Angus Media names Clay Zwilling as president
The Angus Media Board of Directors recently named Clay Zwilling president of the organization to guide the company as it delivers industry-leading education, information and marketing to the beef industry.

“Clay is a natural leader,” said Mark McCully, vice chairman of the Angus Media Board and CEO for the American Angus Association. “His passion for innovation, while keeping an eye on the tradition, makes him a perfect fit.”

Most recently, Zwilling was the chief operating officer for Walton Webcasting, where he helped develop the organization during a time of rapid growth. Prior to that, he served as CEO of the National Swine Registry, working with the executive committee, breed boards and membership to create and execute their vision and mission. Zwilling started his professional career with Farm Credit Illinois as the director of marketplace education and development.

“Angus breeders are stewards of both their herds and family ranches, as well as the Angus legacy,” Zwilling said. “Angus Media plays an important role in telling their stories and giving them cutting-edge, cost-effective marketing tools to achieve their goals.”

Zwilling brings diversified livestock experience to Angus Media, but his roots are in the beef business. He grew up raising cattle and knows that background from other segments of the livestock industry is additive, giving him additional perspective.

“I believe the vision of Angus breeders is very much like the rest of the livestock industry,” he says. “We all want to ensure the profitability of the industry we love. That requires an understanding of the tried and true, but with the ability to be innovative and creative.”

That kind of vision is exactly what intrigued him about the position, and similarly why the Angus Media board selected him as the new president.

Zwilling holds a master’s degree from Texas A&M University in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. He did his undergraduate work at Oklahoma State University and Lake Land College in Illinois. In addition to his work experience, Zwilling has held various leadership roles within the livestock and agriculture industries, including currently serving on the board of National Pedigreed Livestock Council and OSU Animal Science Alumni. He was an All-American and a member of the national champion livestock judging team and is a past Illinois State FFA president.

Zwilling will assume his duties as president on May 8 and will relocate to the Saint Joseph area with his wife, Deanna, and their 2-year-old daughter, Allie.

For more information about Angus Media and the American Angus Association, please visit www.angus.org.

Landers promoted to director of field services
The American Angus Association named Levi Landers director of field services. Landers will lead the Angus regional manager team, the largest field staff of any beef breed association in the United States.

“Levi’s entire professional career has been serving cattlemen in the field,” said Association CEO Mark McCully. “He understands the needs of both Angus breeders and their customers. Levi is highly respected for his knowledge, humility and straightforward approach.”

Since 2019, he has been the Association regional manager for the states of Nebraska and Colorado. Prior to that, Landers was a field manager for the American Hereford Association. He began his career with the Western Ag Reporter.

“I look forward to working with the experienced Angus regional managers team helping our Association members,” Landers said. “There’s nothing we like more than visiting about good cattle and seeing our breeders succeed.”

Landers replaces veteran regional manager, David Gazda, who has worked for the Association for 35 years, seven as director of field services.

Landers will assume the role May 1. A position for a new regional manager in Nebraska and Colorado has been posted on www.angus.org/careers.

Legislation reintroduced to expand local meat processing
U.S. senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), members of the Senate Ag Committee, on March 15 reintroduced the bipartisan Expanding Local Meat Processing Act to remove regulatory roadblocks to increase meat-processing capacity and allow livestock auction market owners to invest in small and regional packing facilities. U.S. representatives Mark Alford (R-MO) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House.

The legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to amend the Packers & Stockyards Act to allow livestock auction market owners to hold ownership in finance, or participate in the management or operation of a meat-packing entity with cumulative slaughter capacity caps in place that exclude investment in the top 10 largest meatpackers.

Livestock auction markets are not currently able to own or invest in the management or operation of a packing plant or meat-marketing business.

The full text of the bill is available here.

USDA requests public input on key water quality initiatives
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently published a Federal Register Notice requesting public and stakeholder input on how to target program benefits, quantify impact and improve program delivery and outreach for two water quality initiatives: the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Information garnered through this Request for Information (RFI) will help inform NRCS efforts to identify and prioritize improvements to these initiatives starting in fiscal year 2024.

Submit comment here.

AFCO Distribution & Milling is newest BioZyme Inc. distributor
BioZyme Inc. announces that AFCO Distribution & Milling is its newest distributor. In business more than 30 years, AFCO is based out of Spokane Valley, Wash.

“These are very exciting times for BioZyme to have a quality distributor in the Pacific Northwest to provide service to our dealers,” says Alan Lee, director of domestic business development. “AFCO has an excellent reputation, eager sales team and a great fleet of trucks to further distribute the BioZyme family of brands to more animals.”

BioZyme has been expanding its distribution during the past several years to increase access to its products across the United States and provide easier logistics to its dealers. AFCO serves more than 400 feed and pet supply retailers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Alaska.

“Added distribution in this specific geography will assist BioZyme in meeting its goals, while providing care that comes full circle to more people and more animals. We couldn’t be more thrilled about this opportunity,” Lee says.

