News Update

April 25, 2018

Get Cooking at the 50th NJAS

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off, one of the most popular contests each year at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). The competition challenges juniors to prepare a beef-inspired dish and creatively present their meal to a panel of judges.

While there are plenty of laughs and fun during the daylong event, participants learn the importance of communicating about beef nutrition and the CAB brand.

“We are looking forward to the 35th annual CAB Cook-Off at the National Junior Angus Show,” says Anne Lampe, American Angus Auxiliary Cook-Off co-chair. “Every year we change up the beef cuts to challenge participants. We are continually impressed by the talent and enthusiasm our juniors bring to the table.”

May 15 is the deadline to enter this year’s event hosted July 9 in conjunction with the 2018 NJAS at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members compete in state groups to develop a recipe and prepare it in one of three meat categories: steaks, roasts and other beef items. Each group may consist of two to six individuals, and the age divisions are 8-13; 14-17; and 18-21.

Continue reading this Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Angus Communications.

Public Lands Council Urges Lawmakers to
Restore Balance to NEPA Process

On April 24 the Public Lands Council (PLC) released policy proposals for reducing the abuse of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and restoring much-needed balance to federal land management decisions in the West. As Congress debates NEPA reform, including at a hearing April 25 in the House Committee on Natural Resources, PLC is urging lawmakers to protect the federal government’s multiple-use mission and end the relentless cycle of litigation that plagues federal land managers and ranchers alike.

“Radical environmental activists have transformed the NEPA process into a black hole of lawsuits and regulatory delays,” said Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council. “Under the status quo, avowed opponents of multiple use are empowered to abuse NEPA review procedures and drown out the voices of local stakeholders.”

Commonsense reforms can effectively combat abuse of the NEPA process, reducing the threat of litigation that obstructs government action and ensuring federal resources are devoted to real land management and conservation goals.

For more information, please view the full PLC news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the Public Lands Council.

Webinar to Outline Calf Market Expectations

Where do we go from here? With the magnitude of the breaks and rallies the entire cattle industry has experienced thus far, that question is on everyone’s mind. An upcoming free CattleFax webinar will address the question, as well as provide an outlook for the cow-calf and entire beef industry for the remainder of 2018.

The CattleFax Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar will be May 23, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. Mountain. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/ - !/about.

One of the most aggressive U.S. beef cow herd expansions in the last four decades has increased beef supplies and caused cow-calf profitability to be reduced back toward long-term levels. As profits have narrowed, well-informed producers can maintain healthy margins by adjusting production, marketing and risk-management plans with increasing supplies in mind.

CattleFax analysts will discuss a variety of topics in the one-hour session, including:

cattle and feedstuff market projections for the next 12 to 18 months;
outlook of the summer and fall calf markets for 2018; and
review of the recent cow-calf survey.

— Adapted from a release by CattleFax.

Secretary Perdue Commemorates First Year at USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue commemorated his first year at the USDA April 25 by releasing a new interactive website and video. In his first year, Perdue and the USDA team made breakthroughs in agricultural trade, moved to reduce burdensome regulations, responded to natural disasters and battled through the worst fire season on record, among other notable achievements. The website and video capture some of those achievements and more. You may click here to explore the website.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA.

May is Beef Month Proclamation

The Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC), Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and the Mt. Vernon School District invite you to celebrate May as Beef Month at Mt. Vernon Elementary School. Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn will present an official proclamation on behalf of Governor Eric Greitens, and highlight the importance of Missouri’s beef industry. Beef Month is celebrated in Missouri during the month of May to recognize farmers and ranchers and their vital role in raising a safe, wholesome and abundant food supply to feed the world.

In addition to the proclamation, MBIC is hosting a luncheon for guests attending the event. Following the luncheon, MBIC is hosting “Cattle Chat” for Mt. Vernon Elementary students. “Cattle Chat” provides an opportunity for the students to rotate through educational stations to learn more about farmers and ranchers, animal health, and animal nutrition.

What: May is Beef Month Proclamation and Luncheon.
When: Friday, May 4, 2018, at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Mt. Vernon Elementary School
301 E. Blaze, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712.
https://www.mtvernon.k12.mo.us/es

Please RSVP to Taylor Tuttle (taylor@mobeef.com or 573-817-0899) of the MBIC by Friday, April 30.

— Adapted from a release by Missouri Beef Industry Council.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.