2013 AGF Activities

January 19, 2013: Davis CA: UCD Goat Day University of California, Listening Session: AGF Board members Jan Carlson and Tom Boyer attended and made presentations.

January 22-26 2013: San Antonio TX: American Sheep Industry: AGF Board members Tom Boyer, Linda Campbell, and Dr. Will Getz attended meetings and programming for ASI. Getz was also on the Executive Board of ASI at the time.

January 26 2013: San Antonio TX: AGF Annual Meeting: AGF Board members Bob Buchholtz, Jan Carlson, Linda Campbell, Anita Dahnke, Will Getz, Terry Hankins, Robin Saum, and Executive Secretary Steve Lee attended.

February 3 2013: Getz represented AGF and the view of the goat industry at annual meeting of Coordinating Committee of Southern Region Project for Sustainable Small Ruminant Research and Education. Orlando, FL.
~~~President provided 2013 AGF Goals summary and Working Group assignments to Board.
~~~Provided resource for TV interview by DC News Station regarding use of goats as therapy animals.
~~~Participated in planning for National Goat Conference (multiple): Getz, Peischel and Campbell.
~~~Received request from Sandy Whittley/Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers (TSGRA) requesting AGF support in opposing USFish and Wildlife Services Southwestern Gray Wolf Management Plan.

February 23 2013: North West Oregon Dairy Goat Association conference: Jan Carlson facilitated AGF Listening Session.
~~~Signed on to letter from the Animal Agriculture Coalition to legislators for support of 2013 Farm Bill Recommendations.
~~~Responded to inquiry letter from Marco Nicita an Associate at L.E.K. in London regarding conducting a study on livestock tagging asking about the current status of the US market, the possible evolution of it and the technology used”.

March, 2013:Drafted Resolution in Opposition to U. S. Fish & Wildlife's Environmental Assessment For the Implementation of a Southwestern Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)
~~~Provided Letter of support for grant application for Dr. Tumen Wuliji, Research Scientist, Program Leader, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri “AGF supports research initiatives that will create information that will provide sustainable solutions to foot-rot as a disease”.
~~~Joined “Friends of the Agriculture Research Service Coalition (FARS)”, in writing to Congress for support of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS).

APRIL 2013: Sent Letter to US Fish and Wildlife services: resolution addressing the specific concern of producers about the “Implementation of a Southwestern Gray Wolf(Canis lupus)Management Plan for Portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas”.
~~~Signed on to letter to Congress from American Agriculture Coalition supporting funding FY 14 Agriculture Appropriations Recommendations.

April 11, 2013 Washington, DC: APHIS Stakeholder meeting: AGF President Linda Campbell participated.
~~~Distributed news: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hold five meetings to provide an opportunity for public dialogue and feedback on challenges faced by the animal agriculture industry and practicing veterinarians as FDA implements its initiative for the judicious use of medically important antimicrobials in medicated feed or drinking water of food-producing animals.

April 15-18, 2013 Louisville, KY: National Institute Animal Agriculture meeting: AGF President Linda Campbell participated.
~~~Provided certificates to AGF Founding Members

MAY 2013: Finalized ‘Who We Are’ handout, drafted by Dahnke.
~~~Responded to inquiries prompted by article in Progressive Farmer magazine which mentioned AGF.

May 10 2013: Boyer and Campbell joined ASI and others in visits to Congressional offices to provide goat industry input.

May 20-22 2013: Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA: American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control 10th Conference. AGF was a supporting sponsor. AGF Vice President Dr. Will Getz was a presenter.
~~~Provided revised APHIS Guidance on RFID Implants in Goats and provided via newsletter.

June 13, 2013: West Monroe, LA: American Boer Goat Association National Show: Board member Sam Abney facilitated a Listening Session.
~~~Responded to request from Dr. Diane Sutton for assistance with Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) ear tag evaluations.

