Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Offers Disaster Relief Program
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors yesterday approved a disaster relief funding package for Missouri cattle producers affected by winter storms. The disaster relief program, which is funded by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, will provide reimbursement for qualifying items to cattle producers in counties declared a federal disaster area. Qualifying items include fencing supplies, generators and chainsaws used to repair damages incurred during winter ice and snow storms. The Disaster Relief program guidelines are as follows:
November 30, 2006:
Boone, Cole, Greene, Iron, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, or St. Louis County.
January 12, 2007:
Barry, Barton, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stone, Warren, Webster, Wright, Bates, Benton, Boone, Cedar, Cooper, Douglas, Henry, Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, Morgan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, or Washington County.
Fencing Supplies, Generator or Chainsaw
The Disaster Relief Program is available to all cattle producers in the counties listed above. Applications for the disaster relief program are available on the MCA website, www.mocattle.com, by calling MCA at (888) 499-9162, or from your local county cattlemen’s association. To qualify, applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2007. Disaster relief funds are a result of donations from individuals, associations, businesses and foundations to the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Cattle Industry News
Cattlemen’s Beef Board Hires New Chief Executive Officer
Ramey to take reins as Reese retires
Tom Ramey will take over as Chief Executive Officer of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) effective May 1, 2007, the Board’s Executive Committee announced this week. Ramey, now CBB’s Chief Financial Officer, will take the reins from current CEO Monte Reese, who retires April 30 after 17 years of service to the Beef Board.
“We talked about undertaking a search for a new CEO, but after extensive discussion, we determined that we had just what we needed right on the existing Beef Board staff,” said CBB Vice Chairman Dave Bateman, who chairs the Board’s Executive Committee. “We talked a lot about the types of competencies that we need in a new chief executive officer to keep leading the Beef Board and our staff in the right direction during the coming years, and we agreed that Mr. Ramey had the right combination of the administrative abilities, communications skills, integrity and character that we need.”
Ramey has served as CFO for the Beef Board for about 13 years, whereby he has been responsible for all accounting and financial functions of the Board. Prior to his work for CBB, Ramey was an audit manager with a major accounting firm and was director of operations and director of worldwide internal audit for an international software company.
Reese, who announced his plans to retire early this year, said he is very pleased with the Executive Committee’s selection. “I am 100 percent supportive of the Executive Committee’s decision to move Tom into this position,” Reese said. “He has the knowledge, skills, management ability and, most important, the personal integrity to lead this program in the direction that best benefits the cattle producers and importers who fund this self-help program.”
Beef Board Chairman Ken Stielow, who has worked closely with Ramey during the last couple of years, is equally pleased with the hire. “This is a tough position, and Monte’s are big shoes to fill,” Stielow said, “so we feel particularly lucky to be in a position to promote from within and not get sidetracked with some unnecessary and expensive search process. I have no doubt that we have made the right decision here.”
- Cattlemen’s Beef Board
American Angus Association Offers Free Electronic Storage of Registration Certificates
Beginning April 1, American Angus Association members can choose the electronic storage feature free of charge to store the paper registration certificates of existing registered Angus cattle. Since early 2004, Association members and affiliates have been afforded the option to electronically store their animals’ registration certificates. The procedure allows more flexibility when transferring papers and will eliminate the typical “paper shuffle” experienced by some cattle breeders.
“Electronic storage gives producers the option to electronically transfer papers, with no mail time or postage cost,” says Bryce Schumann, director of member services for the Association. “Our Board voted to eliminate the processing fee to storing the papers electronically, and we hope the members take advantage of the convenience of electronic storage.”
Breeders have the convenience of accessing herd information 24 hours a day, seven days a week at AAA Login, available at www.angus.org. Producers can receive a paper registration certificate, at no charge, when removed from electronic storage. Any member who participates in Angus shows will still need to provide original registration papers at check-in.
— Release provided by the American Angus Association.
Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Loans and Grants Available
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced the availability of $176.5 million in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses.
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant program was established under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill. It provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems or for energy efficiency improvements.
Loan guarantees cover up to 50% of a project’s cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25% of a project's cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. These loans and grants are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.97 million metric tons, replace 821 million barrels of foreign oil and generate almost 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has funded more than 800 loans and grants since the renewable energy program began in FY 2003.
Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development state office postmarked no later than May 18. The deadline for submitting loan applications as well as for loan and grant combinations is July 2. For more information, refer to the announcement in the March 22 Federal Register or contact any state Rural Development office. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Cattle-Fax Introduces Monthly Cow-Calf Newsletter
Responding directly to the needs of its clients in the cow-calf sector, Cattle-Fax has introduced TRENDS, a monthly newsletter specifically for cow-calf producers.
Like other Cattle-Fax publications, TRENDS will provide expert research and analysis on the issues that affect all facets of the cattle and beef industries. But TRENDS will have a special focus – providing cow-calf operators with cutting edge information, business trends and outlooks, and market opportunities. Topics addressed in TRENDS will include: grazing conditions, hay prices and supplies, weaning tips and strategies, replacement female costs and forecasts, retained ownership opportunities, and other issues that directly impact the livelihood of the cow-calf producer.
