News Update
January 31, 2018
Angus Genetics Inc. Announces
Foot Score Research EPDs
Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) announced Jan. 30 the release of two new foot score research EPDs, the first of its kind in the United States for beef cattle.
The American Angus Association has been collecting foot scores since 2015, with approximately 12,000 data points sent in. Members have reported two scores, one for claw set and one for foot angle. The pair of scores is based on a scale from one to nine, with five being ideal for both traits.
AGI Director of Genetic Research Stephen Miller says the collaboration with membership in collecting foot scores allowed steady advancement toward a foot score research expected progeny difference (EPD).
“Angus breeders have completed a tremendous amount of data reporting in such a short period of time; this is truly a testament to their commitment toward genetic progress,” Miller said. “We are absolutely thrilled to begin the process of rolling this breakthrough out to the membership.”
Last summer, AGI initiated a research analysis on yearling foot scores with the collected data. The analysis reported moderate heritability estimates for both claw set (0.25) and foot angle (0.25).
Read the full Angus news release online.
NFU Urges Follow-through on
President’s Promises
Regarding Trade and Infrastructure
In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump continued his promises to turn the page “on decades of unfair trade deals” and to rebuild the nation’s “crumbling infrastructure,” both issues of major concern for American family farmers and ranchers.
In response to the president’s remarks, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said:
“Family farmers and rural residents are looking to President Trump to deliver on his promises to fix the nation’s failed free trade agreement framework and crumbling rural infrastructure.
“The president, rightly so, spoke to how our past trade agreements disadvantage the working class, family farmers and their communities. These agreements operate under a failed framework that the president can begin to fix by replacing NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) with an agreement that addresses our massive trade deficit and lost sovereignty. Unfortunately, President Trump has gone about this in a fashion that isn’t conducive to positive relations with our trading partners. The administration must produce a better NAFTA and avoid massive market disruption through a NAFTA withdrawal.
“We also appreciate the president’s attention to current infrastructure woes.”
Learn more in the full NFU news release online.
Unity, Reform and Upgrades Themes
in President Trump’s Address
In regard to President Trump’s State of the Union address, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said:
“From regulatory reform and trade to immigration reform and infrastructure upgrades, President Trump (Jan. 30) unveiled a policy roadmap that aims to unify and strengthen our nation. Many of the provisions he outlined will continue the theme of renewing rural America. Now, we must work to secure those policy provisions.
“The president mentioned tax cuts, and many farm and ranch families will benefit from lower tax rates. Farming is a capital-intensive business, and during this prolonged period of economic challenge across farm and ranch country, we applaud the president’s leadership and all the hard work by Congress that went into our new tax law.
“It was refreshing to hear his continued pledge to make Washington accountable. The cost of complying with regulations takes a bite directly out of the already slim profit margins our farmers and ranchers are facing today. While much has already been done, there is still more work to do.
View the full Farm Bureau news release online.
2018 Farm Bill Conferences set in Kansas and Nebraska
The new 2018 Farm Bill is coming together and experts are beginning to see the form it will take. Starting in February and extending into early March, economists from the Kansas State University (K-State) Department of Agricultural Economics are partnering with the University of Nebraska Extension to bring the latest information on the new farm bill to a conference near you.
Topics include the economic conditions of farmers and Title 1 programs with K-State Research and Extension’s Mykel Taylor; proposed crop insurance changes with K-State’s Art Barnaby, and potential impacts to conservation programs with Nebraska’s Brad Lubben. The series will allow Kansas and Nebraska producers to engage presenters with their own thoughts on possible changes, and use the dialogue to further understand issues facing the agricultural community within the new farm bill’s framework.
“We want to give our clearest vision of what the new farm bill is shaping to be, and give producers information to help with their operational planning,” Taylor said.
Over the years, the farm bill has expanded to include many agricultural and food sectors, plus bioenergy and natural resource management.
For more information please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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