News Update

March 16, 2017

Become Part of Angus History

Now’s your chance to support the future of the Angus breed through youth, education and research while also being a part of Angus history and a permanent display at the American Angus Association headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo.

The new walkway at the Association headquarters is a stunning entrance to the heart of the Angus business. The walkway includes customized granite pavers that will forever display Angus supporters’ devotion to the Angus breed.

You can obtain a granite paver through an unrestricted, tax-deductible donation to the Angus Foundation. Two sizes of granite pavers are available to choose from: 6 in. by 12 in. and 12 in. by 12 in. A limited number of both sizes are still available and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis with payment.

— Adapted from a release by Sarah Hill, Angus Media.

Deadline Approaching: Cattlemen’s Boot Camp in Lincoln

Cattle producers, mark your calendars! A Cattlemen’s Boot Camp will take place April 27-28 at the Animal Science Complex on the University of Nebraska’s East Campus in Lincoln, Neb.

The educational event will be jointly hosted by the American Angus Association and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and will provide purebred and commercial cattle producers with timely information presented by academic and industry professionals. Be sure to register online at www.angusonline.com, or download and send your application by mail before March 31 to ensure you don’t miss all that this event has to offer.

Generously funded by the Angus Foundation, Cattlemen’s Boot Camp is open to all cattle producers and features two days of educational speakers and workshops and hands-on activities to help cattlemen and cattlewomen improve their herd operations.

Continue reading this Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jaclyn Clark, American Angus Association.

Ag Committee Prepares for Next Farm Bill

The House Agriculture Committee recently held its first hearing of the 115th Congress. “Rural Economic Outlook: Setting the Stage for the Next Farm Bill” was the first in a series of hearings the Committee plans to hold this year as it prepares to write a new farm bill.

The hearing was an opportunity to hear from agriculture economists on the state of the farm economy. While agriculture has, no doubt, had some good years, the last several have been trending the wrong direction. The last farm bill’s safety net was written for the high farm prices farmers were receiving at the time. Unfortunately, this safety net is not adequate to deal with the economic conditions facing farmers right now.

For more information, view the news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the House Committee on Agriculture.

USCA Applauds Recent Action on 2.0 Planning Rule

The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued the following statement on the Senate vote to revoke the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2.0 Planning Rule. The statement can be attributed to USCA Vice President Bert Paris:

“The BLM’s Resource Management Planning Rule, better known as the BLM 2.0 Planning Rule, was voted down recently by both the House and Senate. The issue will now go to the President’s desk, where USCA hopes the rule will receive the final signature needed to be repealed.”

“The 2.0 Planning Rule would have taken local control and input away from management decisions on our country’s public lands. The Rule was a step-backwards in the face of recent successes led by public-private partnerships to address the needs of resource management in critical habitat areas, while maintaining production and multiple use.”

“USCA urges the President to follow Congress’ lead in revoking the 2.0 Planning Rule. We look forward to working with the administration and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to maintain a balanced approach to livestock production, community involvement and wildlife and habitat conservation on our country’s public lands over the next four years.”

— Adapted from a release by Lia Biondo, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

Farmers, Ranchers Ask Congress to Strengthen Safety Net

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and 11 other farm and ranch groups March 15 asked congressional budget and appropriations committees to increase funding for farm programs in the 2018 farm bill.

The coalition underlined in a letter the need for a strong farm safety net in the face of financial hardship not seen for decades.

“While we do not yet have a full-fledged financial crisis in rural America, a good many farmers and ranchers are not going to be able to cash-flow in 2017,” the groups wrote. “With USDA projecting continued low prices in 2018 and beyond, this situation threatens to quickly and vastly expand with each and every crop year.”

The advocates also applauded the House Agriculture Committee for drawing attention to the severe economic downturn facing rural America. Net farm income has dropped 50% in the last four years — the largest four-year percentage decrease since the Great Depression.

With no relief in sight, many farmers and ranchers are burning through capital reserves, and beginning farmers may be forced out of business altogether without reserves from good years to carry them through.

For more information, view the AFBF news release online.

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

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

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