“Cow-calf producers have just as much need for timely and accurate information as any other sector,” says Cattle-Fax Executive Vice President Randy Blach. “But their needs are certainly different. They are not marketing cattle on a daily or weekly basis, so their focus tends to be on more long-term issues like growing conditions, production costs, and market trends.”
Blach says Cattle-Fax recognizes how difficult it can be for cattlemen to find the time to absorb industry information and analysis. TRENDS is designed to allow cow-calf producers to focus on the issues and market activity that most directly affect them. The newsletter will draw from Cattle-Fax’s expertise in the backgrounding, feeding, and processing sectors, but will tailor the information to the cow-calf producer.
“Cattlemen know that activity in every sector affects their bottom line,” Blach said. “But deciphering market information on a daily basis can sometimes result in overload. TRENDS is a monthly publication that will help producers focus on the in-depth information that most directly affects them.”
To receive a free issue of TRENDS or to start a subscription, call Cattle-Fax at 1-800-825-7525.
- Cattle-Fax
Tune in to Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV
Tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV at
9:00 a.m. this Saturday for an in-depth look at the new Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) "Livestock and Meat Marketing
Study," a report done by RTI International on the use and impacts of marketing
arrangements in the livestock and meat industries. NCBA will talk to the head of
GIPSA, former cattleman Jim Link, and will discuss alternative marketing
agreements.
Next week’s episode, beginning Tuesday March 27th, will feature a
discussion on the national animal identification program with Bruce Knight, the
Undersecretary of Agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA. In
addition, we will have an exclusive interview with USDA Chief Economist Keith
Collins regarding cattle market trends and the long-term market outlook for
2007.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features
for cattle producers across the country. The show airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and
is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 3:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 9 a.m.
(Central Time). Make sure you tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on
channel RFD-TV. For more information, visit
www.cattlementocattlemen.org.
- NCBA
Angus Foundation Scholarships Available
More than $100,000 in educational scholarships will be available this year to Angus youth through the Angus Foundation scholarship program. Applications must be postmarked on or before May 1 to be considered eligible.
Applications and instructions are available at www.angusfoundation.org. Please closely follow the instructions, as incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Note that there is a separate application for the NJAA/CAB scholarship that is offered through the Angus Foundation.
- American Angus Association
Missouri Cattlemen’s Update
Missouri Cattlemen's Association seeks Executive Vice President
The Missouri Cattlemen's Association is looking for an aggressive individual to serve as Executive Vice President. The individual should be knowledgeable of the beef industry. The individual will be responsible for overall management of all association activities. Strong communication skills are a must. Association and government affairs experience is a plus.
Individual must have the willingness to travel and to support the interests of a member-driven organization.
Interested individuals should send cover letter and resume, by May 1, 2007, to:
Missouri Cattlemen's Association
Merrel Breyer
2306 Bluff Creek Drive
Columbia, MO 65201
MBIC Accepting Beef Month Funding Proposals
In February, Missouri Beef Industry Council mailed the Beef Month Funding Request Forms to everyone who submitted a check request for Beef Month last year. If you have not received one and are interested, please contact MBIC. Funding guidelines for 2007 match last year’s. Any County Cattlemen’s Group or County Farm Bureau that is interested in conducting a Beef Month promotion in May will be reimbursed for costs up to $500. Approved activities include educational activities, retail promotions, public relations events or advertising. Due to the legal restrictions of the $1 per head beef checkoff program, the following things aren’t eligible for funding: shows, sales, scholarships, membership drives or free meals.
Need more ideas? A couple of Beef Month requests have already come in. Lewis & Marion County Cattlemen are working with a local grocery store to provide on-package coupons, while Henry County Cattlemen are conducting a steak cooking clinic for non-profit groups that use catering as an income source. Newton County Cattlemen and Farm Bureau are working together with MBIC and the Missouri Restaurant Association to host a Foodservice Symposium on cutting and marketing the Beef Value Cuts.
Because of the comments we’ve received over the last several years, we are making some big changes to Beef Month Funding in 2008. Instead of a $500 allotment to the two county organizations, grants will be available year-round to any group interested in promoting beef. Groups will be eligible for more than one grant per year if there are several promotions you would like to have considered. You may use the dollars during Beef Month- or any other time you’d like to promote our great product. The new grant guidelines will be implemented in January 2008. As always, please contact the Missouri Beef Industry Council at 573-817-0899 with questions. Dawn Thurnau manages Beef Month promotions and may be reached via e-mail at dawn@mobeef.com.
Calendar of Events
March 24 Gasconade/Montgomery Cattlemen – Hermann Middle School, 6:00 p.m.
March 29 Gentry County Cattlemen - Stanberry Community Center, 7:00 p.m.
April 5 Crawford County Cattlemen – Bourbon Community Center, 6:00 p.m.
For more cattle industry events, visit www.mocattle.com/calendar.htm
The Fine Print
This newsletter is a publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. All rights reserved – this newsletter may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Did someone forward this message to you? To subscribe yourself, send an email to cattleinfo@mocattle.com.
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If so, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst at (573) 499-9162 or mckenzie@mocattle.com.