News & Notes
Stay current with headlines important to today’s beef producer.
January 3, 2025
Public comment period on Dietary Guidelines opens
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has submitted its Scientific Report to the secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA. The report contains the committee’s “independent, evidence-based findings” and advice to the secretaries and will inform the two departments as they work together to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030.
To gather public input on the report, HHS and USDA will open a 60-day comment period after Dec. 11, 2024, during which interested parties are invited to share their feedback.
The two departments will host a public meeting Jan. 16, 2025, for members of the public to provide oral comments. More details on both means for public input is available online.
HHS and USDA will use the Scientific Report as a key resource, alongside public comments and federal agency input, to inform the development of the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines.
NCBA responds
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) responded to the “questionable” advice published in the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Scientific Report, reiterating the important role beef plays in a healthy diet. Despite a wealth of high-quality scientific evidence that beef has an important role to play in a healthy diet, the committee is recommending federal nutrition guidelines include a reduction in red meat consumption.
“Most Americans today already eat beef within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended levels for a healthy diet. This reduction is a solution in search of a problem,” says NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “Public health advice should be based on the totality of scientific evidence. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee ignored robust and rigorous scientific evidence about beef’s essential nutrients and the foundational, positive role it plays in health as a preferred protein food in a variety of healthy diets for all Americans.”
Obesity and chronic disease are critical health issues in the United States, and eating beef is a solution. With a single, 3-ounce (oz.) serving of lean beef, Americans receive half of their daily protein needs, as well as 10 essential nutrients like iron and B vitamins — all in less than 170 calories.
“Cutting back on beef isn’t going to Make America Healthy Again. There’s irrefutable evidence about the valuable role of beef and its nutrients in promoting health,” says Shalene McNeill, registered dietitian and NCBA executive director of nutrition science. “We’ve had 40 years of Dietary Guidelines, and during that time, beef consumption has decreased, yet Americans suffer more from obesity and chronic disease than ever before. Advising Americans to cut back on beef takes us even further in the wrong direction, putting our most vulnerable populations like women, children, teens and the aging at risk.
“This advice detracts from the real and most basic challenges we face with eating healthfully,” she continues. “Nutrition guidance should encourage Americans to have the flexibility to choose nutrient-dense foods and dietary patterns they enjoy within calorie goals.”
Swanson named Angus regional manager for three-state area
The American Angus Association recently hired Andrew Swanson as the newest member of its regional manager team. Swanson will cover the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, helping commercial cattlemen and Association members with their needs.
“Andrew is no stranger to the area or the world of Angus sales,” says Levi Landers, director of field and member services for the Association. “He has spent the last 10 years serving cattlemen, and I’m looking forward to introducing him to breeders in his area.”
A native of Ivanhoe, Minn., Swanson joins Angus from Select Sires, where he served as a beef business manager, overseeing the beef market sector in North Dakota and Minnesota. He also held other roles with Select Sires and worked with seedstock and commercial producers, representing Lee Agri-Media at production sales during the last five years.
Swanson is one of 13 regional managers serving across the United States as full-time staff members of the Association. They work with cattle breeders in their designated regions to promote Angus cattle, help commercial cattlemen utilize Angus programs and assist Angus breeders who want to get started in the Angus business.
Regional managers also work with breeders to ensure their advertising needs are being met through the Angus Journal® and Angus Beef Bulletin. They can often be found working at Angus sales and shows, representing the Association at livestock conventions and serving as a liaison between the organization, its membership, users of Angus genetics, industry partners and academia.
“In my final year of college, I remember thinking the Angus regional manager job was my dream job,” Swanson says. “I look forward to engaging with cattlemen at a number of industry events, making herd visits and helping answer as many questions as I can about the Angus business,” he says.
Swanson and his wife, Bridgette, and their two young sons, Owen and Brooks, own a small, registered Angus cow herd. They are the fourth generation to farm their family’s land.
“That firsthand knowledge will be a huge benefit to cattlemen — both seedstock breeders and commercial cattlemen,” Landers says.
