News Update

January 27, 2017

National Western Angus Bull Sale
a ‘Smash Hit’

The national anthem echoed through the historic Stadium Arena during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) as the crowd stood at attention and cowboy hats were drawn in tight. Rows of Angus breeders, commercial producers and stock show attendees filled every corner at the official start of the National Western Angus Bull Sale.

The all-new evening event, hosted Jan. 11 by the American Angus Association, was a celebration of the breed's impact on Western ranching and a look to the future for quality genetics and beef production. Sponsored by Merial, the event combined the Association’s annual bull sale with an Angus Foundation fundraiser.

“The new format for the National Western Angus Bull Sale is another step forward for the breed, for the Association, and it is something we are all very proud of,” said Allen Moczygemba, American Angus Association CEO. “We want to celebrate our heritage and the expansion of Angus, yet look to our future and what is possible. Through events like this, our Association continues to grow in relevance and to connect with our ultimate customer, commercial cattlemen.”

Continue reading in the Angus news release online.

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

USMEF Statement on TPP Executive Order

In response to the executive order withdrawing the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng issued the following statement:

“USMEF remains fully committed to our valued trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These countries account for more than 60% of U.S. red meat exports.

In some of these key markets, the U.S. red meat industry will remain at a serious competitive disadvantage unless meaningful market access gains are realized. We urge the new administration to utilize all means available to return the United States to a competitive position, so that our industry can continue to serve this important international customer base and further expand our export opportunities.”

— Adapted from a release by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Confront Reality

What a difference a year makes.

Changes in cattle prices have pressured enterprise leaders across the beef business.

The long run of sustained high prices insulated cow-calf producers from the doldrums experienced by the larger economy for the past eight to 10 years.

Commodity prices will once again move upward in the future just as certainly as this will not be the last time that we will deal with market downturns.

However, our turn in the barrel has arrived, and the cattle business is going to feel pressure. Our enterprises will find profitability more challenging to attain over the short run. This is not the time for wringing hands; instead, these times call for excellent leadership. Thus, it is valuable to take a few notes from the lessons learned by observing leaders in other industries that have struggled during the last decade.

When things are tough, people will look to the leader of the organization. As such, the behavior, attitude and tone of the leader resonates with more force than during times of plenty.

Continue reading the Angus Journal column online.

— Adapted from an article by Tom Field for Angus Media.

Stan Lock Joins Select Sires as
Beef Business Development Manager

Select Sires Inc. is excited to announce the addition of Stan Lock as beef business development manager. His responsibilities will include training and mentoring beef sales representatives to provide turnkey artificial insemination (AI) programs and reproductive and genetic consultation.

Lock will also develop and lead large-herd sales and service programs, provide expertise in stockmanship and facility design for low-stress cattle handling, represent Select Sires at beef industry events, identify research opportunities and provide sire acquisition and marketing input. Lock will be based from his home in Republic, Mo.

Lock has spent more than 30 years in the AI industry in sales and marketing roles where he developed and maintained sales teams, conducted AI training schools, promoted custom semen collection and assisted with sire acquisition.

For more information, view the Select Sires news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Danielle Brown, Select Sires Inc.

Feed grains, Silage Focus of Feb. 8 Muleshoe Conference

The Bailey Feed Grains and Silage Conference conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bailey County is set for Feb. 8 in the Bailey County Electric Cooperative meeting room, 610 E. American Blvd. in Muleshoe.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the program to follow from 9 a.m.-noon, said Curtis Preston, AgriLife Extension agent in Bailey County.

“Our aim is to provide timely information about crop management and industry issues,” Preston said. “It will be a program well worth attending as evidenced by our two main AgriLife Extension presenters, Dr. Jourdan Bell, agronomist, and Dr. Ted McCollum, beef cattle specialist, both from Amarillo.

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

— Adapted from a release by Steve Byrns, Texas AgriLife Communications.

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

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