News Update

September 29, 2015

Proceed With Caution

In a cyclical business, when you’re riding the good times, it probably means you’re not far from the bad ones. So it is with the cattle business, said Dan Basse, president of Ag Resource Co., as he kicked off the Feeding Quality Forum in La Vista, Neb., and Garden City, Kan., in mid-August.

“It’s not like the mid-1980s, with land values collapsing. It’s more like a slow bleed,” Basse said of the general “downturn” in agricultural commodities. Ag equipment sales have slowed, land prices are going down, and grain trade has softened as the dollar strengthened.

The cow-calf business is still poised for profit for the next couple of years, but Basse shared a tale of caution beyond that.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re around for when the good times are rolling again,” he said.

— Adapted from an article by Miranda Reiman, Certified Angus Beef.

Cattlemen’s Boot Camp Deadline Sept. 30

Cattlemen are invited to attend the next Cattlemen’s Boot Camp, hosted by the American Angus Association and Oklahoma State University (OSU) and sponsored in part by the Angus Foundation. The Boot Camp is set for Oct. 15-16. The conference will include leading information on topics such as, genetic and estimated progeny difference (EPD) technologies, reproduction strategies, marketing tactics, and commercial programs information.

Registration for the Boot Camp is just $75, which covers meals, materials, speakers and parking. Interested participants can view the tentative schedule and register online, or download a form and submit registration by mail to the American Angus Association events and education department by Sept. 30. Late registrations and walk-ins are not allowed.

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

— Adapted from an announcement by Jaclyn Clark, American Angus Association.

NCBA Urges Swift Conclusion to Trans-Pacific Partnership

This week the United States will host a meeting of Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Ministers in Atlanta, Ga. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urges a swift conclusion to a TPP deal.

“Cattlemen and women have high expectations for the TPP as a true 21st century agreement, eliminating tariff and non-tariff trade barriers across 12 member countries,” said Philip Ellis, NCBA president. “…every day that goes by without a comprehensive agreement erodes our market share in these member countries and it is imperative that our negotiators find common ground.”

Japan is currently the top export market for U.S. beef, totaling $1.6 billion in 2014, even with a 38.5% tariff rate. One of the leading competitors for Japanese consumers is Australia. Last year Australia and Japan signed the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement that phases down the tariff on beef imports over 15 years and removes a 50% snapback tariff on Australian beef.

This agreement gives Australia a competitive advantage and, as a result, Australia is taking market share away from U.S. beef. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will put U.S. beef producers on a level playing field with Australian beef producers.

For more information, please view the full release online.

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

Montana Department of Livestock
Appoints Interim Executive Officer

The Board of Livestock announced the appointment of Marty Zaluski as the interim executive officer of the Montana Department of Livestock while a search begins for a permanent replacement for Christian Mackay, who resigned the previous week.

While expressing gratitude for Mackay’s service, the chair of the Board of Livestock, John Lehfeldt stated, “The Board is excited to bring a seasoned employee such as Dr. Zaluski to this position to minimize any disruptions to Department operations.”

Zaluski, who has been serving as state veterinarian at the department since 2007, assumed the executive officer position immediately following a Board meeting on Friday when the board members approved the appointment.

Lehfeldt expressed confidence, “While there’s still much work to do, the department is on the right track.”

For more information, view the complete article online.

— Adapted from a release by the Montana Department of Livestock.

Stress Symposium to Address Human, Animal and Plant Health

A symposium scheduled Oct. 8-9 at Texas A&M University in College Station will address a broad range of topics related to stress in human, animal and plant health.

“Evolution of Stress: From the Genome to Disease” will feature a number of leading experts who will explore current knowledge of stress research and how that knowledge can be used to improve human, animal and plant health, according to organizers.

The symposium is free and hosted by the Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society.

At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Rudder Theatre, Robert Sapolsky, Stanford University professor, will provide the keynote presentation, “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: Stress and Health.” Sapolsky is a MacArthur Genius Fellow, and John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn professor of biology and professor of neurology and neurosurgery.

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

— Adapted from a release by Blair Fannin, Texas AgriLife Communications.

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