News Update
August 22, 2016
New Tradition for the National Western Angus Bull Sale
For more than a century, the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo., has been a focal point of the U.S. cattle industry.
In celebration of that heritage, the American Angus Association will host a new evening event as part of the NWSS on Jan. 11, 2017, in the historic Stadium Arena. Activities will combine the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, the National Angus Bull Sale and live entertainment. The sale will be followed by the Texas-based band, Jake Hooker and the Outsiders.
“Not only will Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen have a unique opportunity to purchase and merchandise breed-leading genetics, but we’re also enthused about the opportunity this event represents to bring together cattle producers from across the country in a new venue,” says David Gazda, Association regional manager and sale manager. “It’ll be a great event for Angus — one that people will really enjoy attending — in one of the industry’s great, historic settings.”
The National Angus Bull Sale is the only one managed by the member-driven organization, and attracts consignors and buyers from throughout the country.
For more information, please view the full Angus news release online.
United States Cattle on Feed Up 2%
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.2 million head on Aug. 1, 2016. The inventory was 2% above Aug. 1, 2015.
Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.57 million head, 2% above 2015. Net placements were 1.52 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds (lb.) were 352,000 head; 600-699 lb. were 235,000 head; 700-799 lb. were 360,000 head; and 800 lb. and greater were 625,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.71 million head, 1% below 2015. Marketings were the lowest for July since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during July, 11% below 2015.
For the full National Agricultural Statistics Service report, please view online.
R-CALF USA Convention to Include Surrogate Presidential Candidate Speakers
National cattle trade association Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Front, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) invited representatives from the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton presidential campaigns to address the group’s 17th Annual Convention to be hosted Aug. 26-27 at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyo. The letters of invitation identify nine key issues the group says are critical to the future of independent cattle farming and ranching.
Invitations were sent to Charles Herbster, national chairman of Trump’s Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee, and to Amanda Renteria, national political director for Clinton.
As of press time, Herbster has confirmed that former Ohio Congressman Bob McEwen will speak at the group’s convention on behalf of the Trump campaign. The Clinton campaign contacted R-CALF USA and said they are checking schedules.
“Competition is fast disappearing from our cattle markets, and we need the next administration to take decisive action to correct this,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
“That is why we provided the candidates with summaries of our key issues that range from reinstating country-of-origin labeling to ending antitrust and anticompetitive practices, to reforming the beef checkoff program, to establishing a trade policy that doesn’t invite imports from disease-affected countries and restores the national sovereignty our country has surrendered to the World Trade Organization,” Bullard added.
For more information, please view the full R-CALF news release online.
North Texas Wildlife Conference to Help Landowners
Organizers of the North Texas Conservation Easement Workshop aim to help rural landowners hang on to their piece of the state, organizers said.
The conference will start with registration from 9:15-9:45 a.m. followed by the program from 9:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Parker County, 604 N. Main Street in Weatherford.
“AgriLife Extension is partnering with the Texas Land Conservancy to provide an educational program targeted to North Texas landowners,” said John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo. “The event will focus on tools to help families hold on to their land in a changing world, while stewarding natural resources and wild places.”
Tomecek said topics to be addressed will include conservation easements, estate planning, wildlife tax valuation, state and federal assistance programs and a talk from a Parker County landowner with an active conservation easement.
Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival. The fee will include lunch. For more information, contact Jay Kingston, AgriLife Extension agent in Parker County, at 817-598-6168, jkingsto@ag.tamu.edu, or Tomecek, 325-657-7311, John.Tomecek@ag.tamu.edu.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Temple Grandin to Speak at NMSU
Growing up as an autistic child is not easy, but Temple Grandin worked her way through adversity and has succeeded in many capacities. In fact, she was named to Time magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2010.
Grandin is a world leader in livestock-handling facility design. Almost half of the cattle processing facilities in North America include a special feature she designed.
She has developed animal-welfare guidelines in the meat industry, and her research regarding grazing-animal behavior has helped producers reduce stress during handling.
She’s written several books about both autism and animals. Her book, Animals in Translation, was a New York Times best seller.
Grandin will bring her expertise and inspiration to New Mexico State University (NMSU) Aug. 24-26.
NMSU Animal and Range Sciences Department Head Glenn Duff heard Grandin speak while at Montana State University.
“She’s so passionate about what she does, and she really connects with the audience,” Duff said. “Agriculture is what we are in New Mexico, and this is an opportunity to look at some of the things she’s done and how it relates to much of what we do.”
For more information, please view the full NMSU release online.
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