Beef Briefs

IOWA TO HOST 53RD ANNUAL BEEF IMPROVEMENT FEDERATION RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM AND CONVENTION The 2021 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention program is now confirmed. This year’s event will be hosted in person June 22-25 in Des Moines, Iowa. The BIF Symposium features two and a half days of educational programming and a full day of tours. The first general session — “Beef Industry: Where is it going?” — will feature presentations by Michael Uetz, Midan Marketing; Jim Pillen, Pillen Family Farms; and Dr. Dan Thomson, Iowa State University Department of Animal Science chair. During the second general session the theme will be Precision Livestock Technology. Speakers Thursday will include Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, UC Davis; Justin Sexten, Precision Livestock Analytics; Pat Wall, ISU extension specialist; Reiss Bruning, Bruning Farms; and Cody Jorgensen, Jorgensen Land and Livestock. The afternoon technical breakout sessions both days will focus on a range of beef-production and genetic-improvement topics. The conference also features a Young Producer Symposium on Tuesday afternoon, designed for networking and to equip young cattle producers with essential knowledge as they grow their role in the business. Tuesday evening attendees will enjoy an opening reception as well as the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) symposium. This year’s event is being planned to take place in person. “The BIF Board believes it is imperative to provide ‘face-to-face’ networking and educational opportunities for its members. We understand that our in person 2021 meetings might look a little different, but we are excited to begin meeting together again,” says Dr. Bob Weaber, BIF executive director. Registration is scheduled to open April 15. Online registration will be available at BIFSymposium.com.

AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATIONIAL COMPETITIONS FOCUS OF 2021 OHIO STATE FAIR

The Ohio Expositions Commission announced that the 2021 Ohio State Fair will not be open to the public and will instead focus on agricultural and educational competitions for exhibitors, their families and guests. When discussing plans for the 2021 Ohio State Fair, members of the Commission expressed concern for public health, as well as the financial impact of hosting a fair that would adhere to current safety protocols and the lasting impacts of the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair. Many of the typical things associated with the Ohio State Fair – rides, concerts, entertainers, live music, food vendors, and shopping – are expected to return in 2022. The 2021 Ohio State Fair will be limited to exhibitors and family members for youth and senior livestock competitions, along with educational project judging for non-livestock competitions, such as 4-H. “I wish we had a crystal ball, but we don’t,” Strickler said. “As such, the safest decision is to greatly limit the traditional aspects of the Ohio State Fair, sticking to our roots in agriculture. While this is a difficult decision, we feel it is the best path to protect the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair, as well as the safety of those involved by limiting the scope significantly.” Detailed plans for the livestock and educational competitions are forthcoming. At this time, staff anticipates that the livestock shows will begin on July 19 and will conclude on August 8. The deadline for exhibitors to enter livestock competitions will be June 20, 2021. The 2022 Ohio State Fair is slated for July 27 – August 7. USDA AND ODA OFFERING LIMITED NUMBER OF FREE RFID TAGS The United States Department of Agriuclture (USDA) and the Ohio Department of Agiruclture (ODA) are providing a limited number of official 840 RFID tags. Once the Ohio tag allotment is depleted, no additional tags will be provided to the state. Only Ohio accredited veterinarians and cattle producers may order the free RFID tags. There are both white “840” button tags and orange “840” calfhood vaccination (OCV) button tags available. All RFID tags are low frequency tags. Veterinarians may receive both white and orange tags, while cattle producers may only receive white tags. RFID tag inventory may include more than one brand of tags. A Premises Identification Number (PIN) is required to order the free RFID tags. To obtain a PIN, go to www.agri. ohio.gov or call 614-728-6220. To request free RFID tags, contact the ODA Division of Animal Health at animal@agri.ohio.gov or by calling the number previously mentioned.

COBA/SELECT SIRES ANNOUNCES 2020 EXCELLENCE AWARDS COBA/Select Sires recently recognized members of their field staff for excellence in sales and service in 2020. The award descriptions and Ohio recipients are below.

Super Achievers

The Super Achiever awards recognize staff members for outstanding performance in sales and customer service. Dan Pyles, Cedarville, Ohio is one of COBA’s Super Achiever Sales Representatives and Nathan Davenport, Greenville, Ohio is one of the Super Achiever Technicians.

ST Award

Through sponsorship from Sexing Technologies, Select Sires recognizes success in gender SELECTed™ semen sales by honoring an ST Winner. COBA recognize Justin Williams, Marysville, Ohio for this award.

President’s Club

Recognition for President’s Club is determined by the amount of growth a salesman has achieved over the year prior. Dan Pyles, Cedarville, Ohio one of those award recipients.

Service Elite Club

Reproductive Services Client Managers may qualify for Service Elite Club through increased performance or increase in sales over the year prior. COBA’s recipients from Ohio are as follows: Damon Bertke, Maria Stein, Ohio Nathan Davenport, Greenville, Ohio Chase Dunlap, Cortland, Ohio Tyler Meyer, Mount Victory, Ohio Rusty Reid, Pleasant City, Ohio Gus Rupp, Loudonville, Ohio Jack Smith, Bolivar, Ohio Richard Thomas, Salem, Ohio Tyler Topp, Sterling, Ohio Justin Welter, Mansfield, Ohio Justin Williams, Marysville, Ohio NCBA DELIVERS PRESERVING FAMILY FARMS ACT: A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A GENERATIONAL ISSUE The Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021 was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Jackie Walorski (IN-2). NCBA has long supported efforts to reduce undue tax burden on farmers and ranchers. This bipartisan legislation to expand IRS Code Section 2032A would allow cattle producers to take advantage of the Special Use Valuation and protect family-owned businesses from the devastating impact of the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax. The Preserving Family Farms Act increases the maximum amount allowed under the Section 2032A exemption from $750,000 to $11 million (indexed for inflation), thus reviving a critically important tool in the toolbox for farm and ranch families across the U.S. If enacted, this legislation will provide a permanent solution to an issue that has long plagued our nation’s cattle producers. In the Tax Reform Act of 1976, Congress recognized the disproportionate burden of the Death Tax on agricultural producers and created Section 2032A as a way to help farmers keep their farms. However, the benefits of Special Use Valuations have been stymied over the years as the cap on deductions has failed to keep pace with the rising value of farmland. While the current 2032A reduction is 55 percent higher than the value established two decades ago, USDA estimates that cropland values have increased by 223 percent. Agricultural land values – including on-farm buildings – have also risen dramatically, increasing by 241 percent during this same period. Due to the rapid inflation of farmland values, the 2032A deduction is no longer aligned with the needs of modern agriculture – nor does it accomplish Congress’ intended goal of providing meaningful protection to those producers who are most vulnerable to the estate tax.

OSU OFFERS TOOLKIT TO THOSE HOPING TO START MEAT-PROCESSING PLANT Lyda Garcia, an assistant professor of meat science and Extension meat specialist with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) organized a team to develop a toolkit to aid entrepreneurs in opening a meat processing plant in response to the shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit offers insight on where to begin, livestock inventories by county throughout Ohio, business model options, guides to creating a business plan, contacts in the meat industry, and a host of other resources. “The whole intent of the toolkit is to give people an idea of what’s coming their way,” Garcia said. “We’ve provided about 70% of what they need to know. The other 30%, they’re going to have to learn as they go.” To access the free toolkit, visit go.osu.edu/meatoolkit. (source: OSU CFAES)

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