Angus, America’s Breed
Angus Convention celebrates CAB 40th anniversary, education and business.
“Certified Angus Beef® is a testament to having a powerful brand that provides unmatched customer service coupled with the highest-quality products in the world,” said Allen Moczygemba, American Angus Association CEO, at the fifth-annual Angus Convention hosted Nov. 3-5, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. “Angus is now synonymous with beef.”
Despite a year of sporadic weather patterns and widespread hardship for the entire ag industry, registrations for Angus cattle are high. Each entity of the Association celebrated hard-fought successes in 2018.
Association Perspective
Giving thanks for our blessings.
With Thanksgiving upon us and Christmas right around the corner, we should all be giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives. As ranchers and farmers, you never truly have a day off, and sometimes one day goes to the next with very little sleep. I think we’re all guilty of being so busy we forget to look around at the many blessings we have and to give thanks for them. I know I am certainly guilty of this at times.
Recently at the National Angus Convention and Trade Show, there was a feed and nutrition company with advertising that featured a picture of an Angus cow and stated: “When does she have a day off?” This advertisement really got me thinking. How do we give thanks to the cattle we care for on our farms and ranches?
Tax Cuts and Job Act Update
The new Tax Cuts and Job Act includes several changes that may ease the burden on farmers and ranchers.
Tax preparation is often a complicated and stressful task. Occasionally, the law changes and tax regulations seem to work in favor of producers. The new Tax Cuts and Job Act includes several changes, which may ease the burden on farmers and ranchers.
The big change is a revision to Section 179.
“Section 179 was enacted to help small businesses,” says Jake Wisdom, Wisdom CPAs. Normally, taxpayers must depreciate the value of a purchased asset over a number of years. Section 179 allows small businesses to deduct all or part of the asset’s value the same year it’s purchased, reducing taxable income.
Checkoff Case Progresses
Court grants R-CALF USA’s motion to expand its beef checkoff case to at least 13 more states.
On Nov. 5 the federal district court in Montana granted Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America’s (R-CALF USA’s) motion to expand its beef checkoff program lawsuit against the USDA to include at least 13 states in addition to Montana.
The district court in Montana previously granted, and the appellate court recently upheld, a preliminary injunction temporarily stopping the USDA from compelling cattle producers in Montana to pay for the private speech of the private Montana Beef Council without first obtaining consent from producers.
Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Down
Thanksgiving dinner cost down for third straight year.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF’s) 33rd annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $48.90, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 22¢ decrease from last year’s average of $49.12.
“Since 2015, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined steadily and is now at the lowest level since 2010,” said AFBF Chief Economist John Newton.
