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Beef Briefs
IN MEMORIAM John C. Foltz, passed away Jan. 7, 2021 from complications of COVID-19, with his family at his side. Foltz was a native of Fairfield County and retired as deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and agency administrator. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he also served in positions with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and as the first executive of the Ohio Agribusiness Association.Foltz also held several federally appointed positions in the agriculture field. He was on the USDA Extension and Research Advisory board, council chair for the OARDC Advisory board and president of the Ohio Agricultural Council. He served as chair of the President’s Alumni Advisory Board for OSU. For three terms he was on the High Council of the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta, then went on to become the first President of the National Alpha Zeta Foundation. He most recently served as an ex-officio member of the Farmhouse Foundation Board of Trustees. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of FAES and the Alpha Tau Zeta Alumni Association Distinguished Service award. Foltz’s agriculture commitment also extended to youth education. He held a number of volunteer leadership roles with the Boy Scouts of America, FFA and 4-H. Foltz and his wife Anne successfully led the $15.5 million campaign to construct the 4-H Center at The Ohio State University, the first “green” building on campus. (Bio courtesy of Ohio AgriBusiness Association)
Roy Lee Johnson, 91, of Fredericktown, Ohio passed away Jan. 23, 2021. He was born in Flushing, Ohio in 1929 and grew up there on the family farm called Mill Brook as a 3rd generation Shorthorn cattle breeder. He and his wife, Frances K. Johnson, their six children and Johnson’s parents moved from Flushing to their Fredericktown farm location in 1967. Known as Lee or R. Lee, he was involved in farming and raising and selling Shorthorn cattle from Mill Brook Farm his entire life. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Johnson and his family showed cattle at many state fairs and National Shows in Chicago, Kansas City, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Houston, Ft. Worth, Louisville, and Denver and even as far away as San Francisco. They exhibited several National Champion bulls and females and were recognized as one of the top Shorthorn breeders in the country over those two decades. They also held cattle sales at their farm in Fredericktown during that time drawing breeders from across the country and promoting the breed. Johnson was actively involved with the Shorthorn Association, acknowledged as a “builder of the breed” served as President of the Ohio Shorthorn Association, and was a longstanding member at the national level. Besides cattle, he also liked draft horses and attending horse pulls in his later years. Johnson is preceded in death by his wife Frances. He is survived by his six grown children and their extended families. A memorial service will be scheduled by the family at a later date. Donations may be made in his memory to the Shorthorn Foundation. The foundation provides youth scholarships, educational programs, and research to improve performance of the Shorthorn breed. Donations can be sent to the Shorthorn Foundation, 1800 Lovers Leap, Van Alstyne, TX 75495 (Tax ID: 36-6221032). Andrew (Andy) Burl Mayer, 62, of Plain City, Ohio passed away on June 6, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He was born in 1958 in Marysville, Ohio and graduated high school in 1977. Mayer lived out his childhood dream to be a farmer, as he spent his entire life on the family farm in Madison County. He enjoyed the annual Miami Valley Steam Threshers Reunion and was a member of the Board of Directors. He took pride in collecting vintage signage, tractors, John Deere equipment and memorabilia. Mayer was a cattle feeder known for finishing black Angus cattle. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Marysville. Contributions in his memory may be made to Loving Care Hospice, 779 London Ave., Marysville, Ohio 43040 or Miami Valley Steam Threshers, P.O. Box 364, Plain City, Ohio 43064.
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Reneé Hamilton was recently hired at Select Sires’ beef department as a beef acquisition and product management specialist. Hamilton is working towards her Bachelor of Science in agriculture at The Ohio State University with an anticipated graduation date in December 2022. She started working at Select Sires as a livestock technician in June 2020. As a beef acquisition and product management specialist, Hamilton will provide administrative support to all aspects of Select Sires’ beef program. She will be responsible for genetic contracts and royalty processing, while offering support and resources to Select Sires’ customers and field staff.
