News Update
September 5, 2017
Angus and Your Future
The Angus Foundation is continuously making a positive difference in the future of the Angus breed through education, youth and research efforts. Each year, the Angus Foundation aims to provide additional opportunities and strengthen donor support of the many programs the Angus Foundation funds.
The Angus Foundation will once again recognize supporters who have contributed $250 or more during the current fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2016-Sept. 30, 2017). The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, at the Omni Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas, in conjunction with the 2017 National Angus Convention. For anyone interested in attending, there’s still time to submit a donation to the Angus Foundation.
“The Angus Foundation Supporter Recognition Event is an annual way for the Angus Foundation Board of Directors and staff to show generous supporters appreciation for everything they do,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “The Angus Foundation is truly blessed with an unprecedented amount of support from across the Angus breed.”
The evening will kick off with a social at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner featuring Certified Angus Beef®.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
Animal Supply Points Seeking Livestock-related Donations
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has established Animal Supply Points (ASP) for livestock and other animals in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and has set up a phone bank to take calls from those who would like to make a donation.
“These ASPs have been set up to shelter animals and for the storing and distribution of hay and feed and as a location from which to coordinate volunteer assistance,” said Andy Vestal, AgriLife Extension emergency management specialist, College Station.
Vestal said AgriLife Extension, Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension and Texas Sea Grant personnel in each affected county, along with agriculture-related agencies and industry organizations, continue to assess agricultural and coastal/marine commerce and resource damage.
“We also report animal issues and request state and private sector donated resources to address unmet needs,” he said. “County AgriLife Extension agents are assisting with small- and/or large-animal shelters in 42 counties. In addition to animal shelters, the agency is supporting a network of Animal Supply Points.”
Vestal said donations to these locations are being supported through the ASP Phone Bank at 979-845-7800.
For more information, read the Texas AgriLife news release online.
Cattle Raisers Establish Fund to Help Ranchers
in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey has devastated an extensive area within Texas, including many rural stretches that are home to thousands of cattlemen and women. Many of the affected ranchers are already hard at work, ensuring the safety of their animals and beginning to rebuild. However, as the floodwaters recede in the coming days, even more damage is likely to be revealed. Fences, pens and buildings will need to be repaired or rebuilt, cattle will need veterinary treatment and adequate feed supplies. Cattle raisers across the region will need assistance to complete these vital tasks and restore their operations.
To assist those cattle raisers in need, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) has established the Cattle Raisers Relief Fund. The fund, administered by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation, a 501(c)3, began accepting monetary donations Sept. 1. One-hundred percent of donations will go to support relief efforts for ranch families affected by the disaster.
“It is truly heartwarming to see the outpouring of support that has come from across the entire country,” said Richard Thorpe, president of TSCRA.
Learn more on TSCRA’s website.
Big Meat Supplies Press Prices,
but Consumer Demand Stays Up
Growing supplies of meat and dairy products apply pressure on farm prices through 2017 into 2019. With big supplies, strong consumer demand brings good news for producers.
The offsetting result can be prices near or above last year’s prices.
The outlook comes from a “Baseline Update for Livestock and Dairy Markets” from University of Missouri (MU) Extension economists.
Scott Brown and Daniel Madison add their midterm livestock outlook to the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) annual update. This is only the fourth year since 1980 that per capita supplies of beef, pork and poultry have increased and at the same time prices are staying strong, Brown says.
While more products are welcome news for today, they may set up future price drops if demand fails to keep pace with growth. The previous consumer-driven price surge came in 2004 at the peak of the Atkins diet fame. That demand brought both a jump in domestic supply and higher prices.
This time, the current surge may not remain, the economists say. Projected declines in 2019 prices from 2017 include a 12% drop for fed steers, 14% for feeder steers, 7% for barrows and gilts, and 2% for chicken.
Read the full MU news release online.
UK Weaning 101 Workshop Set for Sept. 13
at Eden Shale Farm
It’s almost time for beef producers to begin weaning spring-born calves. The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is hosting a timely workshop Sept. 13 at Eden Shale Farm in Owenton, Weaning 101, a hands-on weaning program.
“If the market’s got you down, you can come to this workshop and learn how to capture more money for your farm,” said Ben Crites, UK Beef Integrated Resource Management coordinator. “This program is a great opportunity to hear from UK specialists and industry experts on a variety of topics related to weaning.”
The program begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. EDT, rain or shine.
Topics of the day include developing a feeding program for weaned calves, lot management for weaned calves, vaccination protocols, implanting strategies, feeder-cattle grading and economics of weaning calves.
Participants will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on, chute-side experience processing calves, including proper vaccine handling and injection site, implanting techniques and ear tagging.
The program is free to producers and is limited to the first 30 participants.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.