News Update

March 22, 2016

Angus Announces Routine
Calibration of GE-EPDs

American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), the organization’s genetic services subsidiary, will soon release newly calibrated genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs). AGI plans to release the latest calibration of its genomic-enhanced selection tools in mid-April.

The process is the fifth of its kind since introducing GE-EPDs in 2010, and further refines how DNA test results are incorporated with pedigree, performance measures and progeny data into the selection tools released through the Association’s weekly National Cattle Evaluation (NCE).

AGI President Dan Moser says the extensive process of calibrating GE-EPDs results in further accuracy on more animals in the Association’s growing database, but with generally less incremental change with each consecutive calibration.

To read more, please view the full Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Crystal Albers, Angus Media.

Frazier Named to Lead NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has named Kendal Frazier its new chief executive officer. NCBA president Tracy Brunner made the announcement, saying he is confident that the nation’s oldest and largest cattle industry association is in good hands.

“It was the belief of the officers and others involved with the search process that NCBA owed it to our members, our stakeholders and the beef community to take our time as we selected the right individual to serve as the next chief executive officer,” said Brunner. “Today, we can say with confidence that Kendal Frazier is the right leader for the association. With many years of experience working for state and national beef organizations, he has helped to guide our industry through some of its greatest challenges.”

For more information, view the complete NCBA release online.

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

Farm to School Programs Invest Nearly $800 Million

Schools across the United States purchased $789 million in local foods from farmers, ranchers, fishermen and food processors and manufacturers in school year 2013-2014, according to results from the USDA Farm to School Census released March 15. That represents a 105% increase over the 2011-2012 school year when the first census was conducted, signifying the deepening commitment of schools nationwide to bring local food into the cafeteria and strengthen their local economies.

Schools report that farm to school programs can increase the number of students purchasing school breakfast and lunch, improve consumption of healthier foods at school and reduce plate waste. The programs are often also heavily focused on nutrition education, helping teach children where their food comes from and exposing them to lessons about healthy eating.

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

— Adapted from a release by the USDA.

Spring Outlook in Missouri Another Coin Toss

Missouri’s weather has a reputation for unpredictability, which gave rise to the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.”

That adage appears to be holding true this spring. The outlook from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center is for drier weather northeast of Missouri and wetter conditions to the southwest, said University of Missouri (MU) Extension climatologist Pat Guinan. “That puts Missouri in a corridor of essentially equal chances of above-, below- and near-normal precipitation.”

Spring temperatures may be mild in parts of the state. “There are indications for an enhanced likelihood of above-normal temperatures across much of the northern U.S., and that actually dips down into northern Missouri,” Guinan said.

Read more in the complete MU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Debbie Johnson, University of Missouri Extension.

NMSU to Host Annual Indian Livestock Days

Cattle production in the Indian Country of northwestern New Mexico is on the increase, with revenue of $125 million in 2015, according to the N.M. Department of Agriculture annual agricultural statistics.

To help producers continue to improve their herds and profit, New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service hosts the New Mexico Indian Livestock Days annually in Albuquerque. This year’s conference will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, May 11 to 13, at Route 66 Casino Hotel on Interstate 25 west of Albuquerque.

“The participants have asked for more live demonstrations, so this year we have added a second afternoon of three outdoor sessions,” said Kathy Landers, NMSU McKinley County Extension director. “As always, there is going to be a lot of information for livestock producers.”

For more information, read more in the news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jane Moorman, New Mexico State University.

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