News Update
November 20, 2017
“Raising the Steaks” to Debut on RFD-TV Thanksgiving
Today’s world is becoming more and more urban, and with that, people are further removed from the farm. In fact, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average American is at least three generations removed from the farm, and less than 2% of the population is directly involved in agriculture. Because of this growing disconnect, there are a lot of consumers who don’t know where their food comes from and have never set foot on a farm. These consumers have an increasing number of questions about how their food is produced.
In “Raising the Steaks,” a documentary produced by the American Angus Association that will appear on RFD-TV on Thanksgiving Day, one consumer couple got the chance to tour the entire beef production chain, meet the people who produce their beef, ask all their questions and learn about the process.
“As an increasingly urban society, educating consumers about food production becomes more and more important,” said Clint Mefford, Angus Association director of communications. “We are proud to be able to do our part in giving two consumers the opportunity to see the whole beef production cycle and be able to share that with our membership and other consumers alike.”
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
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 11.3 million head on Nov. 1, 2017. The inventory was 6% above Nov. 1, 2016.
Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.39 million head, 10% above 2016. Net placements were 2.32 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds (lb.) were 675,000 head, 600-699 lb. were 590,000 head, 700-799 lb. were 510,000 head, 800-899 lb. were 368,000 head, 900-999 lb. were 160,000 head, and 1,000 lb. and greater were 90,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.80 million head, 6% above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 73,000 head during October, 28% above 2016.
View the full USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report online.
Summit on the Summit
Members of the Angus Media team conquered any fear of heights while reaching new professional heights at this year’s Agricultural Media Summit (AMS), hosted July 22-26 in Snowbird, Utah. While in the Wasatch range of the Rocky Mountains, Team Angus, with help from the Angus Journal, Angus Beef Bulletin, Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, I Am Angus, The Angus Report, American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), earned more than 35 awards or recognitions from the 19th annual event, themed “Summit at the Summit.”
The groups brought in 25 awards from the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), and 11 awards from the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA).
Jim Odle, founder of Superior Livestock Auction in Brush, Colo., and Fort Worth, Texas, and Maynard Hogberg, professor emeritus and most recently Animal Science Department Chair at Iowa State University, received the LPC Headliner award. LPC’s Headliner Award Program, introduced in 1980, pays tribute to individuals for meritorious service to the livestock industry.
Read the full Angus Journal article online.
House-passed Tax Bill ‘Step in the Right Direction’
Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and fourth-generation Nebraska cattle producer, responded to the U.S. House approval of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:
“House approval of this comprehensive tax-reform legislation is a step in the right direction, but we will continue to work hard to make sure that final legislation doesn’t include provisions that would create undue and unfair burdens for certain segments of our industry.
“Specifically, this bill would immediately double the death-tax exemption and put the tax on the path to extinction in five years. That’s a major victory for family ranchers and cattle producers. The bill also fully preserves the step-up in basis, allows businesses to immediately and fully expense the cost of new investments, increases Section 179 small-business expensing limits, and expands cash accounting. These are all victories for cattle producers.
“Unfortunately, the House-passed bill would also significantly limit the ability of some businesses from deducting their interest expenses. This could be a big problem for some members of the cattle-production business.”
Learn more in the full NCBA release online.
The Power of Words
I recently had an “aha” moment while shopping at a vintage market. The store, which is only open one weekend a month, was buzzing with shoppers. I was among them, and we were ogling over what most people would call “junk” — from old dishes and dusty furniture to tools and rusty buckets. The checkout counter had a lengthy line, and the vintage wares were flying out the door.
As I drove home, I pondered the unique success of this store. Through the art of words, the store owners — and many others — have created a hearty business in selling junk.
Years ago these places were called flea markets. Then, calling them antiques came into vogue. During the past few years, “upcycling” and “vintage” have become the marketing words of choice, and through the nostalgia created, a frenzy of sales have followed.
This concept of “story-selling” with key words can be evidenced in other areas, as well. I recently heard a radio ad promoting a local town’s “handmade” ice cream. Once upon a time, the marketing focus would have been on homemade, but now “handmade” conjures up a more appealing image.
Continue reading this Angus Journal article online.
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