News Update

July 20, 2016

Texas Couple Inducted
Into Honorary Angus Foundation

The National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) recently recognized Joe and Susanne Bush of Gatesville, Texas, as the newest inductees into the Honorary Angus Foundation at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Grand Island, Neb.

The Bushes hope to pass on their passion for the Angus business to the next generation of Angus breeders. The couple finds pride in helping youth however they can and believe in the lessons learned from being in the agricultural community. They also recognize the importance of education and how it benefits those who will carry on the Angus breed and agriculture industry.

“We like to watch the kids as they take care of their animals,” Joe says. “The experiences they gain and the foundation it builds for them to go and be more productive adults is easily seen.”

At the 2016 NJAS awards ceremony, the Bushes were honored along with fellow inductees Kelly and Martie Joe Schaff, Schaff Angus Valley, Saint Anthony, N.D., and Bob and Becky Tiedeman, North Platte, Neb.

To continue reading, view the Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Sarah Hill, Angus Media.

National Cattlemen’s Foundation W.D. Farr Scholarships

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is now accepting applications for the W.D. Farr Scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year. The scholarship was established by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation to honor the successful career of the late W.D. Farr. Two annual $12,000 grants will be awarded to outstanding graduate students that demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and will allow the students to further their study in fields that benefit the cattle and beef industry.

2015 scholarship recipient Greta Krafsur, veterinarian and a third-year anatomic pathology resident at Colorado State University, believes that the scholarship is an investment in the future of sustainable production of food animals.

Krafsur’s ambitions include the formation of a consulting group, providing disease prevention and treatment protocols to reduce the incidence of respiratory disease and right heart failure in the beef industry.

For more information, view the NCBA news release online.

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

Congressional Fever Tick Forum in Washington

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) leaders testified July 12 in Washington, D.C., at a Congressional forum regarding fever tick issues impacting the cattle industry in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. The forum was hosted by U.S. Representatives Filemon Vela and Ted Yoho, along with U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson.

“TSCRA appreciates the Congressional leaders who have worked on the fever tick issue and have given us the opportunity to testify at this informative and productive forum,” said Dave Delaney, TSCRA Fever Tick Subcommittee member and general manager of the King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas.

“Ranchers in the South Texas and Rio Grande Valley region have been working tirelessly to control the fever tick. Ranchers’ abilities to manage the most recent fever tick outbreak have been made extremely difficult due to the current infestation of wildlife on the 223,000 acre Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).”

Read more in the complete TSCRA news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Laramie Adams, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

R-CALF USA Requests Block of Feedlot Merger

In a letter sent July 11 to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, her deputy, and the leadership of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, R-CALF USA requests immediate antitrust enforcement action to block the proposed mega-feedlot merger between Cargill Cattle Feeders LLC (Cargill Cattle Feeders), and Friona Industries (Friona).

Cargill Inc. (Cargill) is proposing to sell two of its four Cargill Cattle Feeders feedlots to Friona.

R-CALF USA states the two feedlot companies, which together market about 1.5 million cattle per year, are tied as the third-largest cattle feedlot companies in the United States. The group wrote that while it fully supports the divestiture of feedlots owned by meatpacker giant Cargill, the effect of the proposed sale of two of Cargill feedlots to Friona will substantially reduce competition in both the feeder cattle market and the fed cattle market.

For more information, view the R-CALF news release online.

— Adapted from a release by R-CALF USA.

Seeking Member Input

The American Angus Association seeks member input in order to establish the long-range plan and strategic vision of the nation’s largest beef breed organization. Members were emailed questionnaires, which are also available within AAA Login (www.angusonline.org).

Survey responses submitted online will be accepted through July 31, and respondents may enter to win a cash drawing. The Association’s long-range initiative encompasses insight from all areas of the beef cattle business, and member input is vital and appreciated.

Contact the Association at angus@angus.org if you have questions regarding the survey.

— Announcement from the American Angus Association.

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