News Update
December 23, 2016
Holiday closing
The American Angus Association and Angus Media offices will close at noon (CST) today and remain closed through Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday.
Offices will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016.
‘I Am Angus’ Broadcasts Dec. 26
Each of the cattlemen and women who choose to raise Angus as a path to quality beef does so in their own way. The more than 25,000 who make up the registered Angus business, and thousands more who use their seedstock genetics, have their own stories.
From expansive ranges out West to the flatlands of the Great Plains, and to the quiet pastures of the Southern states, you’ll find Angus people and I Am Angus® stories at every turn.
Join the American Angus Association for a new episode of its documentary series, I Am Angus, at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST) Monday, Dec. 26, on RFD-TV.
I Am Angus travels cattle country and visits individuals and families dedicated to raising cattle, caring for the land and raising the highest-quality beef in the world — the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand. The hour-long documentary is produced entirely by Angus Media, and pays tribute to cattle producers dedicated to quality genetics and preserving ranching traditions.
The upcoming episode, sponsored by the Angus Foundation, recognizes the diverse group of individuals who set the pace for quality in the entire beef industry: leaders, teachers, innovators — and most importantly, ranchers.
For more information, please view the full Angus news release online.
Red Meat, Beef and Pork Production
at Record Highs for November
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.50 billion pounds (lb.) in November, up 11% from the 4.04 billion lb. produced in November 2015.
Beef production, at 2.24 billion lb., was 16% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.67 million head, up 16% from November 2015. The average live weight was down 8 lb. from the previous year, at 1,384 lb.
Veal production totaled 6.7 million lb., 5% below November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 47,300 head, up 22% from November 2015. The average live weight was down 67 lb. from last year, at 243 lb.
Pork production totaled 2.24 billion lb., up 8% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.6 million head, up 9% from November 2015. The average live weight was down 2 lb. from the previous year, at 283 lb.
Lamb and mutton production, at 12.1 million lb., was up 3% from November 2015. Sheep slaughter totaled 184,900 head, 2% above last year. The average live weight was 131 lb., up 1 lb. from November a year ago.
For more information, please view the full USDA NASS report online.
Farm Bureau, NCBA Applaud USTR for
Defending U.S. Beef from European Mistreatment
On Dec. 22, 2016, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will start the process of reinstating retaliatory tariffs on goods and products from the European Union (EU) due to the EU’s unfair treatment of U.S. beef. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Tracy Brunner applauds USTR Ambassador Michael Froman for standing up for the U.S. beef industry and taking action in defense of U.S. beef producers.
“The European Union has left us no choice but to seek compensation for the longstanding mistreatment of U.S. beef exports,” said Brunner. “Our temporary agreement with the EU was meant to be an opportunity to build a bridge of trust between U.S. beef producers and EU consumers and to compensate the United States for the losses we have suffered as a result of the EU’s hormone ban. The EU has violated the spirit of that agreement and caused U.S. beef exports to become a minority interest in a quota meant to compensate U.S. beef producers.”
In 2009 the U.S. and the EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the EU agreed to create a new duty-free quota for imports of specially produced beef to compensate the United States for losses arising from the EU’s ban on the use of hormones in beef production.
For more information, please view the full NCBA release online.
PLC and NCBA Comment on
Endangered Species Coalition Report
After reviewing the report released on Wednesday, Dec. 21, by the Endangered Species Coalition, entitled “Removing the Walls to Recovery: Top 10 Species Priorities for a New Administration,” the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the NCBA announced Dec. 22, several additional species overlooked by the report.
Since a gaping lack of scientific evidence does not appear to be a barrier to entry on this particular list, nor does a dearth of hard data, PLC and NCBA propose adding two additional imperiled and overlooked species: the Western Sasquatch and the flying North Pole (Santa’s) reindeer.
The Western Sasquatch is of great concern to enthusiasts and reality television viewers throughout the country, yet is altogether ignored by conservationists. Lovers of the Sasquatch are reduced to searching for footprints and other trace evidence of the great creature or waiting for new updates to the Netflix library.
Similarly, it is believed that only nine of Santa’s reindeer exist today, and warming temperatures increase the impending threat to their habitat. The extinction of these flying reindeer, all of whom have been affectionately named, would be a great loss for children and elves alike.
For more information, please view the full news release online.
MU ‘Computers on the Farm’ Meeting
Lets Farmers Share Ideas on New Tools
The Computers on the Farm conference, Jan. 13-14, is a family affair.
“Young people take home and apply what they learned before mom and dad do,” says John Travlos, leader of the University of Missouri (MU) meeting at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach.
Parts of the annual meeting are often taught by the kids, Travlos said.
“Bring the family.”
Much of the conference consists of current farm users sharing what they’ve learned about computers, he said. It’s for basic beginners and advanced users.
This time FFA members are expected to share how they developed uses they picked up last year. That includes a way to tell if an electric fence gate is open or closed.
“One computer, known as Raspberry Pi, is so small it can be powered by the charge on an electric fence,” Travlos said.
The conference started 37 years ago with the arrival of microcomputers. Early on the priority was switching farm recordkeeping to computers. A big part of the program this year will be on converting to paper-free mode.
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