News Update
August 18, 2017
Saint Joseph Office Closed for Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will be visible Aug. 21 from the continental United States. It will be the first event of its kind in nearly a century to traverse coast to coast, and the American Angus Association’s headquarters sits directly in its path. Saint Joseph, Mo., will experience just more than 2 minutes and 38.6 seconds of totality, only 1.4 seconds short of the maximum time possible along the path.
Because traffic, travel and general disruption in and around the city could be significant, the Saint Joseph office of the American Angus Association will be closed Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
A Clean, Well-lighted Place
Marg Dreesmann sits quietly, speaking softly and articulately as she recounts the past 50 years, each of which she’s spent with the American Angus Association. The 71-year-old insists she has nothing special or exciting to tell as she shifts in her chair and crosses her legs. Every move she makes is methodical; every word she speaks is carefully chosen.
In contrast, as her conversation flows, she’s warm, friendly and forwardly confident. Dreesmann is soft-spoken, but sure.
“She’s kind of indescribable,” offers Lou Ann Adams, director of information systems for the American Angus Association. “She’s, like, the best,” she says, hesitating as she searches for the best way to describe her first mentor.
Continue reading this Angus Journal article online.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen Kicks off New Season
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Cattlemen to Cattlemen returns Aug. 29 for a new season featuring an in-depth look at the outcomes of the beef checkoff-funded 2017 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA). The audit is conducted every five years and provides a set of guidelines and measurements on beef quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply.
Along with the results from NBQA, this season will showcase news from Washington, D.C., animal health and management, producer education, market news, a day in the life of cattle producers and more. NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen is created by cattlemen for cattlemen and offers topics that are valuable for producers to use.
“Cattlemen to Cattlemen is one of the best ways NCBA can communicate with farmers and ranchers today,” said Kevin Ochsner, Cattlemen to Cattlemen host. “We are very proud of the value this television show brings to the beef industry.”
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen airs Tuesday nights at 8:30 p.m. eastern on RFD-TV. In addition, all episodes are available online at www.YouTube.com/cattlementocattlemen.
Read the NCBA news release online.
Daily Livestock Report –– Pasture Conditions
Summer weather takes a toll on pastures during this time of year, and this year is not different. USDA currently estimates that 47% of pastures and ranges are in excellent or good condition, 4 points less than the same time last year. Current conditions still are above that 10-year average but, as with corn, one needs to recognize that the long-run average includes that disastrous 2012 year when good/excellent rating dropped to under 20%. Current pasture rating is the worst since 2013.
Deteriorating pasture conditions and deteriorating profit outlook could continue to put pressure on cow-calf operators, pushing calves to market earlier than expected and, in some cases, forcing producers to change their plans about expanding the beef cow herd. Low feed costs and ample hay supplies have bolstered calf supplies in the last three years. But much as we would like that to be the case, weather patterns turn and invariably this directly impacts cattle production (pastures/corn) and hog/chicken production (corn).
Read the full report at www.dailylivestockreport.com.
Johnson-Hoffman Elected as GRSB Vice President
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is proud to announce the election of Nicole Johnson-Hoffman as the new vice president of the GRSB.
Johnson-Hoffman was elected to the position by the GRSB board of directors following the stepping down of former Vice President Francisco Beduschi Neto.
Currently based in the greater Chicago area, Johnson-Hoffman works as the chief sustainability officer and senior vice president for OSI Group, a leading meat and food supplier to some of the world’s biggest brands. She has been a part of the meat industry for nearly 12 years and has been involved in agriculturally-based businesses for more than 20 years.
Having grown up on a small farm in Minnesota, Johnson-Hoffman says agriculture is her life’s work, and she is proud to be a part of helping to feed the world and provide a beneficial part of people’s diets.
“I love being able to work with producers and collaborate with people from across the supply chain,” said Johnson-Hoffman of her work with OSI.
For more information, please view the full GRSB news release online.
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