News Update

September 2, 2015

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— Announcement from Angus Media.

Protect The Harvest Urges Citizens to Demand Answers

Protect The Harvest, a national pro-agriculture coalition, is urging citizens to attend the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Wild Horse Advisory Board meeting that will take place Sept. 2-3 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and demand answers for the agency’s anti-rancher policies, as well as its mismanagement of America’s wild horse population.

Since 1971, the BLM has been in charge of controlling the feral horse population. In recent years, the BLM has reduced its gathering of wild horses, often at the urging of animal rights activists. As a result, America’s feral horse population has doubled over the last four years, putting added strain on an already taxed ecosystem. In order to provide room and resources for the newly-released feral horses, the BLM has begun taking land and water rights away from American ranchers.

For more information, please view the full release online.

— Adapted from a release by Protect the Harvest.

Consumer Attitudes on Sustainability and Agriculture

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) is focused on answering questions consumers have about how food is grown and raised. These questions are often answered online on the organization’s social media platforms and via its signature Food Dialogues® series of panel discussions. Additionally, USFRA gathers insights on the types of questions and concerns about agriculture that are top-of-mind by surveying consumers. On Sept. 1, USFRA shared insights from a recent consumer survey focused on farming, ranching and sustainability.

USFRA intends to use findings from the research to better answer questions consumers have about sustainability and agriculture. The survey found that 56% of all respondents agreed with the statement, “Farmers and ranchers use new technologies and innovations to protect the environment.” While 47% of all respondents agreed with the statement, “The way that most of today’s farming and ranching operations in the U.S. grow and raise food meets the standards of sustainability.”

However, when presented with the same statement, the survey revealed that women are less likely than men to agree that farming and ranching practices are sustainable — 37% of women vs. 59% of men responding they are in agreement.

For more information, please view the full release online.

— Adapted from a release by Joanna Schroeder, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

SD Stockgrowers to Host 124th Annual Convention

South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SD Stockgrowers) and SD Cattlewomen are set to host the 124th Annual Convention and Trade Show on Oct. 1-2 at the Best Western Ramkota Convention Center in Rapid City. The two-day convention will feature a strong lineup of speakers and events, along with policy discussions and the annual business meetings for both associations.

The 124th annual convention will feature a number of speakers on issues impacting the livestock industry and several workshops to help ranchers learn tools to strengthen their businesses. The SD Cattlewomen’s convention will feature planning sessions for future beef promotions, crafts, and a workshop on the Masters of Beef Advocacy program and social media training.

Thursday’s program will open with Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA, followed by a variety of speakers and committee meetings on international trade, property rights and animal health. The afternoon will feature a workshop by Alan Hojer from First Dakota National Bank’s “Keep Farmers Farming” program to help families think strategically about generational transfers within a family ranching operation.

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

— Adapted from a release by the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Membership Meeting

The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) will host its annual directors’ and membership meeting at the Ramada Bismarck Hotel in Bismarck, N.D. Oct. 2-3.

The USCA Annual Meeting will be hosted in conjunction with the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota’s (I-BAND) annual conference, allowing for joint discussions and membership interactions.

The two-day dual event will kick-off with a full-day ranch tour Friday, Oct. 2. Meeting attendees will visit multiple local-area ranches, culminating in a BBQ to end the day. USCA will convene its Board of Directors meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, with general policy discussions immediately following at 9 a.m. I-BAND will host its own policy discussions at this time and the two groups will convene in the afternoon for special guest speakers and collaborative policy conversations.

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

— Adapted from a release by the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

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

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