News Update
April 22, 2015
Final Call for Angus
Scholarship Applications
The deadline is quickly approaching to apply for scholarships through the Angus Foundation and American Angus Auxiliary. Applications must be postmarked by May 1, and Angus youth should act now to ensure their materials are in order.
High school seniors and college students passionate about the beef industry are encouraged to apply for the varied opportunities offered through the Angus Foundation and the American Angus Auxiliary.
Each year the Angus Foundation offers general scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in higher education. Last year, the organization awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships. Angus youth may apply for a wide variety of awards, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
The Allied Angus Breeders Scholarship is a new offering available this year that will provide $1,000 scholarships to three youth who use Angus genetics in their seedstock or commercial operations. The applicant or applicant’s parents/guardians must have transferred or been transferred a registration paper in the last 36 months (on or after May 1, 2012).
The American Angus Auxiliary is committed to supporting Angus youth in their future endeavors and will once again award 10 scholarships at the 2015 NJAS. To be eligible, each state auxiliary nominates one male and one female applicant to the national contest. The American Angus Auxiliary then awards scholarships to the top five male and top five female applicants.
The winners will be announced during the 2015 NJAS closing ceremonies. In addition, the top five female scholarship winners are eligible for the 2015-2016 Miss American Angus competition, which takes place in November.
Learn more about Angus scholarships by accessing the news release online.
U.S. Senator Examines Opportunities,
Challenges for Agriculture Trade with Cuba
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, released the following opening statement — as prepared for delivery — at the Tuesday, April 21 hearing entitled “Opportunities and Challenges for Agriculture Trade with Cuba.”
In February 2015, Stabenow joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introducing legislation that would lift the more than 50-year-long Cuban trade embargo. The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act, would allow U.S. companies to export products — including agricultural commodities and farm equipment — directly to Cuba. While the legislation would permit American consumers to purchase Cuban-made products, the bill would not lift travel restrictions. Additionally, the bill would remove financial restrictions on business transactions and allow U.S. banks to extend credit to Cubans for the purchase of American farm goods, auto parts and other consumer products.
“Improving trade with Cuba represents not only a great opportunity for America’s farmers, ranchers and manufacturers but a meaningful way to help rebuild trust between our nations.
“After more than 50 years of stalemate, it’s time for a new policy on Cuba.
“When I visited Cuba earlier this year — just days after the President eased some trade restrictions — I saw firsthand the eagerness of Cubans who want to develop a more effective relationship with the United States.”
Read Senator Stabenow’s full statement online.
Texas Water Shortage Spurs Legislative Concern
As expected, water issues are coming to the forefront as the 84th session of the Texas Legislature progresses. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) leaders and staff have been tracking and weighing in on water related legislation to make sure landowners’ private property rights remain intact.
TSCRA is opposed to a bill that could require local groundwater conservation districts to give special treatment to power plants that have permitted groundwater wells.
Under this proposed bill, power plants could be allowed to continue to pump groundwater at their permitted amount while other permitted wells, such as irrigation, would be required to make reductions. In fact, these other permitted wells may have to take larger reductions to absorb the amount of reduction the power plants did not take.
A power plant could be granted up to 10 years to pump at their existing permit amount while every other permitted well would be required to reduce pumping. This puts local groundwater conservation districts in a difficult position of having to pick winners and losers, and it increases their liability.
For more information, please view the full release.
Summit to Cover Livestock Profitability,
Farm Security and Animal Agriculture Policy
There’s still time to register for the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2015 Stakeholders Summit, themed “The Journey to Extraordinary.” At the Summit, set for May 6-7 in Kansas City, Mo., expert speakers and panelists will discuss a variety of topics critical to the future of animal agriculture, including livestock profitability, farm security and state, and federal and global policy trends impacting the industry.
The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference, ideal for networking across sectors of the food chain as it is attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. The 2015 event, set in Kansas City, Mo., will be the first edition of the Summit hosted outside of the Washington, D.C., area.
This year’s event will explore animal agriculture’s continuous efforts to embrace new technologies that will help feed a growing population while measuring sustainability, engage consumers in innovative ways to bridge the knowledge gap, and highlight initiatives that demonstrate agriculture’s commitment to transparency.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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