Swanson began his duties Dec. 1. He can be reached at aswanson@angus.org or 507-829-4133.
$6.3 billion to strengthen rural infrastructure
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Dec. 10 announced USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs.
“These investments will build modern infrastructure that will attract employers to the nation’s smallest towns and most remote communities, creating jobs, vibrant main streets and lasting economic growth for people who live there,” says Vilsack.
FWS proposes ESA protection of monarch butterfly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking public input on a proposal to list the monarch butterfly as threatened with species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Public comments will be accepted on the proposal until March 12, 2025. FWS will then evaluate the comments and any additional information on the species and determine whether to list the monarch butterfly.
With notable orange and black markings, the monarchs are grouped into two long-distance migratory populations. The eastern migratory population is the largest and overwinters in the mountains of central Mexico. The western migratory population primarily overwinters in coastal California.
In the 1980s, more than 4.5 million western monarchs flocked to overwintering grounds in coastal California. In the mid-1990s, an estimated 380 million eastern monarchs made the journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico.
Today the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by about 80%. The western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting the western population at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080.
FWS says threats to monarchs include loss and degradation of breeding, migratory and overwintering habitat; exposure to insecticides; and the effects of climate change. It is proposing 4,395 acres of critical habitat for the western migratory monarch population across Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties in California.
A critical habitat designation imposes no requirements on state or private land unless the action involves federal funding, permits or approvals.
For more information visit https://www.fws.gov/monarch.
Pollard Rita 4012 to headline 2025 Foundation Heifer Package
Pollard Rita 4012 has earned the coveted spot as the female headlining the 2025 Angus Foundation Heifer Package. The package will sell at the National Angus Bull Sale Jan. 10 during the 2025 Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City. Showcasing top-tier genetics, the sale of the package also benefits the Angus Fund, supporting programs that shape the future of the breed, including the Beef Leaders Institute (BLI), the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference and Angus University.
“Pollard Farms has donated an exceptional female,” says Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “This female will be a great asset to anyone’s herd, whether they are looking for phenotype or genomic enhancements, and while supporting the Angus Fund.”
Pollard Rita 4012 is a daughter of EXAR Cover the Bases 0819B and a productive 2-year-old cow “on her way to the donor pen,” says former Association Board President Barry Pollard of Pollard Farms, Waukomis, Okla. She stems from PF W34 Rita 4139, a longtime donor in the Pollard Farms program. Rita is an elite donor prospect that exemplifies the phenotypic and numerical balance Pollard and his crew strive for.
Her sire, EXAR Cover the Bases 0819B, jointly owned by Pollard Farms and Express Ranches, is valued at $400,000. His first calf crop was headlined by the record-setting $240,000 half-interest female at the 2023 Big Event production sale hosted by Express Ranches.
“His first calf crop was phenomenal,” says Pollard. “He is a high-carcass and high-marbling bull with a great foot structure and great bone. As Jarold [Callahan] always said, ‘He is a different kind of marbling bull.’”
The dam of Rita 4012 comes from a long line of maternal genetics in the Pollard herd. PF W34 Rita 4139 is a direct daughter of EXAR Rita U049, who came to Pollard Farms as the $62,000 half-interest Lot 1 from a past Big Event.
“I am honored to donate the Angus Foundation Heifer Package this year,” says Pollard. “Her dam exemplifies what the goals of our operation are. … I think people will be pleased with her look and genetic abilities.”
For more information about the package, contact Boester at jboester@angus.org or visit www.angus.org/foundation.
Mexico notifies United States of New World Screwworm Detection
Nov. 22, 2024, the chief veterinary officer of Mexico notified the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of a positive detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico. The NWS was found in a cow in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, at an inspection checkpoint close to the border with Guatemala.
NWS are fly larvae that infest living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing infection.
“Given the northward movement of NWS, APHIS has in recent months stepped up its efforts in Central America to partner with affected countries to push this pest out of newly affected areas,” says Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer of the United States. “With this latest find in Mexico, we will further intensify this work to protect American agriculture and reestablish the barrier in Central America.
