News Update

December 29, 2015

Charitable IRA Rollover
Renewed for 2015 and Beyond

President Obama recently signed legislation that indefinitely extends the charitable Individual Retirement Account (IRA) rollover, making it retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015, with no expiration date. The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution, is a special provision allowing certain donors to exclude from taxable income — and count toward their required minimum distribution — certain transfers of IRA assets made directly to public charities, including the Angus Foundation.

Since it was first made available in tax year 2006, Angus Foundation supporters age 70½ or older have used this popular option to fund Angus education, youth and research programs of their choice with restricted tax-free gifts ranging from $100 to $100,000.

Charitable IRA rollover gifts of $10,000 or more, for example, can be designated by the Angus supporter to establish a permanent endowment fund in their name, Angus farm/ranch name, or in memory of a family member through an Angus youth scholarship.

To learn more, view the complete news release.

— Adapted from a release by Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation.

Omnibus Legislation Affects Cattlemen

With bipartisan support, Congress passed the $1.15 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill Dec. 18, funding much of the government through fiscal year 2016. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Philip Ellis said the bill contained several victories for cattlemen and women.

Coming within days of facing retaliation from two of the United States’ largest trading partners, the bill repeals mandatory country-of-origin (COOL) labeling for beef.

“COOL has plagued our industry for many years now, costing us millions and driving us to the brink of retaliation from two of our largest trading partners,” said Ellis.

The COOL statute requires meat to be labeled with the country where the animal from which it was derived was born, raised and harvested. (It also applies to fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, and certain nuts.)

For more information, please view the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from news releases compiled from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council.

North Dakota Hearing on Administrative Rule Changes

The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health will be hosting a public hearing at 9 a.m. CST on Jan. 6, in the Brynhild Haugland Room at the State Capitol in Bismarck regarding several administrative rule changes pertaining to the Board of Animal Health Administrative Code.

Revisions relate to animal health matters, as well as a brand inspection fee change. To view the proposed rules, visit www.nd.gov/ndda/administrative-rules-proposed-changes.

Written comments on the rule changes will also be accepted until Jan. 20. To submit them, write to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 602, Bismarck, ND 58505-0020.

If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 701-223-2522 or the Board of Animal Health at 701-328-2655 or 800-242-7535.

— Adapted from a release by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

From Hardwood to Hard Winters

At the heart of every winning team is a good game plan, one that puts the players where they’re meant to be and gives them a chance to be successful, all while keeping an eye on the goal.

Kipp and Megan Sparrow of Mercer, N.D., learned the art of strategy and teamwork early. In their rural hometowns, just 100 miles apart, each preferred basketball to ice fishing, and the end of high school found them both playing basketball at nearby Jamestown College. The two quickly formed a bond over the love of the game and a shared sense of humor.

Yet, they had their eyes on life after basketball.

Although Sparrow admits his wife is currently the planner, keeping the busy family — which includes daughters Sophie, 12; Daisy, 10; and Charlie, 6 — on schedule, he started off with a game plan of his own. “I knew where I wanted to be: back on the ranch.”

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

Beef, Protein an All-day Discussion in 2015

If beef is what’s for dinner, what should be on the plates for the other meals? If you said it’s still beef, you’d be right. The fact is, research shows balancing protein throughout the day makes good nutritional sense.

However, few Americans eat this way. The beef industry, through its Beef Checkoff Program, is working to educate consumers on the value of balance and adequate protein intake.

The challenge has been formidable. Research shows that Americans eat about two-thirds of their total daily protein at the dinner meal. That doesn’t leave much room for protein in your breakfast and lunch meals or snacks — and that could be a problem, current researchers say.

For more information, please view the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from an article by Walt Barnhart, Federation of State Beef Councils.

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

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