we produce livestock, and providing producers with the best information available will not only help us improve quality and consistency, but also make our industry more competitive.”
Genomics researcher and entrepreneur Richard Resnick will be the event’s keynote speaker. Resnick serves as CEO of GenomeQuest, a company that builds software to support genomic medicine, research and individualized treatments. Before becoming a bio-entrepreneur, Resnick was a member of the Human Genome Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Resnick will be one of several widely acclaimed experts on genomics technology to be speaking at the event.
“GeneSeek has partnered with the Angus breed since 2009, and our sponsorship of the symposium is a natural extension of our long-standing commitment to the breed and the cattle industry,” says Stewart Bauck, general manager of GeneSeek/Neogen Agrigenomics. “There is intense interest among cattle producers about genomics — and this event will go a long way in serving GeneSeek’s mission not only to advance the use of genomics technology, but also show the positive impacts it will have on producers.”
The rise of genomic testing and evaluation is reshaping the Angus business at an accelerating pace. In fiscal year 2014, genomic testing increased by 32%, and AGI recently reported that genomic testing in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 grew by more than 56%.
The 2015 Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show takes place Nov. 3-5 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan. The first convention last year attracted nearly 2,000 progressive producers from across the country. For more information about the convention, visit www.angus.org.
NJAA Welcomes Extended Intern, Jena Lee Wagner
Jena Lee Wagner of Billings, Mont., is well versed in junior activities through the American Angus Association. She has been involved with the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) for more than 10 years and is bringing that experience back to the Association by serving as the extended intern in the Events and Education Department.
Wagner’s role officially began at the 2015 National Western Stock Show (NWSS), and she will continue to be involved in planning activities and events until mid-August. A former National Junior Angus Board (NJAB) member, Wagner says she looks forward to traveling and getting to know Angus members nationwide.
“It’s such a tremendous opportunity to have an internship like this that involves traveling the country,” Wagner says. “I would never get to see these places on my own, and what’s even better is that I get to watch the NJAA members enjoy all these experiences, as well. Seeing them excited about Angus cattle and new friends is really the best part.”
During her eight-month internship, Wagner will assist with planning Association-sponsored shows and conferences, attend several events throughout the country, and play a key role in preparations for the 2015 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Tulsa, Okla.
A top priority during her first weeks on the job is planning for upcoming Raising the Bar conferences at the University of Illinois and the University of Georgia. The deadlines to apply for these events are Feb. 13 and Feb. 23, respectively. Visit www.njaa.info for complete details.
“Raising the Bar conferences give youth a rare opportunity to tour a college town, the campus and have one-on-one time with professors to find out what their programs are all about,” Wagner says. “It’s an experience a lot of people may not have when visiting universities.”
Wagner attends Montana State University where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a minor in graphic design and marketing. She has an interest in event planning and says she looks forward to learning more about the behind-the-scenes details that go into making the NJAA leadership experiences possible.
“Because of her understanding and enthusiasm for the National Junior Angus Association and its activities, we are fortunate to have Jena on board,” says Jaclyn Upperman, director of events and education. “She has a keen eye for detail and will help us continue to present industry-leading programs for our youth and adult members.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Agricultural Prices
December Farm Prices Received Index down 1 point
The December Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 100, based on 2011=100, decreased 1 point (1.0%) from November. At 82, the December Crop Production Index is up 1 point (1.2%). At 127, the Livestock Production Index decreased 7 points (5.2%). Producers received lower prices for milk, broilers, lettuce and cattle. Higher prices were received for corn, eggs, soybeans and grain sorghum. In addition to prices, the indexes are impacted by the five-year average monthly mix of commodities producers market. Increased monthly movement of wheat, broilers, oranges and milk offset the decreased marketing of corn, calves, grapes and soybeans.
The Prices Received Index is unchanged from December 2013. The Food Commodities Index, at 114, decreased 6 points (5.0%) from the previous month but increased 5 points (4.6%) from December 2013.
December Prices Paid Index unchanged
The December Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW), at 111% (2011=100), is unchanged from November but is 5 points (4.7%) above December 2013. Lower prices in December for feeder cattle, LP gas, diesel and gasoline offset higher prices for complete feeds, feed grains, feeder pigs and supplements.
Prices Received, Prices Paid, and Ratio of Prices Received to Prices Paid Indexes 2011 base — United States: December 2014 with comparisons
| Item | December 2013 | November 2014 | December 2014 |
| Prices received by farmers | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Prices paid by farmers | 106 | 111 | 111 |
| Ratio of prices received to prices paid | 94 | 91 | 90 |
For more information, please view the full release here.
Women in Agriculture Conference to
Celebrate 30 Years of Programming
Nebraska women will learn how to plan and make better business decisions for their farms and ranches, their communities, their families, and themselves at the 30th Women in Agriculture Conference, the longest-running women’s conference of its kind in the country, Feb 26-27 at the Kearney Holiday Inn.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Our Heritage, Our Present and Our Future,” and it features a variety of workshops, “funshops” and speakers, including Rebecca Long-Chaney of Elwood, Neb. and Celeste Settrini from Salinas, Calif.
Long-Chaney will be the keynote speaker Thursday morning with her talk, “Dare to Risk Life Change,” about her life-changing adventure working in the Australian Outback. Settrini will be the capstone lunchtime speaker on Friday as she presents “Channeling Your Inner Rock Star!” a fun and humorous look at how to unleash that inner voice for agriculture.
Also on Thursday will be Madeline Schultz from Iowa State University, the National Annie’s Program Leader, who will fill participants in on happenings in this exciting program and how they can work to bring this program to their county. The day will conclude with a celebration in the evening of the Women in Agriculture’s history and exciting future.
On Friday, the morning speaker will be Carla McCullough from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), who will present a department water division update. She will look at a few of the many programs DEQ monitors and some of the changes that will impact producers in 2015.
Between speakers, conference-goers can choose from 32 concurrent workshops spread over five sessions during the event. Topics include crop and livestock marketing, financial planning, estate planning, farm bill updates, crop and forage insurance, agronomy, beef nutrition, social media and apps, hydrology in Nebraska, GMOs, community entrepreneurship, disaster preparation, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Thursday evening includes funshops for Twitter, Zumba and a demonstration from the Nebraska Beef Council.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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