News Update
March 13, 2018
Angus Foundation Announces Representative to 2018 NCBA
Young Cattlemen’s Conference
The Angus Foundation has selected John Dickinson of Sacramento, Calif., as the Angus representative to the 2018 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC), hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The NCBA YCC program is an opportunity for young leaders to gain an understanding of all aspects of the beef industry from pasture to plate and showcase the industry’s involvement in policy making, issues management, research, education and marketing.
“I plan on staying active in this industry for the rest of my life, and I’m guessing some of the future decision- and impact-makers are going to be on the YCC trip,” Dickinson said. “I would love the opportunity to not only know them but also work with them for the betterment of the industry and the role of Angus cattle in that same industry.”
Dickinson started his involvement in the American Angus Association as a young man on his family’s farm with 260 head of Angus and 150 head of commercial cattle and in the Illinois Junior Angus Association where he held various officer and director positions and eventually served as president in 1994 and 1995.
Read the full Angus news release online.
USDA Invests $276 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced March 13 the USDA is investing $276 million in rural electric infrastructure to improve system efficiency and reliability. This announcement comes the day before Secretary Perdue is set to testify alongside Secretaries Wilbur Ross, Alexander Acosta, Elaine Chao and Rick Perry at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing focused on rebuilding American infrastructure.
“Investing in our nation’s electric infrastructure is fundamental for rural economic growth,” Secretary Perdue said. “USDA’s longstanding partnerships with rural electric cooperatives help ensure that rural areas have affordable, reliable electric service. These investments also increase efficiency and productivity for businesses and residents, and support the quality of life in rural America.”
USDA’s $276 million investment will build nearly 1,000 miles of line and improve 733 miles of line to meet current and future needs of rural businesses and residents. It will also support $65 million in smart grid technologies to help rural electric utilities reduce outages and integrate new systems.
Smart grid includes technological enhancements such as metering, substation automation, computer applications, two-way communications and geospatial information systems.
Learn more in the full USDA news release online.
Organic Livestock Standards Rule Withdrawn
to Detriment of Family Farmers, Organic Label
The USDA March 12 withdrew the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule, a set of standards that organic producers would have had to meet to qualify for the voluntary organic label for livestock and poultry.
USDA’s move will exacerbate consumer confusion about the meaning of the organic label, and it will ultimately negatively impact family organic producers who adhere to strict, voluntary organic standards, according to National Farmers Union (NFU).
NFU President Roger Johnson said in response to USDA’s action:
“The voluntary practices that farmers need to meet to qualify for a USDA ‘organic’ label have always been governed by those that created the organic movement and who adhere to the strict standards that are agreed upon by the National Organic Standards Board. This body directed the National Organic Program to issue the OLPP standards in order to have some consistency in what is considered to be an organic practice.
“USDA’s action to withdraw the OLPP rule is a mistake that will cost the family producers who already adhere to strict standards in order to meet ‘organic’ standards.”
For more information, view this NFU news release online.
NCBA Applauds USDA's Withdrawal of Organic Marketing Rule
NCBA President Kevin Kester March 12 said regarding the announcement from the USDA that it is withdrawing its OLPP final rule:
“Common sense scored an all-too-rare victory in Washington, D.C., today. Not only did USDA not have the legal authority to implement animal-welfare regulations, but the rule would have also vilified conventionally raised livestock without recognizing our commitment to raise all cattle humanely, regardless of the marketing program they’re in. Secretary Sonny Perdue deserves a lot of credit for yet another commonsense decision that will benefit America’s cattle producers.”
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.