News Update
June 26, 2015
Technology’s Role in
Meeting Beef Demand
In the next 10 to 15 years, the world’s middle class is expected to grow from 1.8 billion people to 4.8 billion people. That spells increasing beef demand, but meat proteins aren’t gaining the same ground in supply.
According to the Director of Food Chain Affairs for Merck Animal Health, John Graettinger, further advancements in technology will be required to feed the need in the coming decades.He says that can only be done by keeping the consumer in the know when it comes to producing beef.
“All the technologies that we have out there that we’re using to feed the world, so to speak, we have to be able to talk to the consumer, if they were standing here, and tell them why this is important. Go to your school, talk about what you do. Invite people out to your facility, and put your face on the name of the products that you’re producing,” he advises.
For more information, watch this week’s The Angus Report online or catch the program on RFD-TV each Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CDT, Mondays at 7:30 a.m. CDT and Wednesday at 5 p.m. CDT.
Canada and Mexico Say Repealing COOL is the Only Option
In advance of the June 25 Senate hearing on U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL), Mexican and Canadian officials sent separate letters to Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, stating that a full repeal of COOL is the only option.
“For Canada, legislative repeal of COOL is the only approach that will achieve this end,” wrote Canadian Minister of Agriculture Gary Ritz.
“Retaliation is imminent and inevitable unless and until the U.S. takes action to repeal the underlying COOL statute,” wrote Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Villarreal.
The U.S. cannot delay in preventing the expected $3.2 billion in sanctions on U.S. products that range from meat and chocolate to jewelry and furniture. According to USDA, mandatory COOL has already cost the U.S. beef, pork and chicken sectors approximately $1.8 billion. There is overwhelming support in Congress to repeal the program, evidenced by the 300 House members who voted earlier this month in favor of H.R. 2393, a bill to repeal mandatory COOL for beef, pork and chicken.
R-CALF USA: Senate COOL Hearing Biased
On June 25, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry called a hearing regarding the United States’ COOL law and trade retaliation. Five of the witnesses who were selected to testify at the hearing favored the immediate repeal of COOL to avoid the ongoing threats of retaliation being made by Canada and Mexico. Only one witness, Leo McDonnell, representing the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, appeared to favor COOL, but he continually called for changing “mandatory” COOL to “voluntary” COOL so, he said, everyone can walk away a winner.
R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Mike Schultz said that because not a single witness was selected to defend the 13-year-old mandatory COOL law, the U.S. Senate has radically changed the dynamics of the COOL debate.
“The Senate has effectively removed preservation of mandatory COOL from the table and the debate has now been deflected to focus only on whether we should include a voluntary labeling program after mandatory COOL is repealed,” Schultz said.
Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) pointed out at the conclusion of the hearing that beef and pork are already eligible for a voluntary USA label under the USDA’s voluntary process verification programs.
For more information, please view the full release online.
AGree Report Calls for Food & Ag Research Reform
AGree has unveiled a comprehensive report on food and ag research, Research & Innovation: Strengthening Agricultural Research, which includes nine recommendations to strengthen the impact of public research dollars by reforming the system and also makes the case for increased research funding. As a driver of innovation, research is essential to face down the consequential challenges of our time, ranging from water shortages to animal diseases, while also bolstering the U.S. economy. Targeting, tracking, and transparently sharing vital food and ag research will maximize the return on investment and build support for increasing that investment.
“We need to make a smart investment even smarter,” said Deborah Atwood, executive director of AGree. “The need to modernize our research system has long been discussed behind closed doors — now it’s time to have an open national conversation about needed changes.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said, “Our nation’s agriculture industry is the most innovative and productive in the world largely because of our commitment to research.”
For more information, please view the full AGree release online.
The American Royal Announces
Return of the Steak Competition Event
The American Royal Association announced June 24 that the fourth annual American Royal Steak Competition Winner will be announced at their 2015 TableSteaks Celebration on Oct. 22. Beef producers from across the nation are invited to submit ribeye steaks to compete for the best tasting steak. Steaks will be judged by a panel of experts.
“Three years ago marked the first time for this event at the American Royal,” says Bob Petersen, president and CEO of the American Royal. “Most traditional cooking contests are like the American Royal World Series of Barbecue® — they are mainly about preparation. This competition is about recognizing America’s best steak.”
Each steak will be prepared in an identical manner at K-State University Olathe Campus. Points will be assigned for flavor, juiciness and texture. The judging will take place early October and the winners will be honored at the American Royal 2015 TableSteaks Celebration on Oct. 22.
For more information, please view the full American Royal release online.
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