NCBA calls for continued ban on Paraguayan beef imports
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is calling on Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to continue blocking Paraguay from importing beef to the United States in response to USDA releasing a proposed rule that would grant access to Paraguayan beef imports.

“USDA’s proposed rule to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. is based on nine-year-old data and site visits that occurred in 2008 and 2014. Paraguay has a history of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and we cannot jeopardize the safety of U.S. consumers and the health of our U.S. cattle herd with outdated information,” says NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “The United States has the highest animal health and food safety standards in the world because we rely on the most up-to-date information and the highest science-based standards. USDA should not proceed with this application until a thorough review can be conducted with current information that demonstrates Paraguay’s equivalence in animal health and food safety standards.”

U.S. cattle producers support senate legislation to repeal death tax
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) on March 30 introduced legislation to repeal the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax.

“No cattle producer should ever be forced to sell their family’s farm or ranch to pay a tax bill due to the death of a family member. Repealing the Death Tax is a commonsense way to keep the farm or ranch in the family,” responded NCBA President Todd Wilkinson. “As a land-based, capital-intensive industry, most cattle-producing families are asset-rich and cash-poor, with few options to pay off tax liabilities. It is unacceptable that some families are forced to sell off land, farm equipment, parts of the operation, or the entire ranch to pay the estate tax. We need a tax code that promotes the continuation of family-owned businesses instead of breaking them up.”

Ensuring a farm or ranch can be passed to children or grandchildren is a priority for family-owned farms, ranches and agricultural businesses. It is critically important that producers and business owners have permanent relief from the Death Tax. Current Death Tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2025, and it is vital that Congress takes immediate action to provide permanent relief for agricultural families. NCBA is committed to working with Senator Thune and members of the Senate and House, those who support American cattlemen and women and rural communities to kill the Death Tax.

Scholarship deadline May 1
Scholarships are available to college students involved with the Angus breed, including those whose families buy registered Angus bulls for commercial beef production. The Angus Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate and trade school students to help Angus youth achieve educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition. Applications are due May 1.

Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship. The Angus Foundation will award four $1,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who use Angus genetics in a commercial cattle operation’s breeding program or whose parents use Angus genetics. Emphasis will be placed on applicants’ knowledge of the cattle industry and perspective of the Angus breed.

The applicant or their parent/guardian must have transferred or been transferred an Angus registration paper in the last 36 months (on or after May 1, 2020) and must be considered commercial and not seedstock in their operation. The scholarship applies to any field of study.

Download the application from www.angusfoundation.org. Submit completed applications by email to scholarships@angus.org by May 1. For more information about the Angus Foundation and scholarships available, visit www.angusfoundation.org.

2023 Angus Convention
Mark your calendars to attend the 2023 Angus Convention in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 3-6, at Rosen Shingle Creek. Booth information is available at www.angusconvention.com. Registration and hotel blocks will open July 1.

The convention offers producers and industry leaders opportunities for networking, education and breed improvement, in addition to conducting the business of the American Angus Association.

World Angus Technical Meeting
Registration for the World Angus Technical Meeting is open. The event, set to take place September 8-15 in Czechia, will feature a series of presentations, the national show, farm tours and more. For complete information and to register, visit www.worldangus2023.com.

The registration process will include accommodations, tours, some meals, and some transportation. For assistance with individual flight arrangements, any additional pre- or post-meeting travel, as well as coordinating travel with other attendees, please contact Nicole Beck, Travel Agent, at 816-364-3232 or nicole@auratravel.com; or visit www.auratravel.com.

To have the most flexibility and options for your trip, planning early is encouraged.

NCBA slams FDA commissioner’s comments on cell-cultured meat
On March 29, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane slammed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf’s comments regarding cell-cultured meat made during a hearing on the FDA’s fiscal year 2024 budget request:

“By his own admission, the FDA’s role is to ensure food safety, but Commissioner Califf’s comments today indicate that he intends to bring his agency into climate and environmental discussions while promoting cell-cultured meat. This viewpoint is extremely disappointing to America’s cattle producers, whose stewardship of the land already does more to protect our environment than fake meat production ever will. We appreciate Congresswoman Letlow shining a light on these concerning issues at FDA and hope that Commissioner Califf will reverse course and coordinate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the regulation of these cell-cultured substitutes.”

NCBA grateful for Senate passage of resolution to stop WOTUS rule
NCBA President Todd Wilkinson released a statement March 30 commending the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution to stop the Biden administration’s latest Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule:

“The bipartisan passage of this resolution sends a clear message to the Biden administration that this is not how Congress intended to implement the Clean Water Act. Now, President Biden has a choice: He can sign the resolution and pull back the unlawfully vague WOTUS rule, or he can veto it and turn his back on rural America. I am especially proud of my fellow cattle producers from across the country speaking up to make our voices heard. Together, we wrote more than 1,900 letters to senators calling for a vote on this resolution. Our advocacy made a crucial impact.”