News Update

Industry Events
Aug. 21, 2007

OSU Summer Workshops
August-October, Ohio

The Ohio State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Team will sponsor a series of tours and workshops throughout the summer, including:

• Aug. 28, Soil Health and Quality Workshop in Wood County — Agricultural Incubator Foundation, 13737 Middleton Pike Rd. (state Route 582), Bowling Green, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $25 (includes lunch and books). For farm families, crop consultants, Extension educators and others. Hands-on activities to assess, measure and improve the overall health and quality of farm soils.

• Aug. 30, Organic Grain Research Field Day — West Badger Farm, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 1518 Barnard Rd., Wooster, 1-4 p.m., free, 330-202-3528. Presented by scientists with OARDC’s Organic Food and Farming Education and Research program, now in its ninth year. Tour organic grain plots and compare different production methods.

• Sept. 27, Soil Health and Quality Workshop in Wayne County — Fisher Auditorium, OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $25 (includes lunch and books). See Aug. 28 details. Call Alan Sundermeier at 419-354-9050, by Sept. 17 to register.

• Oct. 10, Organic Livestock and On-farm Biodiesel Production — Mike and Dawn Roberts farm, 7203 Waynesburg Rd. N.W., Waynesburg, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., free, 330-866-2132. A certified-organic, grass-based operation that milks Normande cattle using an all-forage diet in a managed grazing system, produces and direct-markets pasture-raised beef and poultry, and recently received a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant to develop an on-farm biodiesel system to refine used cooking oil and use it to power the farm’s equipment.

Visit http://sustainableag.osu.edu to download the schedule, along with the schedule of summer tours and workshops offered by Innovative Farmers of Ohio, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, the Ohio Grassland and Forage Council, and the Small Farm Institute.

For more information, contact Mike Hogan, Carroll County office, OSU Extension, 32 W. Main St., Carrollton, OH 44615; 330-627-4310; hogan.1@osu.edu.

K-State Field Day
Aug. 21, Scandia, Kan.

The Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension Irrigation Experiment Field at Scandia will host its Fall Field Day Aug. 21.

The field is about 2.5 miles west of Scandia on U.S. Highway 36. The field day, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., will cover corn nitrogen management, a soybean insect update, phosphorus fertilization in corn and soybeans, and fungicides on corn and soybeans.

A meal, sponsored by Simplot-Scandia Terminal, will follow the tour. Further details are available by calling 785-335-2836 or 785-532-0405.

4-State Cattle Conferences
Aug. 23, Dickinson, N.D.

The conference, themed “Corn, Cattle and Energy: Developing Successful Strategies for Managing Your Beef Cattle Operation in an Ethanol World” will take place Aug. 23 at the Days Inn-Grand Dakota Lodge at 532 15th St. W., I-94 Exit 61, north on Highway 22, Dickinson, N.D.

Beef cattle producers, allied industry personnel, Extension educators, veterinarians and anyone with an interest in the beef industry is invited to attend the event, which is set to provide beef cattle producers and their advisers with valuable information on how to manage their businesses in an area of increasing corn demand from energy producers.

The program is set to begin at 10 a.m., followed by presentations about topics including the interrelations between corn, cattle and the energy market and why they are going to be volatile; and natural beef programs. Afternoon breakout sessions will focus on bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), confirmed contracting of dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), transferring assets, preharvest effects on carcass quality, managing health programs to reduce morbidity, nutritional strategies, feeding ethanol byproducts and factors determining value of feeder calves. A panel focusing on labor issues is scheduled.

A lunch buffet, social and steak dinner are included.

The conference is funded by the 4-State Ruminant Consortium, which is composed of Montana State University, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Wyoming.

Preregistration is $45. Make checks payable to NDSU Extension Service, and mail to Kurt Froelich, Stark/Billing County Extension Office, 1340 W. Villard St., Dickinson, ND 58601-4646.

Missouri Angus Tour
Aug. 24-26

The Missouri Angus Association will host a tour of northeast Missouri, headquartered in Hannibal.

The tour, which includes meals and bus transportation, costs $75 per person and does not include hotel accommodations.

Quality Inn & Suites in Hannibal will serve as the host hotel. Rooms start at $76.95 or $86.95 for suites. Call 573-221-4001 to make reservations. Ask for the Missouri Angus block of rooms.

All tour entries should be sent to Kris Graupman, 4152 CR 230, Palmyra, MO 63641. Be sure to include the names of each tour participant as well as $75 for each person. Make checks payable to the Missouri Angus Tour.

For more information contact Graupman at 573-769-2956.

Mississippi River Commission meeting
Aug. 24, Morgan City, La.

A public meeting of the Mississippi River Commission will take place aboard the motor vessel Mississippi at Morgan City. The meeting will begin at 9 p.m. aboard the vessel — stationed at the Port of Morgan City wharf, 800 Youngs Rd. — and will allow the public to present questions and ideas to the Army Corps of Engineers. The seven-member commission includes three Corps generals.

The Louisiana public meeting will conclude the 2007 Low-Water Inspection Trip, which began Aug. 17 in Saint Louis, Mo. All public meeting proceedings, including citizens’ statements and members’ responses are recorded and available to the public.