Given the severity of the threat from NWS, APHIS is restricting importation of animal commodities, specifically live cattle and bison, originating from or transiting Mexico pending further information from Mexican veterinary authorities on the size and scope of the infestation. A complete list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by screwworm, as well as more detailed information on trade restrictions, can be found online.
AFBF applauds pause on filing requirements
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented on the Dec. 4 nationwide injunction ordered by the federal court in the Eastern District of Texas halting enforcement of the Beneficial Ownership Information filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The requirement essentially requires the filing of private business ownership information with the federal government.
“Farmers and ranchers across the country have faced great uncertainty since the passage of the Corporate Transparency Act in early 2021 and as the Beneficial Ownership Information regulations have been written,” said Duvall. “Questions are swirling about who is required to file and who will have access to the confidential data being collected.”
“Farm Bureau has long fought against the mandated disclosure of farmers’ private business information to the federal government in a number of different scenarios,” he continued. “For a second time this year a federal court has ruled the CTA oversteps the Constitution on that front. We appreciate the temporary reprieve provided by the injunction and hope Congress can take a cue from the courts in the coming weeks to provide a more permanent resolution to this problematic policy.”
Celebrating longevity: Team Angus marks milestones
Longevity isn’t only an expected progeny difference here at the American Angus Association. The years of service tallied when considering the length of some Angus staff members’ careers is also something to celebrate.
“Long-tenured employees are a cornerstone of our success,” Association CEO Mark McCully emphasizes. “Our staff members provide unparalleled expertise and hold a deep commitment to serving our members.”
Annually, Association employees marking landmark anniversaries are recognized for their long-term service to Angus cattlemen. The skill sets and dedication these staff members bring to the table cannot be overstated.
“We are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible milestones of our dedicated team members,” emphasizes Bethany Kelly, Association vice president of human resources and talent development. “Whether it’s five, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 or an astounding 40 years of service, each of these individuals has made a lasting impact on the Association.”
Staff members recognized for their years of service in 2024 include:
Five Years
Jennifer Meek, commercial programs administrator, American Angus Association
Bailey Cole, senior marketing specialist, Angus Media
Will Harsh, regional manager, Region 7
Levi Landers, director of field and member services, American Angus Association
Jenna Martin, senior print services coordinator, Angus Media
Holly Martin, director of communications, American Angus Association
Reese Tuckwiller, regional manager, Region 1
10 Years
Stason Gregory, senior systems engineer, American Angus Association
Casey Jentz, regional manager, Region 4
Jeff Mafi, regional manager, Region 8
Ashley Petty, billing analyst, Angus Media
Alex Tolbert, regional manager, Region 3
15 Years
Mike Flannery, computer technician, American Angus Association
20 Years
Gayla Fuston, senior customer service specialist, Angus Genetics Inc.
Kenny Miller, CFO, American Angus Association
30 Years
Brenda Weigart, member services operations coordinator, American Angus Association
35 Years
Lea Ann Maudlin, photo coordinator, American Angus Association
40 Years
Lou Ann Adams, chief information officer, American Angus Association
— by Lynsey McAnally, associate editor
AFBF celebrates labor win
AFBF and other industry coalition members were granted a preliminary injunction by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi barring the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing its Worker Protection Rule extending unionization rights to H-2A visa holders.
“Farmers appreciate the dedicated men and women who choose to work on their farms, and they take seriously the responsibility of ensuring a safe workplace,” says Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. “Farm Bureau agrees that workers should be treated fairly and respectfully. We also believe fairness to farmers is important and the DOL rule was overly broad to the point of being unlawful.”
April advertising section to focus on ‘Female Foundations’
The April Angus Beef Bulletin will feature a special advertising section focusing on herds geared to provide the female foundation to rebuild of the nation’s cow herd.
If you have a set of commercial replacement heifers, offer a heifer-development program or market a product or service to support the cow herd, this issue may offer an ideal way to share with the Angus Beef Bulletin audience.
