News Update
June 27, 2017
Angus Moves to Single Step July 7
Driven by the rise of genomic technology and uptake by the nation’s Angus breeders, the American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) announce monumental changes to the breed’s weekly genetic evaluation.
Beginning Friday, July 7, the organization will become the first major U.S. beef breed to incorporate single-step methodology to calculate, on a weekly basis, all of its expected progeny differences (EPDs) and dollar-value indexes ($Values). The move is the result of years of dedicated research and development to equip Angus breeders with the industry’s most sophisticated, accurate and reliable performance data and genetic selection tools.
“This is a new era for genetic evaluations,” says Stephen Miller, AGI director of genetic research. “Angus breeders have been anticipating single step, and we believe they will greatly benefit from the methodology’s increased precision.
“We’ve also incorporated several major enhancements to the evaluation,” he continues. “It’s new and improved in a number of ways.”
Continue reading about the enhancements in the Angus news release online.
Ag Secretary Travels to China to Mark Return of U.S. Beef
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will travel to China this week, joining with U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, to formally mark the return of U.S. beef to the Chinese market after a 13-year hiatus. In events in Beijing and Shanghai on Friday, June 30, 2017, and Saturday, July 1, 2017, Perdue will meet with Chinese government officials to celebrate the return of American beef products to the enormous market after shipments were halted at the end of 2003.
On Friday in Beijing, Perdue and Branstad will ceremonially cut prime rib that originated in Nebraska and was shipped by the Greater Omaha Packing Co.
“I will be proud to be on hand for the official reintroduction of U.S. beef to China,” Perdue said. “This is tremendous news for the American beef industry, the agriculture community, and the American economy in general. We will once again have access to the enormous Chinese market, with a strong and growing middle class, which had been closed to our ranchers for a long, long time. There’s no doubt in my mind that when the Chinese people taste our high-quality U.S. beef, they’ll want more of it.”
For more information, read the full USDA news release online.
All-American July 4th Cookout Down Slightly
A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for the Fourth of July, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, will cost slightly less this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $55.70, or $5.57 per person. The cost for the cookout is down slightly (less than 1%) from last year.
“As expected, higher production has pushed retail meat prices down,” said AFBF director of market intelligence John Newton.
Competition in the meatcase is making grilling for July 4th even more affordable for consumers this year, Newton noted.
“Retail pork prices also declined in 2017, largely due to more pork on the market and ample supplies of other animal proteins available for domestic consumption. Lower beef prices are most likely putting downward pressure on pork prices,” he said.
Learn more in the news release online.
Rough-N-Ready Cattle Feed Recall
ADM Animal Nutrition™, a division of Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM), is recalling 50-pound bags of Rough-N-Ready 14 BT cattle feed, product number 54787BHB24, because the product contains elevated levels of monensin beyond the recommended dosage, which could be harmful to cattle. At elevated levels, monensin can be toxic to cattle and can cause colic-like symptoms, hypokalemia, myoglobinuria, chronic cardiovascular issues and possible death.
There is one lot number involved in this recall: Lot # 2WS01717. The product was distributed between Jan. 19, 2017, and Feb. 2, 2017, and could have been purchased directly from ADM Animal Nutrition or through one of three distributors including: Midwest Fertilizer, Inc. in Iola, Kan.; CW Feeds in Wichita, Kan., and Northtown Ace in Mountain Grove, Mo.
ADM Animal Nutrition received reports from two customers claiming this feed may have resulted in death loss on their respective farms.
View the complete ADM news release online.
New Insurance Plan for Triticale Now Available in Seven States
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced June 23 a new insurance plan option for the crop triticale. Triticale is a cross between wheat and rye and can be covered through this new plan.
The triticale plan derived from the Federal Crop Insurance Act’s 508(h) process, which allows private parties to develop insurance products that are: (1) in the best interests of producers, (2) follow sound insurance principles and (3) are actuarially appropriate.
Insurance for triticale is now available in select counties in California, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington and will be effective for the 2018 crop year. The plan provides coverage for damage resulting from naturally occurring events. It is similar to other individual yield-based insurance plans and uses a producer’s actual production history to establish the insurance guarantee.
Read the entire USDA news release online.
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