News Update
November 16, 2012
2013 Miss American Angus Crowned
In the showring there are several things to capture the crowd’s attention — well-groomed cattle, the judge’s pace, green jackets and Angus royalty. However, there is one that stands out from the rest, literally. The 2013 Miss American Angus, with her sparkling crown and poised stance, measures up to 6 foot (ft.) 3 inches (in.); taller than many showmen. Although height is not all that sets her apart, it’s also her indisputable enthusiasm for the Angus industry and laid-back, but confident, attitude.
Esther McCabe, Elk City, Kan., was crowned as the 2013 Miss American Angus Monday, Nov. 12, during the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky. She succeeds 2012 Miss American Angus Brooke Harward, Richfield, N.C.
A sophomore at Butler Community College, McCabe is pursuing a career in pharmacy. She will transfer to Kansas State University next fall to complete her degree in food science and minor in animal sciences and industry.
“While filling out the Miss American Angus application form, I realized that the person I am today is because of the opportunities the American Angus Association and National Junior Angus Association has given me,” McCabe says. “Serving as Miss American Angus is a way to give back and make a difference, especially in the lives of younger women in the breed so they too can become more involved.”
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Red Meat Consumption Varies by Population Density
Mintel, a large consumer research firm, recently conducted a survey on consumer perceptions, purchasing practices and consumption of red meat. The survey was conducted with individuals from across the United States and included urban, suburban and rural areas. One of the interesting trends from the research was that red meat is more widely accepted and consumed in rural areas. Rural residents were the population who most often reported that red meat was a household favorite, a good value for the money and easy to prepare.
Ground beef was the most commonly consumed red meat across all populations. The survey showed a significant difference with 89% of rural respondents reporting they purchase ground beef compared to 81% of suburban survey respondents and 71% of urban survey respondents. The next most purchased red meat was bacon. Again, there was a difference noted across the survey with 78% of rural, 69% of suburban and 65% of urban households reporting bacon purchases.
Rural survey respondents reported greater purchasing of other red meat categories such as beef steaks and fillets, pork portions and hot dogs than their suburban or urban counterparts. The only red meat that was reported to be purchased less often by rural respondents was lamb. The survey showed that lamb was purchased by 10% of rural households, 17% of suburban households and 13% of urban households.
The Michigan State University Product Center provides business and marketing assistance to entrepreneurs with businesses in food, agriculture, natural resources or bio-processing. Innovation counselors are located across the state in Michigan State University Extension offices to provide this assistance.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Cattlemen Continue to Face High Feed Prices with No Relief
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) expressed disappointment today after the announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a request to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandate for the production of corn ethanol.
“In light of the most widespread drought to face the country in more than 50 years, the refusal to grant this waiver is a blatant example of the flawed policy of the RFS,” said NCBA President J.D. Alexander, a cattle feeder from Pilger, Neb. “The artificial support for corn ethanol provided for by the RFS is only making the situation worse for cattlemen and women by driving up feed costs.”
In comments submitted by NCBA to EPA in October, NCBA stated that the cattle industry, along with other livestock groups, has suffered a significant economic impact due to the RFS mandate and the drought. From December 2007 to August 2012, the cattle feeding sector of the beef industry lost a record $4 billion in equity due to high feed costs and economic factors that have negatively affected beef demand. According to USDA reports, corn prices have increased about 60% since June 15, 2012, and the near futures price is hovering around $8 per bushel (bu.).
In a report by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), 2011 feed costs for livestock, poultry and dairy reached a record high of $54.6 billion — an increase of more than $9 billion compared to 2010 costs. These costs are borne by cattlemen and women nationwide, according to Alexander. Further, the ending carry-over stocks for 2012-2013 are now forecast at 647 million bu., less than 5% of expected corn usage, and the lowest amount ever, according to USDA reports. This is a 35% decrease from last year’s carry-over amount. If realized, this would mean there would be very limited corn reserves for next year should the country experience another poor crop.
The effects of the refusal to waive the RFS will be felt throughout the economy with predictions of 500,000 head beef cow and 50,000 dairy cow liquidation in the United States alone in 2012. These losses are driven by drought and high input costs.
“Our message to EPA and Administrator Jackson is how bad does it have to get for livestock producers before relief is brought to rural America? Cattlemen and women are only asking for a level playing field,” Alexander said. “With EPA’s refusal to grant a waiver when faced with these conditions, it is clear the RFS is not working as Congress intended.”
Dwindling Water Supplies Prompt Recommendations for Growers
Texas A&M AgriLife Research has released a set of recommendations for South Texas growers facing an extended drought and dwindling water supplies, according to an agency water engineer.
“A relentless drought, record high temperatures and depleted water reserves for the past two years in South Texas require us to take a closer look at how we manage water under water-limiting conditions,” said Juan Enciso, a water engineer at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco.
While the state has suffered multi-billion-dollar agricultural losses due to drought, the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas has been especially hard-hit, he said.
“We’re facing a critical situation in the months to come in providing water for domestic and business consumption, and because of projected water shortages, many irrigation districts in the Rio Grande Valley have informed growers that water may have to be allocated next year,” Enciso said.
Not all irrigation water districts are created equal, according to Wayne Halbert, manager of the Harlingen Irrigation District, one of 26 in the Valley.
“Before growers start planning for what they’re going to plant next year, they need to contact the manager of the irrigation district they are in,” he said. “Each irrigation district has individual allocations of water, policies of how water is allocated and water duties, meaning water available to farmers varies by district.”
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