News Update
Dec. 28, 2010

Still Time for “End-of-the-Year” Charitable Gifts

Charitable gifts to the Angus Foundation in support of its education, youth and research programs are appreciated regardless of the time of year the gift is made by the donor. Oftentimes, however, charitable giving decisions are made at year’s end, once an individual or couple knows their income tax situation for that respective calendar (tax) year.

As a reminder, one should pay special attention to timing when it comes to year-end gifts. In accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, 501(c)(3) charities such as the Angus Foundation will recognize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark denoted on the outside of the carrier envelope used by the donor in transmitting the gift to the charity.

In order to qualify for tax savings on this year’s tax return, your gift must be completed by Dec. 31. For cash gifts, this means your gift must be personally delivered or mailed to the Angus Foundation in an envelope postmarked no later than Dec. 31. Gifts can also be made online at www.angusfoundation.org. Donors will be recognized for their support to the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which aims to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011.

American Angus Association Seeks Member Input

The American Angus Association Board of Directors has announced a long-range planning initiative to identify and assess the needs of members and their customers.

Beginning this winter, the American Angus Association will conduct a series of long-range planning sessions geared toward accumulating input and subsequently developing long-range efforts and strategies to continue the breed’s relevance into the future.

Association President Joe Hampton says the organization will seek member input through a variety of media and meetings scheduled to take place over the course of several months.

The initiative remains in its initial phases, but Association Board and staff will begin gathering input during Angus events in conjunction with the 2011 National Western Stock Show (NWSS), Jan. 12-15, in Denver, Colo. Read more.

S. Korea Reports 4 Additional FMD Outbreaks

The Yonhap News reported four more foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in South Korea. South Korea confirmed four additional FMD outbreaks on Tuesday, Dec. 28, despite a month-long quarantine effort to contain the highly contagious animal disease.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said three cattle farms in the eastern province of Gangwon and a pig farm in North Gyeongsang Province tested positive for the disease. The 13,147 pigs and cows on the farms have been ordered destroyed to prevent further spread of the disease, with other livestock within 3 kilometers of the Incheon farm and 500 meters of the two cattle farms to be culled and buried. Read full article here.

— Adapted from Yonhap News release.

USDA Announces Measures to Improve Humane Handling Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  announced Dec. 28 several measures that will better ensure the humane treatment and slaughter of all cattle presented for processing at FSIS-inspected facilities.

“Under this Administration, we have significantly strengthened our ability to enforce the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, but we have more work to do and must continue to look for ways that ensure the safe and humane slaughter of animals,” said Undersecretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen. “That is why we are taking concrete steps to address outstanding humane handling issues, ranging from enhanced employee training to clearer guidance on existing rules.”

The Agency is pursuing the following new measures:

1. Issuing procedures to inspection personnel to clarify that all non-ambulatory mature cattle must be condemned and promptly euthanized to ensure they are humanely handled, regardless of the reason for the animal’s non-ambulatory status. The clarification is intended to ensure that the policy is consistently applied at all federally-inspected establishments by resolving any uncertainty on how inspectors should interpret existing rules. This FSIS Notice was issued today.
2. Responding to and soliciting comments on petitions from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Farm Sanctuary.
3. Appointing an Ombudsman in the Office of Food Safety, designated specifically for humane handling issues. The ombudsman will provide FSIS employees a channel of communication to voice their concerns when the standard reporting mechanisms do not adequately address outstanding issues.
4. Requesting the USDA Office of Inspector General audit industry appeals of noncompliance records and other humane handling enforcement actions by FSIS inspection program personnel. This will help determine whether FSIS has adequately handled humane handling violations identified by inspection personnel and challenged by an establishment. The audit will give the Agency a better picture of how well the appeals process works, and if problems are found, FSIS will take action to address them.
5. Delivering enhanced humane handling training to give inspection personnel more practical, situation-based training. Additional training modules that prepare inspectors for realistic scenarios they will face in the field will help the Agency enforce HMSA regulations more effectively and consistently.

“When Congress passed the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, they provided FSIS with the authority to prevent needless suffering, and we take our responsibility very seriously,” said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. “Consumers need to be confident our inspectors have the direction they need to ensure that humane slaughter is carried out properly.”

During the last two years, FSIS has implemented a number of measures to strengthen humane handling enforcement. For example, on March 14, 2009, the USDA announced a final rule to amend Federal meat inspection regulations to require a complete ban on the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle for use in human food. FSIS also created 24 new humane handling enforcement positions, including 23 in-plant personnel and a headquarters-based Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator. Most recently, on Oct. 14, 2010, FSIS issued draft guidelines to assist meat and poultry establishments that want to improve operations by using in-plant video monitoring.

For more information on these proposals, contact FSIS’ Office of Policy and Program Development at 202-205-0495.

— Release by USDA and FSIS.

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