“Tyler’s enthusiasm for the Angus breed is contagious. He is very passionate about the cattle business and is eager to become more involved,” says Levi Landers, director of member and field services for the Association. “We saw tremendous professional growth from Tyler during his internship and are fortunate to now have him join our team.”

The Association has 13 regional managers who serve 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 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. To view the full list of regional managers serving Angus producers, visit angus.org/about/regional-managers.

Purina Animal Nutrition offers $20,000 in student scholarships

Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has reopened its annual scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in livestock production and animal stewardship in pursuing their passions and furthering their education.

Undergraduate students and current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship. Four students will be awarded based on applications that illustrate the effect animal agriculture has had on their lives along with details on academic achievements, leadership skills, community involvement and a clear vision for their future.

Scholarship applications will be accepted March 18 through April 17, and awardees will be notified in June. Funds will be distributed for the Fall 2025 semester at their current or anticipated educational institution. The scholarship is open to all high school seniors who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic semester/term and undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.

To learn more about and apply to the Purina Animal Nutrition Scholarship, visit https://www.purinamills.com/scholarship.

Companies join forces to strengthen voluntary animal disease traceability in the U.S. beef industry

In a significant step toward unifying the U.S. beef industry around a nationally significant, voluntary animal disease traceability initiative, U.S. CattleTrace has announced a strategic alliance with Where Food Comes From Inc. As the nation’s leading third-party verification company, Where Food Comes From brings decades of expertise in value-added traceability, aligning seamlessly with U.S. CattleTrace’s mission to develop a robust, rapid-contact voluntary tracing database.

“The need for the industry to unite around one effort to accomplish animal disease traceability is paramount to achieving a nationally significant contact tracing program,” said Joe Leathers, chairman of the U.S. CattleTrace board of directors. “With Where Food Comes From’s long-standing leadership in value-added verification, I’m excited to see the progress we can make together in advancing this important initiative.”

John Saunders, CEO of Where Food Comes From, emphasized the importance of industrywide collaboration: “The U.S. cattle industry is unique in that animal disease traceability remains voluntary, making it essential for leading industry players to take proactive steps. By working together, we can better prepare for and mitigate the impact of potential animal disease challenges, ensuring business continuity and strengthening the resilience of our supply chain.”

This partnership allows cattle producers to capitalize on the economic advantages of value-added verification programs through Where Food Comes From while also reinforcing their operations with enhanced disease traceability measures — if they choose — without duplication of working with multiple systems. The collaboration positions the industry to maintain high biosecurity standards, which will be crucial in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of American beef production.

The two companies remain committed to empowering producers with the tools and resources necessary to strengthen the beef industry while maintaining producer independence and market access.

For more information on U.S. CattleTrace, visit uscattletrace.org. For more information on Where Food Comes From, visit wherefoodcomesfrom.com.

Administrator Zeldin announces EPA will revise WOTUS rule

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced EPA will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver on President Trump’s promise to review the definition of “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS. The agencies will move quickly to ensure a revised definition follows the law, reduces red tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the cost of doing business in communities across the country, while protecting the nation’s navigable waters from pollution.

Given the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, it is time for EPA to finally address this issue once and for all in a way that provides American farmers, landowners, businesses, and states with clear and simplified direction. Administrator Zeldin was joined by Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall for the announcement.

“We want clean water for all Americans, supported by clear and consistent rules for all states, farmers and small businesses,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “The previous administration’s definition of ‘waters of the United States’ placed unfair burdens on the American people and drove up the cost of doing business. Our goal is to protect America’s water resources consistent with the law of the land while empowering American farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs, and families to help Power the Great American Comeback.”

“Farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land and need water regulations that are clear and practical, not burdensome,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “Thank you, Administrator Zeldin, for your leadership on this critical rule. USDA supports EPA’s revisions to WOTUS that provide certainty and recognize the key role that agriculture plays in protecting our natural resources. We’ll keep pushing for policies that let producers focus on what they do best — feeding, fueling and clothing our nation.”

The definition of “waters of the United States” guides Clean Water Act implementation, including whether farmers, landowners and businesses must secure costly permits before they can pursue a project. To date, EPA has failed to follow the law and implement the Supreme Court’s clear holding in Sackett. It is critical that Americans know which waters are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act to grow our economy and lower costs for American families while protecting human health and the environment.

EPA will start its review by expeditiously obtaining input from stakeholders who were sidelined during the previous administration. The agency will seek targeted information on the key challenges that Americans are facing. The agency will also undertake a rulemaking process to revise the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States” with a focus on clarity, simplicity and improvements that will stand the test of time. While this rulemaking process proceeds, the agency will provide guidance to those states implementing the pre-2015 definition of “waters of the United States” to ensure consistency with the law of the land.

