Industry Events

Industry Events
Feb. 17, 2006

K-State Ag Profitability Conference
February-March, Kansas

Kansas State University (K-State) will host a series of meetings covering numerous topics that affect a farmer’s or rancher’s bottom line.

Topics to be covered include the benefits of no-till farming, driving forces and options for the 2007 Farm Bill, crop insurance, rising fuel costs, ag trends, economies of size, fertilizer economics, grain marketing and market outlook, machinery costs, employee management, and more.

Detailed conference information, including date, location, contact information and specific topics, can be found at www.agmanager.info/events or at a K-State Research and Extension office.

“Women Managing the Farm” workshop
Feb. 17-18, Wichita, Kan.

The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG) will help host the workshop, designed to aid and educate female farmers. The conference will include presentations on business planning, management of employees and more. Networking opportunities will be available during the conference.

Thanks to funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA), charter buses will be available to assist those living far from the Wichita meeting.

Contact the Kansas Rural Family Helpline at 1-866-327-6578 or farmksu@humec.ksu.edu for more information. Visit www.k-state.edu/farmksu for further details.

Irrigation conference
Feb. 21-22, Colby, Kan.

The Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Exposition will take place at the Comfort Inn in Colby.

Sponsored by the Central Plains Irrigation Association (CPIA), the conference is meant to acquaint participants with the latest information on irrigation equipment and water management practices. Topics will include Kansas’ irrigation demographics and their effect on area residents, a review of the renewable energy industry, wastewater utilization, residue management for efficient water use, and limited irrigation crop options.

Registration, which includes admittance to all sessions, equipment exposition, proceedings, two lunches, breaks and a social hour, is $65. Participants applying for Crop Consultant Advisor (CCA) credits can register for $75.

Visit www.oznet.ksu.edu/sdi/Revents/cpia.html for more information, a registration form and hotel accommodations. Registration forms and payments should be mailed to Donna Lamm at 760 N. Thompson, Colby, KS 67701.

Agricultural Outlook Forum
Feb. 23, Denver, Colo.

An Agricultural Outlook Forum, themed “New Realities, New Opportunities,” will give agriculturalists a chance to explore alternative sources for profit, such as ethanol, biodiesel and “agritainment” opportunities. The event is sponsored by Colorado State University (CSU) Cooperative Extension, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Agricultural Leadership Associates. It will take place at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and opening remarks scheduled for 8:15 a.m.

According to a CSU release, the forum will host state and national experts, including Gov. Bill Owens, the USDA undersecretary and the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture. Wind and biodiesel fuel development, nontraditional profit opportunities, direct consumer marketing, and value-added commodities and niche markets will be among topics of discussion. Panel discussions are also scheduled, and an update of current legislative issues will be provided.

The forum is preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The 17th Annual Colorado Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet and Recognition program will follow the forum. Registration is $115.

To register or for more information, visit www.coloradoagoutlook.org or call (303) 239-4100.

Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Feb. 23, Lexington

The 26th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference moves to Lexington this year, at the Fayette County office of the University of Kentucky (UK) Cooperative Extension Service.

The daylong program will feature alfalfa variety selection, quality and persistence, advances in alfalfa seed coating, successful establishment practices, fertilizing, alfalfa as a grazing crop, storage as round bale silage, moisture management in hay making and storing, and forage quality testing. A panel discussion is also scheduled.

Registration, at $15 per person or $5 per student, includes lunch and conference proceedings. Certified crop advisor (CCA) credits are also available. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the conference starts at 8:45 a.m.

The conference is sponsored by the UK College of Agriculture, UK Cooperative Extension Service, and the Kentucky Forage and Grasslands Council.

For more information contact Garry Lacefield at (270) 365-7541, Ext. 202, or Christi Forsythe at (207) 365-7541, Ext. 221. Visit www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage for more information.

MU Spring Forage Conference
Feb. 28, Springfield, Mo.

The 22nd Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference will take place at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Conference topics include how to spend your animal health dollars, an introduction to management-intensive grazing (MiG), ammoniation of tall fescue hay, successful pasture-rental agreements, fescue toxicosis, forage legumes, soil quality, multi-species grazing, and more. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and sessions start at 9 a.m.

Registration is $25 per person if received by Feb. 21, or $35 after the deadline.

