News Update
January 29, 2016
Sign Up for Angus Events by March 1
The March 1 deadline is fast approaching to sign up for two outstanding educational experiences offered by the American Angus Association. Seedstock breeders and commercial cattlemen alike are invited to apply for this year’s Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) and an upcoming Cattlemen’s Boot Camp hosted at Washington State University.
BLI is a premier leadership experience for Association members that provides a look into the entire beef supply chain, while enhancing participants’ knowledge of the Association and strengthening their leadership skills. Angus producers between 25-45 years old are encouraged to apply for the ninth annual BLI scheduled for June 20-24.
During the event, BLI participants are able to tour a beef harvesting and packing facility, retailer, fabricator, feedlots and other industry segments, including the American Angus Association. Those selected will also learn about the ultimate end product — the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand — and how the branded beef program drives demand for quality Angus genetics.
The Association provides transportation, lodging, meals and materials during BLI. Attendees will be responsible for round-trip transportation between their home and either Kansas City or Saint Joseph, Mo. Download your application today.
For more information, please view the full Angus news release online.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Numbers are everywhere. They matter to a rancher, so they matter to the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand. A natural progression, CAB’s Black Ink team set out to uncover stories behind both common and irregular numbers that affect a cattleman’s future. From 120 million to -2.26, each one tells a story of how even the seemingly random and only slightly related are intertwined to impact profitability.
Every number has a story — take, for instance, 32 million.
Ever wished for a do-over? A closed-eyes-squint-really-tightly-and-ask-for-things-to-go-back-to-the-way-they-started kind of plea?
Time on earth isn’t exactly set up as such, but sometimes the opportunity for a fresh start — or in this case, a brand new green pasture — is.
Take the drought. While rainfall has since brought some relief to the Midwest, cattlemen in California and parts of Oregon and Washington continue to find ways to survive on dry ground.
Drought, along with periods of high feed and live-cattle prices, the advancing age of ranchers and grazingland competition with cropland, contributed to the nation’s smallest cow inventory in decades, says John Paterson of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
View the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
International Guests Visit National Angus Convention
Not only did Overland Park, Kan., draw Angus members from the United States for the Angus Means Business National Convention & Trade Show Nov. 3-5, 2015, the host city lured visitors all the way from the eastern hemisphere.
Renier Theron of South Africa and John, Owen and Tom Dae of China spent their convention days learning about American Angus cattle production. Although they hail from different continents themselves, the collective conclusion from both parties was the desire to attend another convention in the future and the admiration for the vast mechanization of U.S. cattle production.
Theron first heard of the convention through Facebook. He had never visited North America before and was eager to see the United States. After he saw the Facebook post, he said he immediately began searching for more information on the convention, but it didn’t take long for him to book his trip.
“I decided to come here and meet up with Angus breeders … and see how Angus genetics are progressing in the States,” he says.
For more information, please view the full Angus Journal article online.
Farm Bureau Approves Strategic Action Plan for 2016
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released highlights of its 2016 strategic action plan, which addresses public policy issues in the coming year. The plan is a result of deliberations of delegates to the AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla.
The board-approved plan focuses the organization’s attention on a number of key issues including:
- Creating a more-positive dialogue with consumers about modern agricultural practices;
- Protecting farmers’ ability to use biotech plant varieties and other innovative technologies;
- Opposing unlawful expansion of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act; and
- Moving forward with congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
“We will continue to work hard to protect the business of American agriculture on all fronts. This plan is an important roadmap to key issue areas that AFBF and our grassroots members will address in 2016,” AFBF President Vincent “Zippy” Duvall said.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule remains among the most pressing issues in agriculture. Although presented as a water issue, the measure in fact would unlawfully regulate land in violation of the Clean Water Act itself. The rule takes over local and state authority, while threatening private property rights and normal farming activity nationwide.
For more information, please view the full AFBF news release online.
K-State’s 103rd Annual Cattlemen’s Day set for March 4
Kansas State University (K-State) will host Cattlemen’s Day 2016 on Friday, March 4, at Weber Hall in Manhattan. The day starts at 8 a.m. with refreshments, educational exhibits and a commercial trade show. The program begins at 10 a.m.
Paul Heinrich, CEO of specialized food service broker, Encore Food Solutions LLC, will give his perspective on the cattle industry economic outlook, including different customer segments and their focus on “center of the plate” items. Encore is based in Richmond, Texas.
Lunch will be sponsored by commercial exhibitors and U.S. Premium Beef, followed by industry, university and producer presentations on an array of topics in Weber Hall and Call Hall.
The cost to attend Cattlemen’s Day 2016 is $20 if paid by March 3 at noon or $30 at the door. There is no charge for students. Online registration is available at www.ksubeef.org. For more information, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu.
The 39th Annual Legacy Sale http://asi.ksu.edu/bullsale will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Stanley Stout Center following Cattlemen’s Day.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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