American Angus Association Concludes a Strong Fiscal Year

Source: by Briley Richard, Angus Communications

The American Angus Association® concluded a successful fiscal year, packed with member-wide comradery and industry-leading advances. The year marked the eighth-consecutive year of more than 304,000 registrations, with an additional 141,385 recorded transfers. The fiscal year, which concluded September 30, tallied a grand total of 22,488 regular and junior memberships combined.

“Angus breeders have completed a successful year, despite many challenges with weather and rising input costs,” said Mark McCully, CEO of the Association. “Angus females averaged $6,023 last year and bulls averaged $5,909 signaling that Angus genetics are very much in demand.”

Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®), a subsidiary of the Association, continued to plant themselves at the forefront of the industry to help breeders achieve their goals and serve as the trusted industry source of advanced genetic solutions. Boasting 1.229 million animals with profiles in the genetic evaluation, a 10% increase in profile tests and 13 ongoing research projects, AGI plans to keep the momentum heading into the new year and to new heights.

In efforts to provide tools to enhance breeder success, the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program transitioned the Hair Shed expected progeny difference (EPD) from the research environment to a production EPD, due to the hard work of Angus breeders who diligently collected data. The EPD aims to help breeders find animals best genetically equipped to handle hot, fescue-filled environments. Additionally, AHIR continued to promote the importance of complete cow herd data through its Inventory Reporting program, enrolling 97,271 head from 768 herds.

The Angus MediaSM team created The Angus Conversation and Angus at Work podcasts to provide on-the-go information for Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen. Found anywhere you listen to podcast, the episodes feature a variety of guests who discuss everything from technology and breeding philosophies to marketing and traditions. With its goal of providing cost effective and quality marketing services to Angus breeders, Angus Media helped foster 34,000,000 online sale book page views and 3,500,000 email marketing sends.

The Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand affirmed its quality standard with another year of exceeding consumer expectations. Combined focus on genetics and management led to a 35.5% brand acceptance rate. More than 5.78 million carcasses were certified and CAB marked 1.234 billion pounds sold. That’s an impressive 3.4 million pounds of CAB sold per day and the entity worked with more than 18,000 licensed partners in 54 countries this year.

With the value of Angus cattle consistently increasing, the Association continued its Powered by AngusSM advertising campaign. Combating the “black-hided confusion” in the marketplace, the campaign illustrates the confidence cattlemen can put in the power of EPD data, documented pedigrees and marketing programs with the purchase of registered Angus.

The Angus family continued to pour their support into the Angus Foundation’s mission of education, youth and research. With a record-setting $1.4 million in donations, each cent will impact the lives of Angus generations to come.

New Year

Beginning a new year can be a tricky thing. On one hand, it brings a clean slate filled with hope and limitless opportunities. On the other, it brings closure to a year filled with highs and lows – both personally and professionally.

We are looking forward to a successful 2023 session and making new legislative friends. Twenty-five percent of the legislature will consist of new legislators and represents opportunities to create new agricultural champions and further bridge rural and urban gaps.

Though, we are saddened to see former friends not return due to term limits and other reasons. It’s tough. We spend time getting to know one another and what matters. We learn where, when and how we can depend on one another. Then, they are just gone. They will be missed.

I’m feeling the same bittersweet feelings for an old friend from my previous life. I worked at Mizzou before I began lobbying. For those of you that are shocked, it’s okay. My mother was, too. I taught in the Department of Agricultural Economics and worked in the MO Value Added Development Center.

I was young. I was naïve. I was loud. I had so much to learn. I was not easily directed. I was not a great employee. Yet, I had a great boss in Joe Parcell. He was patient with me. He was far more flexible with me than most would have been, or I deserved. He was invested in Mizzou and his students. He was an interesting thinker with true foresight.

Mizzou and its College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources was lucky to have him. He served several teaching, research and extension roles during his tenure. He was committed to the university, the college, its students, its alumni and its mission. And the administration let him leave.

Rarely does a truly talented person come along and dedicate themselves to a community. Joe did for over 24 years. CAFNR students were better for it. I am better for it. He is now moving to K-State to serve as its Center for Risk Management Education and Research Director.

To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m sad my friend will no longer be working with young ag students and teaching them to think and view markets in new ways. I’m frustrated that the administration of my alma mater didn’t do more to keep such a talent. Though, I am happy for Joe. Mizzou’s loss is K-State’s gain.

Like many of my legislative friends, I will miss you, Joe Parcell.

Happy New Year, Nancy and Cooper