News Update

January 17, 2017

National Western Angus
Bull Sale a ‘Smash Hit’

As the national anthem echoed through the historic Stadium Arena, a crowd stood at attention and cowboy hats were drawn in tight. Rows of Angus breeders, commercial producers and guests filled every corner of the ring during the start of the National Western Angus Bull Sale hosted Jan. 11 by the American Angus Association.

The all-new evening event drew nearly 2,500 attendees, according to reports from the National Western Stock Show (NWSS). It was the largest cattle sale in the arena in recent memory.

The evening paid tribute to the heritage of ranching and also the unprecedented, century-plus expansion of Angus into the West.

Sponsored by Merial, the event featured the National Western Angus Bull Sale, the only one of its kind managed by the Association. Buyers from across the country lined the seats and placed their bids on 45 lots of elite Angus genetics.

In addition to the bull sale, the evening was also an impactful fundraiser for the Angus Foundation. The 2017 Angus Foundation Heifer Package, featuring Basin Lucy 6265, a female donated by the Stevenson family and Basin Angus Ranch of Joliet, Mont., sold for $170,000 to longtime Angus supporters Charles W. and Judy Herbster of Herbster Angus Farms, Falls City, Neb.

For more information, view the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

Financial Focu

Downturn. Reset. Slump. These are all words being used to describe the current ag economy — particularly in comparison to the record-breaking commodity prices from a few years ago.

Where exactly are we in this economic slowdown? Ag industry economist David Kohl shares this perspective: “I call the years from 2008 to 2013 the ‘great commodity super cycle’ in agriculture. … It was the Mount Everest of profits.”

Now, he points to the dramatic dip in commodity price charts and says, “We are on the other side of Mount Everest.”

Thus, Kohl, who is a professor emeritus of agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech and crisscrosses the country speaking to ag industry groups, says the No. 1 question he’s being asked is, “When is this market going to turn around?”

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

NCBA/PLC Support Confirmation for Secretary of Interior

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) released the following statements Jan. 16 in support of the confirmation of Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) for the Secretary of Interior:

“During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Zinke has consistently advocated for our western communities, economies and ranchers,” said Tracy Brunner, NCBA president. “He has demanded transparency and the inclusion of stakeholders when it comes to land management decisions, and has a strong understanding of the challenges that come with stewarding the West.”

Western ranchers own approximately 120 million acres of the most productive private land in the West and manage nearly 250 million acres of public land. Ranchers who hold grazing permits on public land do vital work that benefits public land including the improvement of water sources, improvement of wildlife habitat and maintaining the open space that Americans enjoy, yet are often targeted by outside interest groups.

For more information, view the NCBA news release online.

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

Tom Vilsack to Take Helm of U.S. Dairy Export Council

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) announced Jan. 17 that former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will join the organization as president and CEO effective Feb. 1 . USDEC is a nonprofit, independent organization that seeks to enhance the global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients.

“Growing the global market for U.S. dairy products is essential to the future of the dairy industry and America’s dairy farmers. I’ve spent my career in public service as a tireless advocate for farmers and American agriculture and can think of no better way to continue this service than by leading the U.S. Dairy Export Council,” said Vilsack.

As president and CEO, Vilsack will provide strategic leadership and oversight of USDEC’s global promotional and research activities, regulatory affairs and trade policy initiatives.

For more information, view the news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Steve Tousignant Joins BIVI

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI), a global leader in the animal health industry, Jan. 17 announced that Steve Tousignant, has joined the company as a professional services veterinarian with the swine team. He will cover the upper Midwestern region of the United States.

Tousignant is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, receiving a bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences in 2009, a DVM degree in 2011 and a doctorate in epidemiology and population medicine in 2015. Prior to joining BIVI, Tousignant spent three years as associate veterinarian and director of research at the Swine Center, P.A. in Saint Peter, Minn.

For more information, view the BIVI news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

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