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Industry Events

Western Illinois Grazing Conference
Jan. 8, Macomb

The fifth Western Illinois Grazing Conference will take place at the Western Illinois University Union and will focus on integrated grazing systems, featuring presentations from industry representatives on topics such as integrating cow-calf and crop production, stocker grazing, grazing and forage system software, seasonal trends, and more. A panel discussion is also planned. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and presentations will start at 9 a.m. Conference registration, which includes refreshments, lunch and program materials, is $20 at the door. For more information contact Ken Nimrick at (309) 298-1288 or visit www.wiu.edu/bulltest/grazing.htm.


OSU stocker health symposium
Jan. 12, Enid, Okla.

The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Stocker Health Symposium will take place at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center in Enid. Symposium topics will cover the latest practical tips for managing animal health, numerous health issues and considerations, current research data for receiving stressed stocker calves, shipping fever complex data, viral vaccines, and more.

Sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. with a barbecue supper and entertainment. The registration fee is $40 per participant and also includes lunch. Registration forms are available through all OSU Cooperative Extension county offices. Contact Greg Highfill at (580) 237-7677 for more information.


Intermountain Cow Symposium
Jan. 12-13, Twin Falls, Idaho

The University of Idaho (UI) will host the two-day event that will focus on the new national animal identification system (NAIS). Industry representatives will discuss the NAIS, how to request a premises identification (ID) number, electronic ID ear tags and radio frequency ID (RFID) tags, practical solutions for animal ID, and cattle tracking. Other topics include trace mineral supplementation, a Cattle-Fax outlook, DNA-testing livestock, calf-health, risk analysis for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and media communication.

Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12 in the Fine Art Auditorium at the College of Southern Idaho and conclude at noon the following day. Registration, which includes meals and snacks, is $60 at the door, or $50 if paid by Jan. 5. Students may register for $25. The conference is sponsored by the UI Extension, UI Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Idaho Cattle Association and Idaho Beef Council.

For more information contact J. Benton Glaze, Jr., at (208) 736-3600 or bglaze@uidaho.edu.


Beef checkoff referendum
Jan. 12-14, Ohio

Ohio State University Extension county offices will be polling locations for beef producers wishing to vote on a statewide beef checkoff program referendum Jan. 12-14. At stake is a proposal to increase the Ohio beef checkoff from 50¢ per head to $1 per head in the event the national checkoff program ceases. The referendum also includes a proposal to adopt reciprocal agreements between the Ohio Beef Council and other state beef commodity assessment organizations, as well as a recommendation to amend the organizations’ bylaws. Copies of proposed program changes will be available from the Ohio Beef Council and Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA), and at all polling locations.

Eligible voters include beef producers who have marketed animals in their names within the past year. Ballots must be cast in person at all polling locations. Contact a local Extension office for more information. Contact Bruce Benedict at 1-800-282-1955 with additional voting eligibility questions. Contact OCA for more information regarding the referendum.

Producers wanting to vote by mail may request an absentee ballot by contacting the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 1-800-282-1955 or the OCA at (614) 873-6736. All mail ballots must be postmarked by Jan. 14.


Kentucky Beef Conference
Jan. 27, Lexington

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture is hosting the Kentucky Beef Conference to help producers "Plan Today for Tomorrow’s Markets." The event, scheduled to take place at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension office in Lexington, will feature industry representatives leading discussions about current and future markets. Case studies will also be presented by some of the university’s Extension ag economists.

The conference is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, Kentucky Beef Network, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Central Kentucky Ag Credit, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Farm Credit Service and Kentucky Bank.

Registration, set at $10, begins at 9 a.m., and the meeting adjourns at 3 p.m. For more information or to preregister, contact a Kentucky Extension agent.


2005 Cattle Industry Convention
Feb. 2-5, San Antonio, Texas

The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American National CattleWomen (ANCW), National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Cattle-Fax will host the annual convention and trade show, set to take place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The convention, themed, "Riding Point for the Industry," will include a variety of educational and informational sessions focused on marketing, resource management and production. The Cattlemen’s College®, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, will also be featured. A trade show, sponsored by NCBA, will feature more than 250 companies and organizations. Keynote speaker Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, will speak at the opening general session, and other entertainment is scheduled.

Registration and housing opened Oct. 14. For more information about the convention and trade show, please contact the convention department at (303) 694-0305.


AMI animal care conference
Feb. 9-10, Kansas City, Mo.

The AMI Foundation Animal Care and Handling Conference for the Food Industry will take place at the Kansas City Marriott. The by-invitation conference will host restaurateurs, retailers, academics and food industry members. It will feature three tracks, including management and policy, cattle handling, and pig handling. A session is scheduled for industry members new to applied animal handling, and two pre-conference workshops are also planned. Equipment and services will be on exhibit Wednesday evening.

Members of sponsoring organizations can register at a discounted rate. Registration is $425 or $325 when three or more members register together. Other registration fees apply for transportation training sessions. To register or reserve a booth, contact Katie Brannan at (202) 587-4223 or kbrannan@meatami.com. Visit www.meatami.com for more information.


Beef cow efficiency conference
Feb. 16, Springfield, Ill.

The conference will take place at the Extension building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Presentations from a variety of industry experts will include factors affecting cow herd efficiency and productivity, maximizing reproductive efficiency in young cows, measuring cow-calf profitability and financial efficiency, using byproducts to improve beef cow economic efficiency, culling cows, and more. A producer panel is also scheduled.

The conference will begin with registration at 8:45 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. Registration, which includes a meal and proceedings, is $15 if received by Feb. 11, or $20 after the early deadline. Call the East Peoria Extension Center at (309) 694-7501, Ext. 224, for more information or to register. Questions regarding the program can also be sent to dseibert@uiuc.edu.

Producers unable to attend the conference in Springfield can consider follow-up conferences scheduled for Aug. 23 in Benton, Ill., and Aug. 24 in Quincy, Ill.


Agricultural Outlook Forum
Feb. 24-25, 2005, Arlington, Va.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the forum at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington. The event, which provides forecasts of farm prospects and insights into farm economy developments, will feature presentations from government officials, industry analysts, farmers and business leaders. Further program details are now available at www.usda.gov/oce. To receive updates regarding the meeting, send your e-mail and postal address to agforum@oce.usda.gov or Outlook Forum 2005, Rm. 4419, South Building, USDA, Washington, DC 20250-3812.

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