JULY 2013: Joined Farm Bureau and Animal Agriculture Coalition in letter to Speaker Boehner urging bringing Farm Bill (H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013) back to the Floor as soon as possible. This important legislation supports our nation’s farmers, ranchers, forest owners, food security, natural resources and wildlife habitats, rural communities, and the 16 million Americans whose jobs directly depend on the agriculture industry.
~~~Joined with Animal Agriculture Coalition to request support for Farm Bill including language authorizing the Farm Animal Agriculture Integrated Research Initiative. The provision establishes a new competitive grants research program focused on high priority animal science issues and builds on the FAIR 2012 priority setting process.
~~~Provided feedback on: The National Research Council committee to perform an independent assessment of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and distributed information via website.

AUGUST 2013: Joined Animal Agriculture Coalition in support for inclusion of the Farm Animal Agriculture Integrated Research Initiative (FAAIR) as a part of the conference report as you reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill. 7208 of Senate passed S. 954 and represents an important opportunity to advance critical priorities in the area of animal science.
~~~Joined American Farm Bureau and Animal Agriculture Coalition with letter to Congress to continue pre conference of Farm Bill as much of the legislation small ruminant practitioners and producers need is in the farm bill - Minor Use Animal Drug Program (MUADP), Minor Use Minor Species drugs (MUMS), FARAD, Veterinary Medical Mobility Act (VMLRP which is part of the farm bill).

SEPTEMBER 2013: Sent announcements for nominations for AGF Board for 2014.

September 15-18 2013: North Carolina A&T University, NC: National Goat Conference: AGF was supporting sponsor. AGF Board members Dr. Will Getz, Dr. An Peischel, Sam Abney and Tom Boyer presented views and information on behalf of AGF.
~~~Accepted invitation from USDA/APHIS Administrator, Kevin Shea to attend a meeting in the fall to receive feedback from representatives of the sheep and goat sectors on the needs of the industry in now and in upcoming years.
~~~Provided letter of support to USDA/ARS on behalf of the American Dairy Goat Association to allow for performance evaluations to continue uninterrupted by allowing limited access specific to dairy goat data from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding website.

September 26-30, 2013: Bloomington IL: National Goat Expo, Board member Anita Dahnke facilitated a Listening Session.

OCTOBER 12-19, 2013: Asheville, NC: American Dairy Goat Association annual meeting. AGF was a sponsor of the Products Reception. Board members Robin Saum and Linda Campbell answered questions about AGF and provided activity overviews.

October 14-16, 2013: Moultrie, GA: Sunbelt Ag Exposition: Board Members Sam Abney and Will Getz represented AGF.

October 17-23, 2013: San Diego, CA: USAHA Annual Meeting: AGF Members Joan Dean Rowe and Lisa Shepard attended and provided information on behalf of the goat industry.

October 29, 2013: Washington, DC: USDA/APHIS Meeting with Director Kevin Shea: Board members Linda Campbell and Tom Boyer and AGF member (and American Dairy Goat Association representative) Dr. Joan Dean Rowe attended, representing the goat sector, along with Jennifer Bice from American Dairy Goat Association. Provided overview of goat industry needs, strengths and weaknesses.
~~~Received and distributed announcement for revised Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP).

NOVEMBER 9, 2013: Getz represented AGF at the Southeastern Goat and Sheep Seminar of Southern Goat Producers Association. Piedmont, SC.
~~~Approved Letter of support for the development of a global veterinary drug database through collaboration between the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, International (CABI) and scientists involved with the U.S. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD). The creation of a global resource on drug residues can help strengthen the safety of food of animal origin as well as facilitate international trade in food animal products. We support the collaboration between FARAD and CABI in developing this project.

DECEMBER 2013: Reviewed nominations for AGF board.
~~~Completed selection and announcement of new board members Vicki Stich and Rebecca Sauder.
~~~Set plans for 2014 Meeting: Speakers and agenda drafted/discussed/finalized.