Copyright © 2015
Angus Journal

News Update

June 30, 2015

Updates to Economic Indexes

Through the use of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), the American Angus Association continues to improve the convenience of its wide offering of genetic selection tools. The Association board has approved updating economic assumptions for dollar-values in the summer rather than waiting until December to allow for better communications among members prior to seasonal selection and marketing activities.

AGI President Dan Moser explains economic indexes as useful tools for members to weigh traits to determine which are most important for profitability for their commercial customers. But for those indexes to work, they must be based on certain economic assumptions: feed and other imput costs, revenue streams from sale of fed cattle or weaned calves, and so on.

“Of course the prices of those things are dynamic. And so, once a year we update those values,” Moser says. “Previously those have been updated every December, but now we’ve moved that to July, so Angus breeders and folks that use Angus genetics in commercial programs will know that values like $W, $F, $B, that there will be some changes on July 10, when those economic assumptions are updated.”

For more information, watch this week’s episode of The Angus Report.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Administration Places Politics Over Producers

USDA APHIS released their final rules on June 29 for the Importation of Fresh Beef from Northern Argentina and a Region in Brazil. With this step by the Administration, these areas with a known history of Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) would be allowed to begin the inspection process to import fresh and frozen beef products into the United States. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) stands firmly opposed to this regulation, not on the basis of trade but on the basis of animal health concerns; no trade is worth jeopardizing our herd health.

“The arrogance of this administration in continuing to press forward with rules that have a profound impact on industry, without consulting those affected, is appalling,” said NCBA President Philip Ellis. “FMD is a highly contagious and devastating disease, not just for the cattle industry, but for all cloven-hoofed animals, and it can be introduced and spread through the importation of both fresh and frozen products.”

For more information, please view the NCBA release.

— Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Ranchers Reject Federal Answer to Managing Sage Grouse

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recently finalized their Environmental Impacts Statements (EISs) for resources management and land use plans, claiming a need for more restrictive management for sage grouse on federal lands. The Public Lands Council (PLC) and the NCBA filed formal protests June 29 after reviewing the plans, which impede on conservation efforts and range management practices already in place.

“Ranchers and those closest to the land are far better equipped to manage resources than bureaucrats in Washington D.C.,” said Brenda Richards, PLC president and Idaho rancher. “These plans disregard all the hard work, money and resources that states already have in place to preserve wildlife habitat and sage grouse in particular. One-size-fits-all requirements on how multiple uses, including livestock grazing, will be managed on public lands is not the answer to conserving sage grouse.”

In early 2014, the organizations filed detailed comments addressing concerns with the draft EISs. With little to no improvement in the final documents, the ranching industry has filed protests in nine states across the West.

For more information on regulation of the sage grouse, please view the full NCBA release.

— Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Greg Davis Named Interim Director of OSU Extension

Greg Davis has been tapped to serve as interim director of Ohio State University Extension.

Now Extension’s assistant director overseeing community development, Davis will begin his role July 1 as Director Keith Smith begins his first day of retirement following 23 years as leader.

Davis serves on the steering committee for Conversations on the Future of Extension, an effort that began in spring 2014 with discussions to identify the most challenging trends and issues Ohioans will face by 2035. It is now in the “So what?” phase, he said, determining how Extension should address those issues.

As interim director, Davis will look at how Extension approaches its work given the anticipated changes.

“It’s exciting to take the organization down the initial steps, to flesh out where we go next for Extension,” he said. “When the next director is chosen, some things will already be identified.”

As assistant director, Davis leads field-based Extension specialists and educators who are working to improve civic, environmental and economic conditions throughout Ohio.

For more information, please view the full news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Suzanne Steel, Ohio State University.

Canadian Angus Auction Market of the Year Award
Presented to Heartland Livestock Services

The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) is pleased to honor Heartland Livestock Services from Virden, Man., with the Auction Market of the Year Award. CAA Director of Field Services Brian Good, and Manitoba Field Staff Lois McRae, presented this award in Winnipeg, Man., at the Livestock Markets Association of Canada annual conference.

Heartland Livestock Services has been connecting buyers and sellers for more than 60 years. The facility was managed by Jim McCarthur from 1997 until October of 2009, at which time it was taken over by Robin Hill. The auction mart handles more than 100,000 head annually, drawing cattle from Manitoba as well as Eastern Saskatchewan. There are several longtime employees to be recognized, including Rich Gabrielle, field man; Drillon Beaton, field man; Stewart Stone, general manager; as well as the late Jim Blackshaw who was a longtime field man for the facility.

Five words that mean good business for Heartland are leadership, knowledge, reputation, responsibility and commitment. Whether it’s selling a producers calf crop, managing a bison sale or exporting livestock across North America and overseas, Heartland is a reputable name in the livestock marketing business.

For more information, please view the full Canadian Angus Association release online.