For more information or to register, visit http://agebb.Missouri.edu/sfc or contact Mark Green at (417) 831-5246, Ext. 3.

K-State Cattlemen’s Day
March 3, Manhattan, Kan.

The 93rd Cattlemen’s Day will take place at Weber Hall at K-State in Manhattan. The annual event will feature a symposium on animal identification (ID) systems, technology and implementation; traceability; and value of individual animal ID. Breakout sessions are also scheduled, including such topics as estrus synchronization strategies; bovine viral diarrhea (BVD); cattle management strategies’ affect on retail, yield and carcass value; agricultural and food biosecurity; future of cow-calf research; beef market updates; and adoption of technology in the beef industry.

An open house of the research and teaching units is available, and the annual Special “K” Bull Sale will begin at 3 p.m. at the Purebred Beef Unit, following educational activities.

Registration is $15 per person if received by Feb. 20, or $25 per person on-site. Morning refreshments and lunch are included.

A 2006 Stockmen’s Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, March 2 at the Kansas Farm Bureau Auditoriums in Manhattan. Contact Aaron at (785) 532-7528 or aaron@found.ksu.edu for more information.

For more information regarding Cattlemen’s Day or to register, visit www.asi.ksu.edu/cattlemensday. For more about the sale, visit http://asi.ksu.edu/bullsale.

NFU Convention
March 3-6, Denver, Colo.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) will host its 2006 convention, themed “Fuels From the Farm — Our Nation’s Future,” in Denver. The organization’s 104th convention is scheduled to include appearances from former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Sen. John Edwards and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

New NFU leaders will be elected at the convention, and members will decide on 2006 policy objectives. Members will also participate in workshops and breakout sessions about renewable energy, the new Farm Bill, trade, and consumer-producer cooperation. Entertainment is also scheduled.

Visit www.nfu.org for more information.

2006 Meat Conference
March 12-14, Dallas, Texas

The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will host the 2006 Meat Conference at the Gaylord Texas Resort and Conference Center in Dallas.

The conference, meant to bring together meat and poultry retailers and suppliers, will highlight leadership skills, how to determine consumer needs and future purchasing trends.

For a complete schedule of events, registration details and additional information, visit www.meatconference.com.

School for Successful Ranching
March 25-26, San Antonio, Texas

The 12th annual School for Successful Ranching will take place in conjunction with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) 129th annual convention.

A daylong workshop will kick off the event Saturday at the San Antonio Stock Show Barns, beginning at 9 a.m., with a variety of live cattle demonstrations scheduled.

A half day of classroom sessions, scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the San Antonio Convention Center, will encompass 12 classes, three in each of four tracks that include marketing, feeder cattle issues, range management and general management. Participants may specialize by attending three different classes in the same track, or they may choose three courses from any of the tracks.

Educational credits will be offered for the Texas Beef Quality Producer Program and the Society for Range Management.

Registration is $100, or $60 for TSCRA members, and includes all presentations and a hot lunch on Saturday. The deadline for registration is March 15. A 250-exhibit trade show will also be available.

Visit www.texascattleraisers.org to register. Contact Mark Perrier at 1-800-242-7820, Ext. 118, for more information.

Association Plans Outreach Seminars

In a continued effort to communicate with its members at the local level, the American Angus Association will conduct a series of Outreach Seminars for the third year.

Outreach Seminars currently scheduled include:

• Saturday, March 11, Indianapolis, Ind. The seminar will take place in conjunction with the Indiana Angus Information Futurity at the Farm Bureau Building. The seminar will begin at 3:30 p.m.

• Thursday, March 23, Clemmons, N.C. The seminar will begin at 4 p.m. at the Village Inn Golf & Conference Center.

Association staff and directors will be on hand to discuss current Association programs, including the AngusSource^SM marketing program and genetic selection tools. They will also discuss the future of the beef industry and the role the Association and its members will play in the future of the beef business.

“These seminars were designed so our staff can visit with the membership in their own backyard. In addition to informing the membership about current Association programs, we also want to know what ideas are on our members’ minds,” says Jim Shirley, Association vice president of industry relations and director of commercial programs.

Visit www.angus.org for additional information about future seminars as they become available. For more information contact Shelia Stannard, Association event coordinator, at (816) 383-5100.