News Update

December 15, 2016

Keep It In the Family

Three Angus families shared their stories of working through generational succession on their operations during a panel discussion hosted as part of the Angus University Workshops on Nov. 6.

Kansas Angus breeders Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, Kan., and Paige Pratt of Johnson Farms LLC, Dwight, Kan., were joined by Donnell Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch based in Texas. The discussion was moderated by Barbara Dartt with The Family Business Consulting Group.

Brown, who is the youngest of four siblings, credited his parents for fostering family communication around the dinner table 40 years ago while the children were still young. Four years ago, his parents had the foresight to initiate the transfer of the ranch to the four children and their families, allowing the children to decide how to divide the land.

“My parents said, ‘We’ve lived our dreams and want to watch our kids pursue theirs,’” Brown explained.

Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Kindra Gordon for Angus Media.

USDA Announces Farmer Fair Practices Rules

The USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announced Dec. 14 updated regulations to protect the rights of farmers. The Farmer Fair Practices Rules target the most harmful practices hurting farmers and clearly outline common sense protections to restore fairness and reduce the burden for farmers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA).

According to USDA, the new rules would level the playing field for farmers by proposing protections against the most egregious retaliatory practices harming chicken growers. The Farmer Fair Practices Rules are comprised of an interim final rule and two proposed rules GIPSA sent Dec. 14 to be published in the Federal Register.

For more information, access the USDA news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA.

NCBA & NPPC: GIPSA Rules Destructive

USDA released their final rulemaking on the 2010 PSA. Tracy Brunner, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president said these provisions are very similar to the 2010 proposed rules that industry groups have consistently voiced concern over. He also pointed out that Congress has repeatedly defunded the rules due to the staggering harm they would cause industry.

“The GIPSA rules are especially troubling to the cattle industry,” said Brunner. “As we have consistently stated, if adopted, this rulemaking will drastically limit the way our producers can market cattle and open the floodgates to baseless litigation. In a time of down cattle markets, the last thing USDA needs to do is limit opportunity. The fact of the matter is, we don’t trust the government to meddle in the marketplace.”

USDA has announced the new GIPSA regulations include an interim final rule on competitive injury and two proposed rules to address undue preference and the poultry grower ranking system.

Written by the USDA’s GIPSA, the “interim final” rule broadens the scope of the PSA of 1921 related to the use of “unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices” and “undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages.” Specifically, the regulation would deem such actions per se violations of federal law even if they didn’t harm competition or cause competitive injury, prerequisites for winning PSA cases. (Such actions currently are state court matters.)

“I can’t imagine a more devastating regulation on an industry,” said National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) CEO Neil Dierks. “The rule, which creates legal uncertainty, will destroy opportunities for many in the U.S. pork industry, with no positive effect on competition, the regulation’s supposed goal.”

For more information, view the NCBA news release or NPPC news release.

— Adapted from releases by NCBA and NCCP.

R-Calf & USCA: GIPSA Rules Will Help Reverse
Cattle Industry Decline

The USDA GIPSA has proposed rules to implement key provisions of the PSA. The Fair Practices Rules, previously known as the GIPSA rules, are intended to facilitate competition in the livestock and poultry markets.

“The Trump Administration should support these rules because they are vital to reversing the ongoing decline of our U.S. cattle industry,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

Bullard said the U.S. cattle industry is declining at an alarming rate. He said over half a million cattle farms, ranches and feedlots have exited the industry since 1980, the size of the U.S. cattle herd recently hit a 60-year low, and the volume of beef produced from U.S. cattle has fallen to a 20-year low.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued the following statement from USCA Marketing Committee Chairman Allan Sents:

“The Farmer Fair Practices Rules will seek to restore order in the marketplace, allowing the USDA to maintain their oversight role and prevent anti-competitive buying practices in the livestock sector. We look forward to reviewing the proposals as clarifications and definitions are direly needed within the Packers and Stockyards Act.”

For more information, access the R-CALF news release or USCA news release.

— Adapted from a release by R-CALF USA and United States Cattlemen’s Association.

2017 Angus Foundation Heifer Package

Basin Angus Ranch of Joliet, Mont., will donate the 2017 Angus Foundation Heifer to headline the Angus Foundation Heifer Package set to sell Jan. 11, 2017, at the NWSS in Denver.

The chosen female is Basin Lucy 6265, registration #18479169, a daughter of Basin Lucy 1037, the highest beef dollar value index ($B) female in the Basin Angus Ranch herd and a phenomenal power cow. Basin Lucy 6265’s sire is WR Journey 1X74, the No. 6 bull for $B index out of 24,373 active Angus sires as evaluated Aug. 12, 2016. Journey has an exceptional combination of calving ease, accelerated performance, docility and end-product excellence. Journey ranks in the top 5% or better among current sires for 11 of the measured traits and indexes available on an Angus pedigree.

Learn more about this year’s Angus Foundation Heifer Package online and plan to join the American Angus Association for the new evening event Jan. 11, 2017, in Stadium Arena.

— Adapted from a summary by Shelby Mettlen, Angus Media.

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