The American Goat Federation works to unify, improve and advance the American goat industry in an effort to assist producers achieve maximum success. AGF represents the interests of more than 150 organizations and thousands of producers engaged in the sustainable production and marketing of goat milk, meat, fiber, breeding stock and grazing services across the United States. The American Dairy Goat Association, American Boer Goat Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers are all members of AGF. Members of AGF can participate in government and research surveys that can affect the goat industry, receive reduced fees for AGF Seminars, and help support various activities of other goat-related organizations. AGF promotes the development of all segments of the goat industry including dairy, meat and fiber, by encouraging sound public policy, enhancing production and marketing of goat products, and promoting research beneficial to our member organizations and all producers. Read More
MISSION STATEMENT
The American Goat Federation promotes and facilitates the development of all segments of the goat industry including dairy, meat and fiber, by encouraging sound public policy, enhancing production and marketing of goat products, and promoting research beneficial to our member organizations and all producers.
Approved 1-23-10 Nashville ASI Meeting
2019 National Goat Study
USDA News
- USDA will begin implementing the following goals for animal disease traceability this year.
The agency will work with states and industry.
> Advance electronic sharing of data among federal and state animal health officials, veterinarians and industry, including sharing basic animal disease traceability data with the federal animal health events repository.
> Use electronic ID tags for animals requiring individual identification to make the transmission of data more efficient.
> Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter through a system that allows tracking data points to be connected.
> Elevate the discussion with states and industry to work toward a system where animal health officials. - President Trump donated his First Quarter Salary to USDA. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the donation - along with Trump's regulatory reform and trade deal negotiation effort - "further illustrates President Trump's affection for farmers and ranchers."
News of Note
- Earlier this year, the U.S. House Natural Resource Committee
approved legislation introduced by congresesmen Sean Duffy (Wisconsin) and Dan Newhosue (Washington) that would return management of gray wolves to state control. - Senator Bill Sasse (Nebraska)
reintroduced the Transporting Livestock Across America Safety Act, saying that the one-size-fits-all federal regulations endanger the health and welfare of livestock. - First Responders in Virginia are set to learn about handling livestock during natural or man-made disasters. the Virginia State Animal Response Team is offering two days of training geared towards animal control officers, police and fire professionals, veterinary professionals and Virginia cooperative extension agents.
- Women on the Farm
A 2007 census showed 2 out of every 10 farms in the United States were run by women. the latest agriculture census in 2017 showed that 1/3 were women. snd that 56 percent of all farms had at least one female decision maker.
MEMBER SERVICES FROM AGF
- Free Marketing Page on the AGF Website for marketing Goats and Goat Products that will link to Goatzz.com where the information will also appear. AGF has partnered with Goatzz.com to create a stronger goat industry through our combined marketing efforts. Goatzz is an internet site run by Openherd.com. AGF is offering on-site searching of member farms and member goats for sale, with each AGF member getting their own farm profile, plus other things and it is all free.
- Free excel-based Goat Production Recordkeeping and Performance Program for
recording information about members' goats. The program, called Goat Herd Improvement Program (GHIP) was developed by Dr. Ken Andries of Kentucky State University, a member of our Advisory Council and Past President of AGF. AGF will personalize the program for each producer so they only have to see and record the information that is important to them. Format includes all information required by the Scrapie Eradication Program. - Upgrade to Go360 bioTrack Program, an advanced Recordkeeping & Performance Program designed and maintained by AgSights. AGF has partnered with AgSights to offer the Go360 bioTrack Program to our members for a discount off the price through February 28, 2020.
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease and costs sheep and goat producers over $20 million dollars each year through production losses, increased cost and loss of export revenue.
Coxiellosis,Commonly Referred to as Q Fever
Q Fever is a highly contagious, chronic disease in goats, sheep and cattle. It causes abortion storms in goats, often without any sign of problems before the abortions begin. Although affected does become immune, they shed the bacteria at high levels for years afterwards, particularly during birth and in their milk.
READ MORE about the Hidden Menace of Q Fever
Q Fever is contagious to humans and that puts livestock producers, veterinarians and others who come into close contact with birthing small ruminants at risk. In addition, anyone can become infected just by breathing contaminated air, often miles away from the source. Although the acute form of Q Fever just causes flu-like symptoms in humans, the chronic form can be deadly.
Upcoming Events
- June 9-14, 2019: American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) National Show, Grand Island, Nebraska. Learn More
- July 6-13, 2019: American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) National Show, Redmond, Oregon. Learn More
- July 25-27, 2019: "Soil to Table" New York Grass Extravaganza, at Suny Cobleskill, Cobleskill, New York. Learn More
- August 16-17, 2019: Texas Sheep & Goat Expo, First Community Spur Arena, San Angelo, Texas. Learn More
- September 13-14, 2019: Spanish Goat Gathering, Lane Agri Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
- October 4-5, 2019: NKR's Corn Country Commercial Goat Conference, Harrison County Fairgrounds, Corydon, Indiana.
- October 11, 2019, 1-4PM: USDA Sheep & Goat Sector Meeting, Washington, DC. - AGF will be attending & meeting with various congressmen that morning.
- October 15-17, 2019: 9th Annual Antibiotic Symposium, National Institute of Animal Agriculture (Communicating the Science of Responsible Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture), Ames Iowa.
- October 15-20, 2019: American Dairy Goat Association National Convention, Boise, Idaho.
- October 19, 2019: American Goat Federation Board Meeting at ADGA Convention, Boise, Idaho.
- October 30-November 2, 2019: FFA National Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana.
- November 2-3, 2019: Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Assoc. State Meeting, Curtis, Nebraska. Learn More
- November 9-10, 2019: Small Ruminant Management & Fiber Conference, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Learn More
- January 22-25, 2020: American Sheep Industry Annual Convention, Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Febrruary 20-23, 2020: International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID) 19th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID), Lumpur, Malaysia. Learn More
- September 18-19, 2020: Pedigree International Seminar and 1st South African Savanna Goat Auction held in the USA, (seminar on the 18th, live broadcast auction on the 19th), Springfield, Missouri.
Please Help Us Grow the Goat Industry
AGF needs your membership and support so we can continue to meet the needs of all producers and relay information about goat producers' concerns and challenges to the USDA and others who make decisions that affect our industry. With the exception of a few grants; sponsors, membership fees, and donations fund the programs we provide and the expense of representing the interest of all goat producers in the United States. Whether you are part of an organization with twenty or hundreds of members; or an individual producer; or a business or organization that provides products or services to goat owners.
Its easy, its affordable, and its rewarding. With YOUR help, we can achieve our mutual goals.
Volunteer to Serve on a Committee and be an active participant in AGF activities.
As an Industry Partner Your Donation will help AGF provide services to all segments of the goat industry and support research projects beneficial to all goat producers.
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