News Update
December 1, 2015
Angus Foundation Update
The Angus Foundation reached new heights in its efforts to advance education, youth and research endeavors for the Angus breed. The nonprofit arm of the American Angus Association celebrated its 35th anniversary during the National Angus Convention earlier in November and reported more than $11 million in total revenue.
The Foundation also reported distributing more than $276,000 in scholarships this year to Angus youth and investing more than $1 million in important research spanning the beef cattle business during the past decade.
“The Angus Foundation’s assets are now in excess of $17 million to support our mission of education, youth and research projects,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Current research ranges from beef cow efficiency, biological efficiency, fescue toxicosis, hair shedding, heat, environment issues, adaptability, and in addition to that, carcass meat quality.”
These investments, he stated, will benefit the Angus breed, as well as the beef cattle industry and producers across the country.
Tune in to this week’s full The Angus Report to learn more about the Angus Foundation. You can also tune in at 5 p.m. CST Wednesday to catch the program on RFD-TV.
House Passes Bill to Address Abuse of EAJA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) applaud the House passage of H.R. 3279 Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), requires oversight and transparency of funds awarded under EAJA. Philip Ellis, NCBA president and Wyoming rancher, said the bill is critical to leveling the playing field between private citizens, for which the law was intended, and the vast resources of groups who repeatedly abuse the system.
“The lack of oversight and accountability has led to rampant abuse by well-funded radical environmental groups who use EAJA to advance their agendas,” said Ellis. “The simple fact that millions of dollars in taxpayer funds have been awarded with virtually no accounting of who received the payments is unacceptable.”
EAJA was originally passed in 1980 to allow plaintiffs to recover legal fees when they prevail against the federal government in court. However, it has repeatedly been exploited by environmental activist groups which target federal-lands agencies, and ultimately the ranching families who use the lands, at the expense of the taxpayer.
For more information, view the NCBA news release online.
In the Cattle Market
Record-large, some might say excessive, fed-cattle weights continue to weigh on the cattle market. Weights and backed-up marketings have been a significant factor in lower cattle, feeder and calf prices this fall.
Normally, cattle dressed weights peak this time of the year before falling seasonally. Lower weights could portend working through the supplies of heavy cattle leading to reduced beef production and some support for prices.
Steer weights the second week of November averaged 920 pounds (lb.), 18 lb. heavier than a year ago. That was 7 lb. below the week before and the lowest since the week of Sept. 26. Heifer dressed weights declined by a pound from last week to 848 lb. The 72-lb. difference between steer and heifer dressed weights was the smallest since mid-May.
USDA’s November Cattle-on-Feed Report will be released on Friday. Analyst expectations indicate that October marketings will be down about 5% from a year ago. It is important to remember that October 2015 had one less slaughter day than October 2014. While marketings and slaughter should be below a year ago, daily average slaughter and marketings were likely very close to last year.
Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Concern of FMD Risk in Namibian Proposal
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) issued comments in opposition to the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) proposal that would add Namibia to the list of countries whose meat inspection system for boneless fresh beef is adequate for importation into the United States.
The southwestern African nation is seeking the listing to export boneless fresh beef produced south of its Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) into the United States. The VCF was built in 1954 to protect producers in the southern region of the country from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks occurring among roaming, native African buffalo north of the VCF.
NDSA President Steve Brooks, a Bowman, N.D., cow-calf and seedstock producer, said that the 86-year-old cattle producers’ trade organization remains concerned about the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) lack of recent on-site animal health inspections in Namibia. APHIS inspectors last visited the country 12 years ago.
For more information, view the full NDSA news release online.
2016 Black Books Available
You can now order 2016 AngusSource®/BRS black books. The pocket-sized books include a calendar, as well as space to keep management records on your cow herd. They feature the American Angus Association logo on the back.
Producers can request two free books and purchase additional books for $3 each. To place orders, contact the AngusSource Department at 816-383-5100 or blackbooks@angus.org.
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