News Update
October 31, 2016
Consumer Research on Quality Beef
The Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand is coming off another record-setting year, with more than 1 billion pounds of product sold worldwide in fiscal year 2016. Contributing to the milestone are countless success stories up and down the production chain and an unwavering commitment to understanding the ultimate end user: beef consumers.
Certified Angus Beef LLC conducts ongoing research to measure how the brand resonates with consumers and the value they associate with CAB products.
“What we’ve found is that comparative to any grade or other Angus brand, we tested against four different Angus brands, the Certified Angus Beef brand would be the most highly recognized,” says CAB’s Tracey Erickson. “In fact, 95% of consumers recognize the logo.”
She added that consumers also recognize the CAB name and logo as higher quality that other brands in the marketplace: “We also find that customers feel that restaurants who serve the brand are of higher quality.”
Learn more about customer perceptions of the brand in this week’s episode of The Angus Report. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday or 7:30 a.m. CST every Monday on RFD-TV.
Ag Exports Surge Boosted GDP Growth
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement Oct. 28:
“Today’s report on gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of 2016 brings welcome news for our overall economy and brings further affirmation that America’s agriculture sector remains a shining star in our nation’s ability to seize export opportunities.
Economic growth has increased 2.9% in the third quarter of 2016, a direct result of the gains made in export sales. Exports reached 10% growth in the quarter, the highest since 2013, with agricultural exports contributing disproportionately to the gains.
Although a strong U.S. dollar and lower commodity prices have created headwinds for America’s farmers and ranchers, this report demonstrates their ability to remain resilient and to seize opportunities to sell U.S. food, fiber and fuel to markets around the world.”
To read the complete statement, view the USDA news release online.
Presidential Candidates Invited to R-CALF USA’s Convention
R-CALF USA’s annual membership conventions have evolved over the past 17 years. Despite overlapping four presidential elections, never before did the group extend invitations to presidential candidates. But this year it did and one presidential candidate sent a spokesperson to address the nine issues the cattle group said were critical to the future of the U.S. cattle industry.
The U.S. cattle industry generated more than $78 billion in cash receipts in 2015, making it by far the largest segment of American agriculture. R-CALF USA believes the industry’s size and importance to America’s economy warranted a visit by the candidates.
Candidate Donald J. Trump’s surrogate speaker, former Ohio Congressman Bob McEwen, recently addressed the crowd of R-CALF USA members who gathered in Cheyenne, Wyo., from 18 different states. Candidate Hillary Clinton sent the group a letter that was read during the convention.
Continue reading in the R-CALF news release online.
BLM Wild Horse & Burro Programs Out of Compliance
In a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of the Interior, the OIG found the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wild horse and burro program does not maximize efficiencies and is not compliant with federal regulation. Public Lands Council (PLC) President and Utah rancher, Dave Eliason, said this report confirms what public lands ranchers have long known to be true.
“The fact is that wild horse and burro populations are growing at unsustainable rates on our nation’s public lands,” said Eliason. “The unchecked growth of these populations threatens the productivity of public grasslands and the health and welfare of the wild horse and burro populations.”
Continue reading in the PLC news release online.
Do-it-yourself Rangeland Brush Control
Do-It-Yourself Brush Control Equipment will be the subject of a Nov. 3 natural resources webinar conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service ecosystem science and management unit.
The webinar is a part of the Texas Range Webinar Series scheduled the first Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m., said Pete Flores, AgriLife Extension webinar coordinator in Corpus Christi.
This month’s presenter is Bob Lyons, AgriLife Extension range specialist and Texas A&M University ecosystem science and management associate department head, Uvalde.
“We will discuss recommended equipment and techniques for do-it-yourself rangeland brush control with emphasis on Brush Busters leaf spray, stem spray and cut-stump treatments,” Lyons said. “The rationale behind the use of equipment and techniques, as well as a list of resources also will be presented.”
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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