ACA Convention Registration Now Online

Each year, hundreds of cattlemen from around Alabama converge on the ACA Convention and Trade Show. This year, the event will return to the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in downtown Montgomery February 11-12. This is the 68th year for the convention and a great line up of speakers and activities is in store for attendees.

This year, you can even register online under the Events/Registration tab on the new bamabeef.org. For more information and to register today, click here.

Death Tax Deal is Good News for Cattlemen

Yesterday, President Barack Obama reached agreement with Republican leaders in Congress to extend a number of Bush-era tax cuts. As part of this agreement, the estate tax rate would be set at 35% for two years and would apply only to estates over $5 million. Under current law, the estate tax has lapsed for 2010 and is set to spring next year to 55%.

Groups representing America's farming and ranching families supported measures introduced by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) that would drop the Death Tax rate to 35% with a $5 million estate value minimum.

This agreement to extend these rate levels for 2 years is good news for cattlemen and may prove a good anchor point to continue talks for full exemptions from the Death Tax for American farmers and ranchers.

To read more about the agreement reached Monday, check out this story in The Wall Street Journal.

The MOOseum - Now Easier to Find

Thanks to a series of signs recently erected by the City of Montgomery, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association building and The MOOseum are now easier to find when navigating the capital city's downtown streets.

Using the new bamabeef.org, you can take a virtual tour of The MOOseum online by clicking here.

To zoom in on the Alabama Cattlemen's Association building using Google Maps, just click here.

McDonald's E-Mail Rumor Surfaces Again

Every year or so, we seem to see the same e-mail pop up in our inbox calling for a boycott of McDonald's because of where their beef comes from. Each time, we reply that this is a false e-mail rumor that's achieved "viral" status. In fact, the beef checkoff program has developed talking points which have been used by several industry news outlets to address the rumor. For one such example, click here.

New Beef Christmas Ornament

Need a new way to "beef up" your Christmas tree? Check out the newest addition to The MOOseum gift shop. Buy online through bamabeef.org or visit The Mooseum today!

How Important are Beef Exports?

The short answer, very important.

Fiscal 2011 agricultural exports are forecast at a record $126.5 billion, up $13.5 billion from the August forecast and $17.8 billion above final 2010 exports. Beef exports are forecast at $3.7 billion, up $500 million from last year. To read more from Drovers, click here.