SHAW WINS NCBA GIVEAWAY Bill Shaw, OCA and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) member of Logan, Ohio, recently won the grand prize in a Southwest Airlines/NCBA member promotion that includes two e-passes for any Southwest Airlines destination.
U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION (USMEF) SHARED RECAP OF BEEF EXPORTS IN 2020 Demand for U.S. beef exports proved resilient in most Asian markets in 2020, though with substantial shifts from foodservice to retail in some destinations. The limited labor situation challenged exports of certain items, especially variety meats, although December exports of beef variety meats were the largest since March. U.S. beef exports finished 2020 lower year-over-year, falling 5% in both volume (1.25 million mt) and value ($7.65 billion). But beef exports finished the year with very strong momentum, with fourth quarter volume up 4.5% from 2019 and posting one of the best months on record in December. Beef exports to China were record-large in 2020 and a new volume record was also achieved in Taiwan. Exports to leading market Japan slipped 2% year-over-year to 306,140 mt, with value holding steady at $1.94 billion. Beef muscle cut exports to Japan climbed 5% to 259,412 mt, with value up 1% to $1.57 billion. U.S. beef regained market share in Japan, climbing from 41% in 2019 to 44% in 2020, benefiting from the duty reductions in the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. Beef exports to South Korea also held up relatively well, though shipments trailed the 2019 record by 4% at 246,231 mt, valued at $1.72 billion (down 6.5%). U.S. beef made substantial market share gains in Korea in 2020, capturing nearly 53% of total imports (up from 51.5% in 2019) and 64% of chilled imports (up from 62%). Korea’s imports of U.S. chilled beef set another new record in 2020, totaling 62,825 mt (up 14.5%). The U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement took effect in March, making beef from a much larger percentage of U.S. cattle eligible for the rapidly growing Chinese market. The U.S. industry capitalized in a big way, with exports quadrupling year-over-year to a record 42,813 mt, valued at $310.2 million (up 260%). Since September, the U.S. has surpassed Australia as the largest supplier of grain-fed beef to China. USMEF is currently forecasting 10 % growth in 2021, which assumes broad based growth in a vast range of markets. The momentum established in 2020 at retail and with the online e-commerce platforms globally, is expected to compliment the return of tourism and foodservice in 2021. That being said USMEF noted that beef can continue to expect COVID-19 induced interruptions as undoubtedly there will be spikes in certain parts of the globe, but given efforts to vaccinate key population centers around the world, there is hope that more stability is in store in 2021 and beyond as compared to 2020.
ALLAN ROBINSON ELECTED REGION I VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF STATE BEEF COUNCILS Allan Robison of Cable, Ohio, was elected Region I Vice President for the Federation of State Beef Councils during the Cattle Industry Winter Business Meeting held virtually, Feb. 3-5, 2021. Robison will represent 17 states during his three-year term. The vision of the Federation of State Beef Councils, a division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), is to build beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective state and national Checkoff partnership. It provides a voice and performance vehicle by which producers and qualified state beef councils (SBCs) collectively influence and give direction to the Beef Checkoff. Among other duties, the Regional Vice President works closely with State Beef Councils, coordinates regional activities, facilitates Federation Division regional elections and champions checkoff efforts within the region, especially State Beef Council engagement in the Federation. “I’m looking forward to working with producers in our region’s states and supporting the Federation to build demand for beef,” said Robison. Robison and his family have a cow-calf operation in Champaign County. He has held several industry leadership roles including serving as an officer for the Champaign County Cattlemen’s Association for 12 years. Robison was appointed to the Ohio Beef Council Operating Committee in 2016 and is serving in his second term. In this role he has served on the council’s finance and beef and veal marketing plan committees.
Robison received the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Young Cattleman of the Year award in 2013, and in 2019 the farm received the OCA Commercial Producer of the Year award. Robison also participated in the 2013 NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference & Tour leadership development program. Allan is married to his wife Kelly and together they have two children Noah, 8 and Josie, 5.
