News Update
November 21, 2017
Support the Angus Foundation
in Las Vegas
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift that will be remembered, the Angus Foundation can help. Five unique packages will be sold in support of the Angus Foundation during the National Angus Finals Sale in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 10, 2017.
“These offerings are very exciting,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Unrestricted funds raised through the sale of these five packages will boost Angus Foundation youth, education and research activities for 2018.”
The Angus Foundation was invited to participate in the auction by Decades of Excellence, the American Angus Hall of Fame and Angus Live. The Angus Foundation will offer the following packages at auction: 2018 Angus Foundation Golf Tournament event title sponsorship, Lathrop Livestock Transportation, Relax at the Biltmore, CMA Awards and action-packed weekend at the 2018 Kentucky Derby.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
FMCSA Issues 90-day Waiver of
ELD Mandate for Livestock Haulers
At a briefing hosted Nov. 21 at the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it would grant a 90-day waiver from the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) mandate for all transporters of agricultural commodities. The 90-day period begins Dec. 18, 2017, and will allow the agency additional time to review the recently filed exemption requests from the Agricultural Retailers Association and the National Pork Producers Council, of which the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and other livestock groups jointly filed.
FMCSA also announced its plan to open a public comment period related to the application of the agricultural commodity hours-of-service exemption and to clarify the existing 150 air-miles hours-of-service exemption to enforcement officers and industry.
USCA’s Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Hilker said: “During our trip to Washington, D.C., this year, we sat down with FMCSA personnel to discuss how the implementation of ELDs would present unique challenges for livestock haulers. We’re pleased that they have continued that conversation by issuing this 90-day waiver to fully evaluate how our industry can comply with this regulation.
“We’re confident that upon further examination, the administration will find that livestock haulers need additional flexibility in the mandate, specifically in the restrictive hours-of-service (HOS) rules. USCA will continue to be an active participant in these discussions and asks its members to do the same by submitting comments and keeping pressure on their elected officials to support the industry in securing these needed changes."
Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), added, “This is very good news for cattle and beef producers, and it’s a sign that the administration is listening to the concerns that we have been raising. We’ve maintained for a long time that FMSCA is not prepared for this ELD rollout, that there needs to be more outreach from the Department of Transportation to the agricultural community and that there’s currently still major confusion on the agricultural exemption on Hours of Service known as the 150 air-mile rule.
“This rule would certainly be helpful to our cattle haulers across the country. We want to thank Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao for listening to our concerns, and we’ll continue to work with her and FMCSA to make sure that our cattle are delivered safely and that our drivers and others on the road are safe, as well.”
Farmers Receive 11¢ of Thanksgiving Retail Food Dollar,
NFU Farmer’s Share Shows
Farmers and ranchers take home just 11.4¢ from every dollar that consumers spend on their Thanksgiving dinner meals, according to the annual Thanksgiving edition of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Farmer’s Share publication. The popular Thanksgiving Farmer’s Share compares the retail food price of traditional holiday dinner items to the amount the farmer receives for each item they grow or raise.
“This holiday season, it’s important for us to take time to recognize and thank the family farmers and ranchers who provide our Thanksgiving meals,” said Rob Larew, NFU’s senior vice president for public policy and communications. “If you don’t live on a farm or work in agriculture, you probably don’t realize the tremendous difference between the price you pay for food at the grocery store and the prices farmers end up receiving for these products. While consumer holiday food costs have declined recently, incomes for American farm and ranch families have dropped precipitously. We’re in the midst of the worst farm economic downturn in 30-40 years, and we’re hopeful these numbers can help illustrate that fact to the general public.”
For more information, read the NFU news release online.
USDA Provides Tips and Resources
for a Bacteria-free Thanksgiving
More than 45 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving Day, with a never-ending list of side dishes and desserts. The Thanksgiving meal is by far the largest and most stressful meal many consumers prepare all year, leaving room for mistakes that can make guests sick. Never fear, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is available with tips and resources to make this Thanksgiving safe and stress-free.
“Turkey and other meat and poultry may contain salmonella and campylobacter that can lead to serious foodborne illness,” said acting FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker. “By properly handling and cooking your turkey, you can avoid these harmful pathogens and ensure your family has a safe and healthy Thanksgiving feast.”
Begin by following these five steps.
Wash your hands, but not your turkey
Washing your hands before cooking is the simplest way to stop the spread of bacteria, while washing your turkey is the easiest way to spread bacteria all over your kitchen. According to the 2016 Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Survey, 68% of consumers wash poultry in the kitchen sink, which is not recommended by the USDA.
Learn more in the USDA news release online.
Forest Service Takes ‘Important Step’
on Greater Sage-Grouse Management
Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the NCBA federal lands, Nov. 21 responded to the United States Forest Service Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on greater sage-grouse management plans:
“Today’s announcement represents an important step towards correcting the flawed 2015 Land Use Plan Amendments for the greater sage grouse. We are glad that the Forest Service has joined the Bureau of Land Management in recognizing that additional consideration and public comment are sorely needed before any further action is taken. Emerging science has shown that — as written — the flawed amendments will inappropriately target proper grazing due to poorly structured habitat objectives requirements found throughout the plans. PLC and NCBA look forward to working with the Department of Interior to correct the 2015 Land Use Plan Amendments, which failed to incorporate local knowledge and expertise in the management of sage grouse habitat.”
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