The ad package features an article on the advertiser’s farm, ranch or product. The ad section has a reservation deadline the first week of January to allow our team time to interview and write those articles. Ad materials will be due Feb. 7.
If you want to advertise your herd or set of females, contact the regional manager for your area or our advertising team (see page 177) for details.
If you have a product or service you’d like to advertise in the section, contact our business relations manager, Kimberly Wilson, at kwilson@angus.org or 816-383-5279.
Featured in the 2025 Angus Beef Bulletin
Sitz Angus Recognized for 100-year Angus Legacy
Family-run businesses that last 100 or more years often leave a legacy. When an Angus herd lasts that long, the breed comes together to celebrate the accomplishment. At the 2024 Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, the American Angus Association honored Sitz Angus of Dillon and Harrison, Mont., with the Century Award for its 100-plus years as a registered Angus herd.
“Being able to say we’ve been in the Angus business for over 100 years — that’s a feat itself,” says Jim Sitz.
William and Frieda Sitz started Sitz Angus in the Nebraska Sandhills in 1923 with the purchase of registered Angus cows from William Williams of Clarks, Neb. William and Frieda had four children: Robert “Bob,” Bill, Dolores and Ruth. In 1952, William and Frieda moved with son Bob (Sr.) to a ranch in Longmont, Colo. In 1959, two years after Bob married Donna Scriffiny, the young couple purchased a ranch in Harrison, Mont., and moved the herd.
In Harrison, Bob Sr. and Donna raised two daughters and two sons — Deb, Sherrie, Bob and Jim — while being early champions of performance testing and Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®). In 1966, Sitz Angus hosted its first bull sale and began offering customers free delivery of their bulls. The family was an early adopter of artificial insemination (AI). All four of Bob Sr. and Donna’s children are still involved in the cattle business through Sitz Angus, Bar 69 Angus Ranch and Stockman Angus of New Zealand.
Bob Sr. was inducted into the Angus Heritage Foundation in 1993, four years after his untimely death. Donna and her sons persevered through the loss with a cow sale and rebuilt the herd. The brothers, Jim and Bob, are 2024 inductees into the Angus Heritage Foundation (see story on page 84).
Leaving a legacy of leadership within the breed at both the state and national levels, Bob Sr. served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors from 1979 to 1985. Donna was an active member of the National Angus Auxiliary and Montana Angus Auxiliary. Jim followed in his father’s footsteps, serving on the Association Board of Directors from 2009 to 2016 and as president in 2016. In 2001, Sitz Angus donated the Angus Foundation Heifer.
Today, William and Frieda’s grandsons, Bob and Jim, along with Jim’s wife Tammi (Huntsman), operate Sitz Angus with their families. (The Dillon ranch was acquired in 1997.) The fourth generation, known sometimes as “the Sitz six,” are preparing to make their mark on the Angus breed as they each find unique ways to support the ranch through cattle breeding, raising crops, bookkeeping, hosting interns, influencing range management and even managing social media and promotion. They are Taylre, Lane, Amber, Ashley, Tyler and Tucker Sitz.
“I see no reason why they shouldn’t be able to take it to a whole new level,” Jim says of the next generation on the ranch.
Sitz Angus sires have consistently held spots in the list of top 25 sires for breed registration and sell high-quality Angus genetics across the United States and internationally. The family offers yearling bulls each spring and nearly 2-year-old bulls at their annual fall sale. While being well-known for their bulls, Sitz Angus maintains its status as a MaternalPlus® herd, as it has since the program’s first year in 2012, proving their focus on producing high-performing, profit-yielding females for their commercial customers. After 100 years with The Business Breed, Sitz Angus — the family and others who have been dedicated to its success — still exhibits a forward-thinking attitude and a love of Angus cattle.
“My dad always said a long time ago that we have to be a jack-of-all-trades,” Jim says. “That would fit Sitz Angus Ranch to a T.”
— by Sarah Kocher, senior communications specialist
Topics: News , Events , Industry News , Association News , Policy
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
Issue: January 2025
Related Content
Current Angus Beef Bulletin
Articles to help you make the most of your investment in Angus genetics.
