News Update
April 13, 2018
Deadline Approaching: Apply Now for the Angus Foundation Scholarships
The May 1 deadline to apply for the Angus Foundation scholarships is fast approaching. The Angus Foundation seeks to help Angus youth offset some of those steep educational costs by awarding undergraduate- and graduate-level scholarships.
“The Angus Foundation is focused on the future — for research, education and youth,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Our scholarship program is one way we help youth reach their full potential and their bright future.”
Undergraduate and graduate student scholarship applications are available online at www.angusfoundation.org. Applicants must have, at one time, been a National Junior Angus Association member and must currently be an active junior, regular or life member of the American Angus Association. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or enrolled at a junior college, four-year college/university or other accredited institution and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Eligibility requirements and application guidelines are included. Applicants will want to strictly adhere to the guidelines and provide the information requested when submitting their application to the Angus Foundation.
Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration: the 2018 application form, three letters of recommendation, a copy of their current high school/college/university transcript and their Association member code.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
Secretary Perdue Statement on Release of 2018 Farm Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue April 12 said regarding the release of the 2018 Farm Bill:
“I applaud Chairman Conaway and the House Agriculture Committee for their diligence and hard work in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill. The trend of low commodity prices over recent years and headlines about trade disputes have caused anxiety among agricultural producers these days, so this legislation is critically important to give them some much-needed reassurance. In my travels across the country, I have found that farmers have confidence in President Trump’s ability to negotiate strong trade deals with other nations, but they also want a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill that puts their needs above Washington, D.C., politics. While there is still much work to be done, I am pleased that this Farm Bill aligns with many of the principles USDA released in January. I look forward to working with the Agriculture Committees and members of Congress from both sides to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill in a timely fashion to provide the needed support and certainty to our farmers.”
For more information, read the USDA news release online.
NCBA ‘Pleased’ To See U.S. House Farm Bill Language, Ready to See It Move Forward
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester April 12 said in response to the release of the 2018 Farm Bill text in the U.S. House of Representatives:
“We’re pleased to see the House Agriculture Committee’s language for the 2018 Farm Bill, and we’re ready to see the bill move forward.
“We appreciate the Committee authorizing the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank, which is vitally important to the safety of our industry. However, we were hopeful for full funding levels, which this bill does not provide in years two through five. We’ll continue fighting to secure that funding through all possible avenues.
“We’re also happy to see the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) bolstered in this bill, as well as funding for research, foreign market development and market access programs.
“We will continue to work with the Committee to get this bill onto the House floor as quickly as possible.”
USDA and USTR Finalize Access for U.S. Pork Exports to Argentina
Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer April 13 announced the government of Argentina has finalized technical requirements that will allow U.S. pork to be imported into Argentina for the first time since 1992.
Since the White House announced an agreement with Argentina last August, technical staff from the USDA and the Office of the USTR have been working with Argentina’s Ministry of Agro-Industry on new terms for market access that are practical, science-based and consistent with relevant international animal health standards. The finalization of these technical requirements means that U.S. exports of pork and natural swine casings can now resume.
“This breakthrough is the result of efforts by this administration to help America’s farmers and ranchers reach new markets and ensure fair trade practices by our international partners,” Perdue said. “Once the people of Argentina get a taste of American pork products after all this time, we’re sure they’ll want more of it. This is a great day for our agriculture community and an example of how the Trump administration is committed to supporting our producers by opening new markets for their products.”
Learn more in the full USDA news release online.
NFU Applauds E15 Waiver, Says More Needs to be Done for Higher Blends of Ethanol
President Donald Trump April 12 announced the administration would allow the year-round sale of E15, or gasoline blends comprised of 15% ethanol, which had previously been barred from being sold in the summer.
National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the president’s move and called on the administration to eliminate similar barriers to expanded use of higher blends of ethanol. NFU President Roger Johnson said the following in response to the announcement:
“Family farmers are facing severely depressed prices due to massive oversupply of corn and other commodities. We appreciate the administration’s move to remove this unnecessary regulation that decreases demand for farm products.
“While this waiver will go a long way towards cutting into the corn supply, more can and should be done for higher blends of ethanol, like E30. This high-octane fuel offers better economic, fuel economy and air quality benefits than do lower blends of ethanol, yet far too many barriers continue to exist to keep it from being used. Farmers Union encourages the administration to build on the president’s support for farmers and rural communities by building demand for higher blends of ethanol in our transportation fuels.”
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