News Update
May 31, 2017
Auxiliary Accepting Consignments
The American Angus Auxiliary will host its second annual Full Circle Online Auction, a national Angus consignment sale. Full Circle Online Auction is an innovative web-based consignment market that offers Angus breeders, families and allied industry the opportunity to both sell and buy, while making a substantial contribution to help ensure the sustainability of the Auxiliary’s ongoing support of the Angus breed and its youth.
The online auction will be Sept. 27-28 and is hosted by www.anguslive.com. Proceeds will support the Auxiliary’s mission, including breed promotion, beef education and youth development through programs, awards and scholarships.
The Auxiliary is currently seeking a wide variety of items with a fair-market value in excess of $100. Auction categories include Angus memorabilia/collectibles, games/toys, vacation packages, home décor, cattle services, embryo/semen packages and other useful items. Consignments received by June 1, 2017, will receive 90 days of advertising, including an ad in the Angus Journal.
Consignors can donate 100% to the Auxiliary or can choose to receive 50% of the gross revenue their lots generate, as well as recognition in the sale promotion to be launched at the NJAS and on the online site throughout July, August and September.
Cattle on Feed
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.0 million head May 1, 2017.
The inventory was 2% above May 1, 2016. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.85 million head, 11% above 2016. Net placements were 1.78 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds (lb.) were 348,000 head, 600-699 lb. were 255,000 head, 700-799 lb. were 490,000 head, 800-899 lb. were 495,000 head, 900-999 lb. were 190,000 head, and 1,000 lb. and greater were 70,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.70 million head, 3% above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during April, 13% below 2016.
Culver’s “Scoops of Thanks Day” Raises $50,700
Giving back to local communities has never been so delicious. On May 4, guests stopped by Culver’s restaurants across the country to donate $1 (or more) to local FFA chapters and other agricultural organizations. Guests received a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard in return for their donation, raising $50,700 for agricultural education organizations.
Scoops of Thanks Day is part of Culver’s Thank You Farmers program, which works to support today’s farm families and the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“Supporting agricultural education in local communities is as important to our guests as it is to Culver’s,” said Jessie Corning, senior marketing manager for Culver’s. “Scoops of Thanks Day allows us to come together and show our support for the next generation of agricultural leaders.”
To date, the Thank You Farmers initiative has raised more than $1 million in support of the National FFA Organization and Foundation, local FFA chapters and a variety of local agricultural organizations.
To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit www.culvers.com/farmers.
Equipment Sales Show Optimism Tied to Policy Promises
Weak commodity prices continue to hurt farms and hamper growth in rural economies, but new industry reports show some signs of improvement in agriculture, fueled by discussions over federal tax and regulatory reform, and increasing sales as farmers replace aging equipment.
Policy experts are hopeful the momentum will continue, especially if Congress makes sound decisions regarding farm policy, which provides a foundation for the rural economy. But, there’s still a long way to go.
Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral, according to its May report. The index, released May 18 was 44.6. Anything above 50 is considered economic growth. The last time the overall index was at or above growth neutral was August 2015.
Economic activity in agriculture varied across the report’s 10-state region. Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska all saw increases in economic markers while others states saw decreases with Wyoming remaining unchanged.
For more information, view the full news release online.
NDSA Feedlot Tour to Feature Western North Dakota
North Dakota beef producers interested in the state’s cattle feeding industry can take a closer look at several top-of-the-line feeding facilities during the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA’s) 15th annual feedlot tour on June 20.
The tour will feature western North Dakota with stops at Rocky Valley Ranch near Center, N.D.; Price Farm and Ranch near Stanton, N.D.; The Wanner Feedlot near Hebron, N.D.; and Beaver Creek Ranch near Richardton, N.D.
Seats on the tour bus are filling quickly, but those wishing to reserve their spot can still do so by contacting NDSA Environmental Services Director Scott Ressler at 701-223-2522 or sressler@ndstockmen.org before June 15.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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