News Update

January 7, 2016

Dietary Guidelines Support
Lean Beef in a Healthy Diet

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released Jan. 7, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA, reaffirm the role of lean beef in a healthy diet and confirm that Americans are, on average, consuming lean meat in daily amounts that are consistent with the recommendations for protein foods.

Richard Thorpe, a physician and Texas cattle producer, agreed, saying he is pleased the guidelines recognize all the strong science that supports the many Americans who are looking to build a healthful diet with lean beef.

“As a physician, I appreciate the Secretaries making sure the dietary guidelines are based on the latest nutrition science,” said Thorpe. “Numerous studies have shown positive benefits of lean beef in the diet, and I commonly encourage my patients to include beef in their diet to help them maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients they need to be physically active.”

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

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

HHS and USDA Release New Dietary Guidelines

Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack released updated nutritional guidelines Jan. 7 that encourage Americans to adopt a series of science-based recommendations to improve how they eat to reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the nation’s trusted resource for evidence-based nutrition recommendations and serves to provide the general public, as well as policy makers and health professionals with the information they need to help the public make informed choices about their diets at home, school, work and in their communities.

Importantly, the guidelines suggest Americans should consume:

A variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy and other vegetables
Fruits, especially whole fruits
Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages
A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, and nuts and seeds

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

— Adapted from a release by the USDA Office of Communications.

American Angus Association Welcomes Chelsey Smith

With more than 25,000 members across the country, the American Angus Association has a deep commitment to engaging and informing Angus breeders of all types. Chelsey Smith of Hays, Kan., has joined that mission in her new role as the organization’s assistant director of events and education.

Smith is a former state secretary for the Kansas FFA Association, and most recently served as an outreach and donor events coordinator for the Kansas FFA Foundation while attending Kansas State University. She graduated in December 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and industry, and assumed her new position Jan. 4 at the Association’s headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo.

“Chelsey’s passion for education and the beef cattle industry will contribute greatly to our department and organization,” says Jaclyn Clark, Association director of events and education. “We’re looking forward to using her talents in planning and executing events and programs throughout the year for our youth and adult members.”

To learn more about Smith, access the complete news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

Highlights from the Omnibus Bill

Agricultural groups met the Omnibus Appriopriations Bill passed by Congress in late December with mixed reaction. The $1.2-trillion bill funds the government through September and contains a $622-billion tax section.

Most notably for cattlemen, the bill repeals mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef, which removes the threat of more than $1 billion in tariffs. The NCBA reports the spending bill also requires a more stringent regulatory process for allowing beef imports from regions with a history of animal disease outbreaks and continues to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring clean air permits or greenhouse gas reports from livestock operations.

However, it did not contain any language addressing the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) measure. Additionally, more funds were allocated for wildfire management, and certain provisions block the sage grouse listing, as well.

For more on the Omnibus bill watch this week’s episode of The Angus Report. You can also tune in at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday, 7:30 a.m. CST Monday and 5 p.m. each Wednesday on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

2016 Angus Foundation Heifer to Sell in Denver

SAV Emblynette 5368 (AAA Registration No. 18141862) will headline the Angus Foundation Heifer Package set to sell at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the NWSS in Denver, Colo.

Schaff Angus Valley of Saint Anthony, N.D., is donating the March 23, 2015, heifer selected for her individual quality and maternal excellence. She is the one-of-a-kind natural daughter of the elite fifth-generation Pathfinder® SAV Emblynette 5483, who has posted a weaning ratio of 104 on seven calves and has earned a stellar production record. 5368’s Pathfinder granddam remains productive in the SAV program at 18 years of age.

Visit www.angusfoundation.org for more information about the 2016 Angus Foundation Heifer Package.

— Announcement from the Angus Foundation.

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