Industry Events

Industry Events
Dec. 9, 2005

RFID roundtable
Dec. 11-12, Chicago, Ill.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology will be the focus of an executive roundtable, titled “RFID: Focus on the Future” and hosted at the Chicago Omni Hotel. Topics of discussion will include Larstan Business Reports’ extensive RFID research, which entails in-depth questioning of North American medium- to large-sized manufacturers, distributors and consumer retailers concerning RFID implementation. Business objectives, technical requirements and financial benefits of RFID technology will be highlighted. The exclusive roundtable discussion will be a closed-door collaboration of the leading minds in RFID.

For more information contact Jennifer O’Grady at (240) 396-0007, Ext. 902, or jogrady@larstan.net.

Energy production meeting
Dec. 14-15, Saint Louis, Mo.

Economic research findings and firsthand energy production experience will be featured at the “Energy from Agriculture” conference, scheduled to take place at the Marriott St. Louis Airport.

The conference, presented by Farm Foundation and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, will provide attendees with practical, science-based information on agriculture’s role in energy production. Program topics include economic assessment of current technologies; ethanol, coproducts and market effects; energy production from nontraditional feedstuffs; and farmer/rancher experiences with energy production.

To register for the conference, visit www.farmfoundation.org/registration. Interested participants can also print the registration form and mail it, with a check for registration fees, to Farm Foundation, 1211 W. 22nd St., Suite 216, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Hotel reservations may be made at 1-800-228-9290. For more information contact Steve Halbrook at (630) 571-9393.

NAIS, ID technology meetings
Jan. 4-6, 2006, northwest Kansas

Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension will host a series of meetings in early January focused on National Animal Identification System (NAIS) updates and animal identification (ID) technology.

The meetings, which will take place in four northwest Kansas locations, will allow producers to see the components of an electronic ID system, discuss RFID, and learn about source and age verification requirements, tag readers and placement, electronic data collection, and more.

A preregistration fee of $10 is requested by Dec. 28 to reserve a meal. Meeting times and contact information are presented below.

• Jan. 4, 3 p.m., Rawlins County Fairgrounds, Atwood, (785) 626-3192

• Jan. 5, 9 a.m., Wallace County Fairgrounds, Sharon Springs, (785) 852-4285

• Jan. 5, 3 p.m., Quinter Livestock Auction, (785) 938-4480

• Jan. 6, 9 a.m., Agricultural Research Center, Hays, (785) 628-9430

Four-State Beef Conference
Jan. 11-12, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa

The 22nd annual beef conference, designed to update cow-calf and stocker producers on current industry topics, will begin in Tecumseh, Neb., Jan. 11, then it travels to Holton, Kan. On Jan. 12, the conference will begin in Savannah, Mo., followed by Lewis, Iowa, in the afternoon.

Topics during the sessions will include sire selection and expected progeny difference (EPD) interpretation, marker-assisted selection for tenderness and marbling, minimizing calf health losses, and summer feeding alternatives for the cow herd.

Registration, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. for morning sessions and at 3:30 p.m. for afternoon sessions, is $25 per person and is due Jan. 6. Registration includes a meal and a copy of conference proceedings.

For more information or to register, contact your local county Extension office or the Jackson County Extension office at (785) 364-4125. Visit www.extension.iastate.edu/feci/4StBeef for further information.

NDSA Feeder Council meeting
Jan. 12, Bismarck, N.D.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) Feeder Council will host a free educational seminar, titled “Beyond the Bunk: Advice for the Cattle-Feeding Professional,” beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Doublewood Inn in Bismarck.

Program topics will include financial programs available to producers, new programs available for cattle feeders from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), feeder procurement and marketing alternatives, managing operational margins, current nutrition trends in the feeding sector, and more.

Registration for the free seminar will be taken on site. For more information call Scott Ressler at (701) 223-2522.

2006 Intermountain Nutrition Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah

The eighth annual Intermountain Nutrition Conference will take place at the Red Lion Hotel, at 161 W. 600 S., Salt Lake City. The conference will provide current information on nutrition and nutrition-related management issues pertaining to the dairy and beef industries.

Topics to be addressed include selenium nutrition, understanding cow behavior, variations in silage quality, fat and fatty acid digestion in ruminants, and feed management.

The conference is approved for eight American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) credits. Registration is $100 if received by Jan. 7, and $120 thereafter. The early registration fee for students is $30. It is $50 for regular, on-site student registration. Registration for farmers and ranchers is set at $50.

A block of rooms at special conference rates will be reserved through Jan. 3. Contact Red Lion Hotel at (801) 521-7373 to make reservations.

For more information, visit www.usu.edu/trdhiman/IMNC/Imnc.htm or contact Karma Wood at (435) 797-2145 or karmaw@ext.usu.edu.

Heart of America Grazing Conference
Jan. 25-26, Cave City, Ky.

The Heart of America Grazing conference, which moves annually from state to state, targets producers in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri. This year’s conference will take place at the Cave City Convention Center.

Conference topics include extended grazing to lower animal feed costs, the potential for year-round grazing, hay and silage quality, and information on improved grazing strategies for livestock.

The conference begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 25 and continues throughout the following day. Registration, which includes dinner, lunch and proceedings, is $15 per person for one day and $25 for both days. Preregistration is encouraged.

For more information or to register, visit www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage or contact Garry Lacefield at (270) 365-7541, Ext. 202.