News Update
November 7, 2017
2017 Marks Another
Successful Year for Angus
The American Angus Association experienced another outstanding year, confirmed by the 2017 fiscal year-end report. From coast to coast, producers were affected by deadly wildfires, unprecedented flooding, tropical storms and more. Despite a year plagued by natural disasters, Angus producers were resilient, and the Association’s membership persevered.
Registrations for Angus cattle totaled 332,421 head in fiscal year 2017, which began from Oct. 1, 2016, and ended Sept. 30, 2017. That’s the 17th largest number of registrations in the Association’s 134-year history, despite a less than 1% decline in registrations compared to 2016.
“I’m honored to report that, across the Association’s entities, there were a number of outstanding achievements in 2017,” said Allen Moczygemba, American Angus Association CEO. “Perhaps the biggest highlight of the year was the revamped National Western Angus Bull Sale held in Denver last January.”
The year got off to a running start at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The 2017 Angus Bull Sale, an event on many producers’ calendars, drew the largest agricultural crowd to the National Stadium Arena since the 1950s.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
USDA to Re-engage Stakeholders
on Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Nov. 6 it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the agency’s biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most effective, science-based approach for regulating the products of modern biotechnology while protecting plant health.
“It’s critical that our regulatory requirements foster public confidence and empower American agriculture while also providing industry with an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation,” said Secretary Sonny Perdue. “To ensure we effectively balance the two, we need to take a fresh look, explore policy alternatives, and continue the dialogue with all interested stakeholders, both domestic and international.”
APHIS oversees the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of genetically engineered organisms to ensure they do not pose a plant pest risk. This important work will continue as APHIS re-engages with stakeholders.
“Today, we need to feed some 7 billion people. By the year 2050, that population will swell to 9.5 billion, over half of which will be living in underdeveloped conditions. To put the demand for food into perspective, we are going to have to double our production between now and 2050,” said Purdue.
Learn more in the full USDA news release online.
USDA Invests in Broadband Infrastructure
in Unserved and Underserved Rural Areas
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett Nov. 6 announced that USDA is investing more than $200 million in infrastructure projects to bring broadband to hundreds of unserved and underserved rural communities.
“Broadband infrastructure is vital to our economy and quality of life in rural America. Yet, today nearly 40% of rural residents and businesses lack access to the same quality service available in urban centers,” Hazlett said. “Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is working hard to bridge this gap. From access to health care to workforce training and connection to global markets, broadband is truly a lifeline to prosperity in rural communities.”
Hazlett discussed USDA’s work to expand broadband access in rural areas during a visit to Upshur County, W.Va. She announced that USDA is awarding a grant to the Central West Virginia Development Association to provide broadband to more than 3,600 households, businesses and community facilities in Barbour, Randolph and Upshur counties.
Hazlett and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) met with local officials at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and discussed how the grant will help students with educational and career opportunities.
For more information, read the USDA news release online.
Ranch Group Files Summary
Judgment Brief in COOL Case
Last week, co-plaintiffs Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) and the Cattle Producers of Washington (CPoW) filed a brief for summary judgment in their country-of-origin labeling (COOL) case in the federal district court located in Spokane, Wash. The groups seek to reinstate that portion of the recently repealed COOL law that required beef and pork imported from foreign countries to retain their origin labels all the way to the consumer.
The brief alleges that the USDA is knowingly violating U.S. law by not requiring meatpackers to carry forward the country-of-origin labels that are on the packages and containers when meat is imported, so that origin information is passed along to consumers rather than stripped off the products.
It alleges the USDA is allowing meatpackers to remove origin labels even after the agency itself, its attorneys, and the Congressional Research Service have acknowledged that the USDA’s regulations are in conflict with U.S. law.
The groups further state that rather than comply with the law, the USDA allows multinational meatpackers to reclassify foreign meat as a domestic product even if all the meatpackers do is unwrap and rewrap the imported product.
Read the full R-CALF news release online.
Cooper Farms, Cattle Empire to Match Donations
to Alliance on Giving Tuesday
Donations to the Animal Agriculture Alliance will be doubled on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, thanks to Cooper Farms and Cattle Empire. These two companies have pledged to match donations so every contribution will go twice as far to protect the future of animal agriculture. Visit www.animalagalliance.org/donatenow to make your contribution.
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the power of social media and community collaboration. Mark your calendar today for Nov. 28 so after celebrating Thanksgiving with your family, you can continue celebrating the giving season with the Alliance.
Cooper Farms has pledged to match donations to the Alliance up to $5,000. “As producers of turkey, pork and eggs, we directly see the positive impact of the Alliance working to bridge the communication gap between farm and fork,” said Terry Wehrkamp, director of live production at Cooper Farms and chairperson of the Alliance board of directors. “Cooper Farms is proud to help the Alliance connect, engage and protect the future of agriculture by matching donations for the second year in a row.”
Continue reading this Animal Agriculture Alliance news release online.
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