A priority for the Trump Administration will be working cooperatively with state partners, empowering them and local officials to protect their treasured water bodies while accelerating economic opportunity. As a result, decisions will be made efficiently and effectively while benefiting from local knowledge and expertise.

EPA’s review will be guided by the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which stated that the Clean Water Act’s use of “waters” encompasses only those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming streams, oceans, rivers and lakes. The Sackett decision also clarified that wetlands would only be covered when having a continuous surface connection to water bodies that are “waters of the United States” in their own right.

Secretary Rollins applauds passage of continuing resolution

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins March 14 applauded President Trump and Republican leadership in Congress for securing critical victories for American farmers, ranchers and rural communities through the passage of a continuing resolution that keeps essential funding in place.

“This continuing resolution allows USDA to continue to uphold President Trump’s commitment to America’s farmers and ranchers while making sure the critical programs our customers rely on remain available,” said Secretary Rollins. “President Trump and Republicans in Congress have taken action to support agriculture by making smart policy fixes that protect farmers and strengthens markets. It also ensures that those who safeguard our land and resources are recognized for their heroic work through critical pay reform for our Forest Service wildland firefighters.”

USDA assists farmers, ranchers and communities affected by weekend windstorms

Ag Secretary Rollins announced March 17 that USDA will be delivering any assistance it can for communities and ag producers affected by the weekend storms that cut a path of devastation through the South and Midwest.

These storms have sparked tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires that have engulfed hundreds of square miles, left hundreds of thousands of homes without power and taken dozens of lives.

“My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones, homes, businesses and livelihoods,” said Secretary Rollins. “President Trump has ordered his administration to assist the state and local efforts in any way we can, and USDA stands ready to deliver that help to those who need it. USDA will be there for the people and communities we serve as they recover and rebuild from this devastation.”

Food safety guidance. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is helping affected residents take steps to reduce their risk of foodborne illness as they return to their homes after severe weather.

• During a power outage, the refrigerator will keep food at a safe temperature (below 40° F) for up to four hours. A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full). Discard any perishable food items in the refrigerator and freezer after these time frames.

In case of flooding:

• Drink only bottled water that has not been in contact with flood water. Screw caps are not waterproof, so discard any bottled water that may have come in contact with flood water. If you don’t have bottled water, learn how to safely boil or disinfect water at the FSIS Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes webpage.
• Discard any food or beverage that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have been in contact with flood water. Containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps are not waterproof.
• Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches such as flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches, can be saved by following the steps at the FSIS Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes webpage.
• Thoroughly wash all metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water. Rinse, then sanitize, by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
• Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood water. They cannot be saved after contact with flood water.

For questions about food safety, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (English or Spanish), email MPHotline@usda.gov or live chat at “Ask USDA.”

Risk management and disaster assistance for ag operations:

USDA offers several risk management and disaster assistance options to help producers recover after disasters.

Even before disasters strike, USDA provides tools for producers to manage their risk through the Federal Crop Insurance Program, a public-private partnership between USDA’s Risk Management Agency and private companies and agents.

For crops that do not have crop insurance available, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is available through the local Farm Service Agency (FSA). This risk protection includes crop production loss and tree loss for certain crop insurance products. Producers should reach out to their crop insurance agent or local FSA office for more information.

Producers who suffer losses and are signed up for Federal Crop Insurance or NAP are asked to report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or local FSA office, respectively, within 72 hours of discovering damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.

Livestock and perennial crop producers often have more limited risk management options available, so there are several disaster programs for them. Key programs offered by FSA include:

• The Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that were killed or severely injured by a natural disaster or loss of feed and grazing acres.
• The Tree Assistance Program provides cost-share assistance to rehabilitate or replant orchards and vineyards when storms kill or damage the trees, vines or bushes. NAP or Federal Crop Insurance often only covers the crop and not the plant.
• The Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland or forests.

It is also critical that producers keep accurate records to document damage or loss and to report losses to their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible.

Additionally, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can provide financial resources through its Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is also ready to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and standing by for requests for assistance from states and local authorities, to provide emergency nutrition assistance to people in need.

USDA Rural Development (RD) also stands ready to partner with rural communities in their long-term recovery after enduring natural disasters. RD offers programs and services to help people repair and rebuild their homes, businesses, infrastructure and more. Learn more about how RD can support your rural recovery needs at Rural Development Disaster Assistance | Rural Development (usda.gov).

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 3-B