News Update
September 26, 2012
Angus Foundation Launches New Website
Donors who financially support the Angus Foundation make dreams a reality for many who have an interest in the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation is excited to announce that many of these donors, along with those who have benefited from Angus Foundation support, are the focus of its newly designed website, which was officially launched Sept. 24.
The new website features a fresh look and more multimedia presence, which includes stories, photos and videos that show how the Angus Foundation is using funds to support youth in their ambitions to attend college, purebred Angus and commercial breeders with educational opportunities, and research for the betterment of Angus cattle.
In addition to allowing for more stories about donors at all giving levels and the youth, education and research programs they support, the new website's home page also features current projects and different ways to contribute to the Angus Foundation.
"Enhancement of the Angus Foundation's website with additional visual features, ease of navigation and overall increased user-friendliness will further heighten the educational value and experience for our visitors to the website," says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. "This communications platform enables us to inform our supporters of the impact their gifts are making in the lives of our Angus youth, adult members, and will provide up-to-date information on the many research initiatives funded by our organization for the benefit of the Angus breed."
Log on to www.angusfoundation.org to view the new website. Once on the home page, visitors who have used the former website will notice that the location of much of the content and navigation is very similar, so it is not hard to find information.
Recognition of Angus Foundation Donors
The Angus Foundation looks forward to recognizing its donors Saturday evening, Nov. 10, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Louisville-Airport Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., at its Supporter Recognition Event. All Angus supporters who have contributed $250 this fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012) to the Angus Foundation will be invited to attend this donor recognition celebration. Special features of the event will be announcements of significant gifts to the Angus Foundation during the past fiscal year. In addition, the Angus Foundation will offer at auction the Ruger® 10/22® Cattle Drive, a .22LR semi-automatic rifle, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation's efforts to support youth, education and research programs.
You can guarantee your reservation to the event by making your gift of $250 or more by Sept. 30. Gifts can be made online at www.angusfoundation.org. Your contribution, payable to the Angus Foundation, can also be mailed, postmarked by Sept. 30, to the Angus Foundation at 3201 Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, MO 64506. Feel free to call 816-383-5100 to confirm your contribution level for this fiscal year.
Accelerated Genetics Seeking Summer Intern Candidates
Attention college students, now is the time to apply for one of Accelerated Genetics' 2013 summer internships. Accelerated Genetics has three internships available in the areas of Communications, Genetics and Sales.
Accelerated Genetics internships provide an excellent opportunity to work hands-on within the Artificial Insemination (AI) industry, gaining experience to prepare for a future career. Applications for these internships are due November 15, 2012.
To apply for Accelerated Genetics' internships, candidates should send a cover letter and resume to: hr@accelgen.com or Accelerated Genetics, Attn: Human Resources, E10890 Penny Lane, Baraboo, WI 53913. For questions, please call 1-800-451-9275.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Record Red Meat and Pork Production for August
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.39 billion pounds (lb.) in August, up 2% from the 4.30 billion lb. produced in August 2011.
Beef production, at 2.37 billion lb., was 1% below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 300 million head, down 3% from August 2011. The average live weight was up 30 lb. from the previous year, at 1,300 lb.
Veal production totaled 10.1 million lb., 11% below August a year ago. The average live weight was down 11 lb. from last year, at 237 lb.
Pork production totaled 2.00 billion lb., up 6% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.94 million head, up 4% from August 2011. The average live weight was up 3 lb. from the previous year, at 269 lb.
Lamb and mutton production, at 14.2 million lb., was up 8% from August 2011. Sheep slaughter totaled 200,500 head, 1% above last year. The average live weight was 142 lb., up 10 lb. from August a year ago.
January to August 2012 commercial red meat production was 32.6 billion lb., up 1% from 2011.
From last year, accumulated beef production as down 1%, veal was down 9%, pork was up 3%, and lamb and mutton production was up 4%.
Producers Are Encouraged to Purchase Cydectin® Pour-On
from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 to Support WWP.
