News Update
Oct. 8, 2009

Angus Internship, Scholarship Applications Being Accepted

The American Angus Association®, Angus Foundation and Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) are offering several opportunities this fall for college students hoping to further their education and gain valuable real-world experience with the world’s leading beef cattle association and branded beef program.

Available internships offer goal-oriented students an opportunity to build upon writing, editing, photography and organizational abilities while developing knowledge of agriculture and the beef industry. Deadlines, requirements and application details for the paid internships follow, in addition to scholarship opportunities also being offered through Angus Foundation and CAB. Read more.

Johnson Hired as NCBA Vice President, Owner-Member Services

Industry veteran Todd Johnson has been tapped as the new vice president of owner-member services at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Johnson, currently with the Kansas Beef Council, will join NCBA in January.

NCBA’s producer leaders recently created an organizational strategic plan to better serve members, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts subsequently realigned staff to better execute the plan, creating the Owner-Member Services Department. As its name implies, the department will provide value and services for all types of NCBA’s owner-members, including producer and feeder members, state cattlemen’s affiliates and state beef councils. Johnson will lead the team, and will also serve on NCBA’s senior leadership team.

Johnson comes to NCBA with a wealth of experience. In 1995, Johnson joined the staff at NCBA affiliate Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), and until 2004 he coordinated membership recruitment efforts and worked as part of the government relations team. In 2004 Johnson joined the staff of the Kansas Beef Council as executive director. Prior to KLA, he worked at the American Hereford Association as director of youth activities.

Johnson was raised on a commercial cow-calf and backgrounding operation in Central Kansas, and earned a degree in agricultural economics and animal sciences from Kansas State University. He remains engaged in the family farm with his parents and brother’s family.

“NCBA always seeks and engages the best talent in the business, and Todd is no exception,” Roberts says. “His beef industry background and association experience will make a direct and immediate impact on the key leadership role he is taking within his new team. I am confident that he will lead this team to quick and efficient execution of our volunteer leaders’ strategic plan and provide excellent and innovative value to our owner-members.”

— Release by NCBA.

NFU: House Approves Ag Appropriations

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Included in the bill is $350 million for struggling dairy producers. The provision, authored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was a top National Farmers Union (NFU) priority.

Under the House-Senate conference agreement, $290 million would be provided in direct support to dairy farmers. Another $60 million would be used to purchase cheese and other dairy products for food banks and nutrition programs.

“This is a welcome lifeline to our nation’s dairy producers who, regardless of size or location, are facing unprecedented economic challenges. I thank the House for their support and urge the Senate to quickly follow suit. America’s dairymen and women cannot wait for this necessary relief,” NFU President Roger Johnson said.

— Release by NFU.

Law Would Reimburse Farmers For Livestock Lost To Wolves

A federal program that reimburses Minnesota farmers for livestock lost to wolves will receive $700,000 this coming year.

The funding for the Wolf Predation Program, which covers Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday.

Minnesota’s wolf population dropped to an all-time low of about 750 by the early 1960s, but since the Endangered Species Act was passed in the late 1970s, the number of gray wolves in Minnesota has grown to nearly 3,000.

The Agricultural Appropriations Act will now be sent to the Senate for final approval and will then go to President Obama to be signed into law.

— Release provided by Northland’s News Center.

Conference Committee Approves NBAF Funding

A U.S. House-Senate conference committee approved $32 million in funding yesterday to finish design and begin construction on the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan. If approved by the full U.S. House and Senate, the bill would then be presented to President Obama for his signature.

Sen. Sam Brownback, a member of the conference committee, said he was pleased NBAF funding was kept in the final bill. He said a modern lab dedicated to protecting the food supply is critical for the U.S., and there is no better place than Kansas for it to be located.

The current lab on Plum Island, N.Y., is outdated and being phased out. NBAF facilities in Manhattan will provide integrated research, response and diagnostic capabilities to protect animal and public health. It is sometimes referred to as the Centers for Disease Control of animal science.

Other Kansas elected leaders mirrored Brownback’s comments supporting the funding. Sen. Pat Roberts, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson were among those calling the appropriation important to moving the $451 million project forward.

— Release provided by KLA.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.