News Update

April 30, 2015

House Repeals Estate Tax

The United States House of Representatives has voted to repeal the federal estate tax, which is the first vote on an estate tax bill in 10 years. Experts say, however, the companion bill in the Senate isn’t likely to have enough votes to pass. Proponents of the House bill say passing this legislation will likely set the stage for full repeal of the estate tax in 2017.

Kent Bacus of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says there is more uncertainty in the federal tax code, as it continues to expire every one to two years. He says there needs to be more permancy in the tax code to meet 21st century needs. The clock for the current Congress is ticking.

“If we don’t see tax reform by this summer, it’s going to be very tough to have anything through the rest of this Congress,” Bacus said. “That said though, we’re going to continue to engage and make sure that those issues are not backburner issues. But that each one of these sections in the tax code that are important to our members remain part of that conversation.”

Find out what issues Congress is working to solve by watching the full interview with Bacus on this week’s The Angus Report.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

U.S., Honduras Sign Agreement to
Promote Agricultural Development and Trade

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden and Honduras Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock Jacobo Paz signed an agreement April 29 to support agricultural development and trade in Honduras.

Through the Food for Progress Program, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service will provide the government of Honduras with 30,000 metric tons of U.S. yellow corn and 18,000 tons of U.S. soybean meal, valued at approximately $17 million.

The Honduran government will use proceeds from the sale of the commodities to implement projects aimed at improving agricultural productivity, enhancing farmers’ access to information and market skills, building government capacity, and strengthening local, regional and international trade in agricultural products.

The projects supported by this new agreement will focus on the creation of jobs and income opportunities for some of Honduras’ most vulnerable citizens. The beneficiaries will include small farmers, as well as small businesses and producer organizations, particularly those that support rural women and youth.

For more information about the Food for Progress Program, visit www.fas.usda.gov/programs/food-progress and read the full release online.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA Office of Communications.

Farm Bureau Applauds Senate Move to Stop EPA Overreach

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) praised the bipartisan leadership of Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) April 30 as they introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would put in check the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its attempt to broaden the definition of “waters of the U.S.”

“Tens of thousands of farmers, ranchers and landowners have spoken out, but EPA has yet to fully acknowledge the proposal’s potential impact on everyday farming activities,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “We work hard every day to minimize the environmental impact of raising the food, fuel and fiber we all consume. We’re grateful that our congressional representatives are paving the way to safeguard both farmers and their land.”

Farm Bureau is urging Congress to act swiftly, before the rule is final, so agencies can re-craft the rule to ensure it is practical and addresses the concerns of farmers, ranchers and business owners across the country.

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Brangus Genomic-Enhanced EPD

The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has joined forces with a large group of entities to formulate breed specific genomic enhanced EPDs.

In late June 2014 IBBA transitioned its DNA testing to GeneSeek Inc. located in Lincoln, Neb. With this move, Brangus breeders had the option to utilize an 80k panel or a reduced 30k panel to obtain genomic information to enhance the accuracy of Brangus expected progeny differences (EPDs). IBBA has adopted use of the newly released GeneSeek^® Genomic Profiler™, the GGP HD-150K panel, that is replacing the 80K panel.

Brangus GE-EPDs will be made available on all traits reported by the IBBA including growth, reproduction and ultrasound traits. The GE-EPDs were estimated by John Genho, President of Livestock Genetic Services, using the approximately 2,200 profiles generated at Neogen or Zoetis on the 30K, 50K, 80K, 150K, 770K and 850K panels.

— Adapted from a release by Rachel Davis, International Brangus Breeders Association.

Annual Ranchers’ Workshop slated for May 15 in Irion County

The sixth annual Ranchers’ Workshop has been set for May 15 in the Irion County Community Center located behind the football field at 118 W. Duncan Ave. in Mertzon. The educational program is conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The program, which is free and open to the public, starts with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the program from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Topics will include a Vetgun fly control demonstration, new drug laws and uses, a rainwater harvesting demonstration, stocker ranching and an update on the state’s brush control project.

There will be a special award ceremony prior to the free barbecue lunch honoring Bill Tullos, Irion County rancher. Tullos will be honored for 60 years of serving as a director with the Middle Concho Soil and Water Conservation District. The afternoon session will include history of grazing at Texas A&M Barnhart research station, brush control chemicals and a drone demonstration.

For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.

— Adapted from a release by Steve Byrns, Texas A&M AgriLife Extenion.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.