Beef and dairy producers will have the opportunity to show wounded veterans their appreciation, simply by buying Cydectin® Pour-On from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012. For each liter of Cydectin (moxidectin) Pour-On purchased, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP). In 2011, BIVI donated nearly $200,000 to support Wounded Warriors through the Buck-a-Liter program.
The money raised through the Buck-a-Liter Program is used to help support WWP's programs, which are uniquely structured to nurture the mind and body, and facilitate economic empowerment and engagement.
"We urge producers to once again help us support this outstanding organization and make a difference in the lives of injured service members," says Mike Randolph, senior brand manager for Cydectin at BIVI. "We hope the Buck-a-Liter program will help WWP continue its outstanding work."
"Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. and Cydectin is a unique partnership for us," says Adam Silva, chief development officer for WWP. "We're able to reach a population in America that we might not be able to reach with traditional methods, and that has a very positive impact on our organization's efforts."
Real Farmers, Real Food Featured in New Partnership
A Midwest landmark known for its down-home cooking served family style is partnering with a purpose-driven ag awareness initiative launched by the Iowa Soybean Association to bring farming to life for people who enjoy great food and friendly conversation.
The combination of real farmers and real food is the idea behind 'Talkin' Farming at the Shed," sponsored by the Machine Shed Restaurant and the Iowa Food & Family Project. It will debut Sept. 29, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Shed's Urbandale location.
Lindsay Greiner, a grain and hog farmer from Keota, will be the featured guest throughout dinner. He'll meet and greet those who enjoy great food but rarely have an opportunity to visit with the people who grow it. Contests and activities, including chances to win a four-pack of tickets to the Iowa State-Oklahoma football game or one of two overnight stays at the Comfort Suites at Living History Farms, will take place throughout the evening, and a special entrée featuring soy will be added to the menu.
"There's a true renaissance of interest in food and we think that's great," says Mike Whalen, who founded the Machine Shed Restaurant in 1978. "We're all about serving some of the best slow-cooked comfort food that would make Mom proud and paying tribute to the American farmer."
For the full release, click here.
IRS: Drought-Stricken Farmers Have Time
to Replace Livestock
Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the drought currently affecting much of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.
Farmers and ranchers who, due to drought, sell more livestock than they normally would may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues.
The one-year extension of the replacement period announced today generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry, are not eligible.
The IRS is providing this relief to any farm located in a county, parish, city or district listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), during any weekly period between Sept. 1, 2011, and Aug. 31, 2012. All or part of 43 states are listed. Any county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this relief.
As a result, farmers and ranchers in these areas whose drought sale-replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this tax year, Dec. 31, 2012, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Because the normal drought sale replacement period is four years, this extension immediately impacts drought sales that occurred during 2008. Because of previous drought-related extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some drought sales before 2008 are also affected. Additional extensions will be granted if severe drought conditions persist.
Range Meeting to Explore Ecotourism, Rec Uses
Have you thought about adding an eco-tourism or recreation enterprise to your ranch operation? Do you have an interest in rangelands in other countries? Then join the Nebraska Section — Society for Range Management in Ogallala, Neb., Oct. 10-11.
"Maximizing Potential on the Ranch — Incorporating Ecotourism or Recreation into Your Operation" is the theme for the Section's annual meeting. Speakers will address a variety of topics including "Management of Game Farms and Nature Preserves in Namibia," "Rangelands of Namibia," and "Considerations for eco-tourism and recreation from the NGO perspective" as well as other useful and interesting topics related to rangeland management. A tour of a local sod farm and the Eldrige unit of the Rex Ranch are also planned.
The meeting will be hosted at the Ogallala Quality Inn. Registration forms are available on the Nebraska Section SRM website. For more information about this meeting, visit the Nebraska Section SRM website at http://nesrm.org/ or contact Jonathan Soper at 402-437-4933 or jsoper3@unl.edu.
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.