News Update

January 5, 2017

Register for Raising the Bar Conferences

The National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) hosts Raising the Bar leadership conferences each year as a way to encourage its members to travel, meet other NJAA youth and learn more about the Angus business. Raising the Bar conferences will take place in two locations this spring, and juniors are encouraged to take note of upcoming deadlines.

Raising the Bar conferences will be hosted in Baton Rouge, La., March 2-5; and Des Moines, Iowa, April 6-9. The tentative schedule for both conferences includes a campus tour, educational workshops, farm and ranch tours, as well as social activities and games. Go online to access a conference schedule for Louisiana and Iowa.

Made possible through donations to the Angus Foundation, the NJAA’s Raising the Bar conferences are an opportunity for junior members to experience college campuses across the country, learn about careers in agriculture and connect with other cattle enthusiasts.

For more information, view the Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

Federal Lands Priorities for Trump Administration

The Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued federal land management priorities for the new administration to bring responsible management and economic viability back to the Western landscape.

“Ranchers and other multiple-use interests in the West have been subjected to an almost wholesale shift in federal land management policy under the Obama administration,” said Dave Eliason, PLC president. “While the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a clear directive to manage BLM lands for multiple use and sustained yield, instead focus has shifted toward ‘conservation’ without responsible management.”

Within the first 100 days in office, the associations are calling on the administration to bring an immediate halt to the Sage Grouse Resource Management Plans, repeal the sprawling monument designations made through abuse of the Antiquities Act, address the critical habitat designations imposing stifling restrictions on landowners, and immediately withdraw Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) “waters of the United States” rule and the BLM’s planning 2.0 rule.

For more information, view the NCBA news release online.

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

FDA Announces Implementation of GFI #213

On Jan. 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has completed the implementation of Guidance for Industry #213, a process begun in 2013 to transition antimicrobial drugs with importance in human medicine (medically important antimicrobials) that are used in the feed or drinking water of food-producing animals to veterinary oversight and eliminate the use of these products in animals for production (e.g., growth promotion) purposes.

On Dec. 23, 2016, the agency released three Federal Register documents to update the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) reflecting changes to most of the new animal drug applications affected by GFI #213. The FDA can now report that, as of Jan. 3, 2017, all affected drug applications have either aligned with the recommendations outlined in GFI #213, or their approvals have been voluntarily withdrawn. As a result of these changes, these products cannot be used for production (e.g., growth promotion) purposes and may only be used under the authorization of a licensed veterinarian.

For more information, view the FDA news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Statement of Zippy Duvall AFBF:
Nomination of Robert Lighthizer for USTR

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) looks forward to working with United States Trade Representative (USTR) nominee Robert Lighthizer. Mr. Lighthizer has had a long and distinguished career in trade, working in the White House, Senate and private sector to assure favorable trading conditions for American goods and services.

“America’s farmers and ranchers know unfair regulations, steep tariffs and senseless non-tariff barriers undermine our exports. We must work together to remove these obstacles to prosperity and identify new global opportunities that will benefit American agriculture.

“Economic growth in rural America depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States. Since more than 95% of the world’s population lives outside our borders, expanding access to international markets is essential for our future success. We trust Mr. Lighthizer will work tirelessly to assure it.”

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Pasture Management Program

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host an East Texas Pasture Management Program Feb. 17 in Overton.

Cost is $25 per person if preregistered by Feb. 15 or $35 the day of the event. Register online at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu or call AgriLife Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604.

Five Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator continuing education units including one laws and regulations, one integrated pest management and three general will be available.

“One advantage to this program is that it provides five CEUs for a half-day course,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton. “And there is some pertinent information regarding pesticide use, especially for pastures and hay production.”

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by Adam Russell, Texas AgriLife Communications.

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