News Update

January 20, 2016

Angus Foundation Heifer
Package Sells in Denver

For more than 35 years, the Angus Foundation Heifer Package has been the cornerstone fundraiser for the not-for-profit organization that supports Angus education, youth and research. Year after year, generous donors and buyers come together to provide valuable funds for the future of the Angus breed.

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, a packed crowd in the Beef Palace Arena at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo., witnessed an impressive $230,000 for the Angus Foundation Heifer Package — and longtime Angus supporters, Charles W. and Judy Herbster of Herbster Angus Farms, Falls City, Neb., were the winning bidders. It was the second highest grossing package in the fundraiser’s history.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to once again have the opportunity in purchasing the Angus Foundation Heifer Package for 2016,” says Charles W. Herbster, Herbster Angus Farms Chief Executive Officer and President. “The Junior Angus program is very important to me and all of us at Herbster Angus Farms. These young people are the future of our industry and of our nation. This purchase is particularly special because of our friendship with Kelly and Martie Jo Schaff.”

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

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

National Western Angus Bull Sale Draws Crowd

Angus enthusiasts consigned 46 bulls to the 2016 National Western Angus Bull Sale Jan. 13 in Denver, Colo. The annual sale, which is the only sale managed by the American Angus Association, grossed $368,750 and averaged $8,016. A panel of three judges including Mark Nikkel, Maple Hill, Kan.; Jake Tiedeman, North Platte, Neb.; and Scott Bayer, Ringle, Wis., evaluated the bulls and selected division and overall champions.

K Bar D, Redmond, Ore., consigned the grand champion bull, K Bar D In The Bank 28B, that first won junior champion. The March 2014 son of Barstow Cash was purchased by Brady Angus Farm, La Salle, Ill., for $20,000.

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

— Adapted from a release by Amber Wahlgren, Angus Media.

President Vetoes Resolution of Disapproval of WOTUS

After bi-partisan passage in both chambers of Congress, President Obama vetoed Senate Joint Resolution 22, disapproval of the EPA’s “waters of the United States (WOTUS)” rule.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Philip Ellis said this is a clear indication the President does not understand the role America’s cattle producers, land owners and state governments play in preserving our natural resources.

“We are extremely disappointed the President chose to side with the EPA, which has pulled out all the stops and shown an appalling disregard for the law throughout this rulemaking process,” said Ellis. “In siding with the EPA, the President has ignored the will of Congress, including members of his own party. Moreover, he has taken side against the 32 states, and countless stakeholders who have challenged the WOTUS rule. With Congress clearly showing their disapproval of this rule, the consequences of WOTUS implementation now rest solely with President Obama.”

The Senate voted 53-44 on Nov. 4, 2015, and the House voted 253-166 on Jan. 6, 2016, in support of S.J.Res. 22.

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

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

USDA Expands Microloans to Help Farmers

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced Jan. 19 that the USDA will begin offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans will be especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

The microloan program, which celebrates its third anniversary this week, has been hugely successful, providing more than 16,800 low-interest loans, totaling more than $373 million to producers across the country. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment, and living expenses since 2013. Seventy percent of loans have gone to new farmers.

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

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

BVD Forum Helps Producers Save Money, Save Cows

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) plans to host a one-day forum for beef producers and veterinary practitioners on handling bovine viral disease (BVD).

According to the USDA, acute BVD outbreaks can cost producers between $50 and $100 per cow.

The NIAA Forum will educate attendees on the importance of greater attentiveness toward BVD, similar to what has been done for Johne’s disease, to increase the welfare of their animals and reduce the economic losses associated with BVD.

The forum will be April 7, 2016, in conjunction with the NIAA Annual Conference, which runs April 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo., at the Downtown Marriott.

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

— Adapted from a release by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture.

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