MU Southwest Center field day
Sept 14, Mount Vernon

The University of Missouri (MU) will host a field day Friday, Sept. 14 at its Southwest Research Center near Mount Vernon.

A new 90-cow beef herd to be used for nutrition and forage research will be on display during the event, which includes one of five tours that will also encompass forage, dairy, horticulture and alternative biofuels. An exhibition area for agencies and agribusinesses will be open.

The one-hour field day tours, with four stops each, start at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served free to the first 1,000 visitors who register. After lunch, the annual meeting of the Ozark Electric Cooperative will take place.

At the field day, Rob Kallenbach, MU Extension forage specialist, will discuss the forage research plans associated with the beef herd. Pastures for the beef herd are being planted this fall. Paddock fencing will be built later.

Justin Sexten, new beef nutritionist with the MU Commercial Agriculture program, Columbia, Mo., will tell about how residual feed intake (RFI) research results can be used in herd management.

One stop on the beef tour will tell about feeding glycerol, a coproduct of biodiesel production.

The MU Southwest Center is located about four miles southwest of Mount Vernon. To reach the center from westbound Interstate 44, take Exit 44, and then turn left onto State Route H for two miles. Eastbound travelers on I-44 should take Exit 38, then continue east on the south outer road for four miles. For more information contact the center at 417-466-2148.

MU beef field day
Sept. 15, MU South Farm, Columbia, Mo.

Adding value to Missouri feeder calves is the theme of the annual beef field day at MU South Farm, Sept. 15.

Beef herd owners will hear several ways to capture more value from their feeder calves during the event, which will feature beef research and Extension programs at the Beef Research and Teaching Farm, off Highway 63, south of Columbia.

Topics will include adding value to calves by backgrounding, the value of preconditioning and evaluation of BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) effects, beef marketing and retained ownership.

Keynote speakers at noon will include Mike John, manager of MFA Health Track and past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). John, a rancher from Huntsville, Mo., will give a “Beef Industry Update.”

The effects of genetics on adding value in beef cattle will also be discussed.

There will be continuous demonstrations at the beef barns. Topics include feed-intake research, use of coproduct feeds, use of timed artificial insemination (AI) and stockpiled fescue grazing.

There will be pasture walks on the newly established beef grazing paddocks.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Demonstrations start at 9 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m.

A free lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required; to reserve a meal, call Judy Burton at 573-882-7327. Commercial exhibits will be on display in the barns.

Additional information can be obtained from farm manager Phillip Brooks at 574-823-7930. The MU farm is located 2.6 miles south of the AC exit on Highway 63. It is on Old Millers Road, behind the KOMU-TV tower.

Free Wildlife Management Workshop
Sept. 18-19, Helotes, Texas

Texas Cooperative Extension will present a free “Wildlife Management Workshop” during the evenings of Sept. 18 and 19 at the Helotes 4-H Activity Center at 12132 Leslie Rd.

The workshop will take place from 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. both days, with registration from 6:15-6:45 p.m. There will refreshments during registration, as well as during 7:45 p.m. breaks on both evenings.

Topics will include wildlife programs available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), hunting season laws and regulations, wildlife food and feeding, and human effect on rangeland and wildlife.

One general continuing education unit will be offered each evening for private pesticide applicators licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Rangeland Water Harvesting Field Day
Sept. 27, Fort Stockton, Texas

Texas Cooperative Extension’s Pecos County office will be conducting a Rangeland Water Harvesting Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Sherman Hammond Ranch.

“With an annual rainfall of only 12 inches (in.), water conservation is very important to us here in far West Texas,” said Jed Elrod, Extension agent in Pecos County. “Last year, the Hammond ranch only received about 7 in. of moisture, yet Hammond still has more forage than his adjacent neighbors.”

Hammond started water conservation measures on his ranch back in 1964 and remains excited about the long-term results of his efforts, Elrod said. Since then, he has developed and implemented a variety of water-saving techniques that have made his place an oasis for livestock and wildlife, even in times of prolonged drought.

“This field day will allow participants to see firsthand what he does and how he does it, mostly as a one-man operation,” Elrod said. Along with the rangeland water harvesting theme, the field day will also include talks on feral hogs, deer, game birds important rangeland insects, range seeding, importance of soils, range plant identification, range site descriptions and aquifer recharge capability.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered. Individual pre-registration is $15 if received on or before Sept. 21, and $25 thereafter.

To reach the ranch, go west on Railroad Avenue (which parallels the railroad tracks all the way to the Hammond Ranch). The ranch headquarters is about 25 miles from Fort Stockton’s landmark Roadrunner statue. Signs will be posted. For more information and to register, contact Elrod at 432-336-2541 or djelrod@ag.tamu.edu.

NCBA’s Western Region Joint Meeting
Sept. 28-29, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Cattlemen from across the western United States are invited to attend a joint meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) western regions. NCBA Region V includes the states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, while Region VI is made up of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Cevin Jones, Region V policy vice president from Eden, Idaho, and Greg Moore, Region VI policy vice president from Wagon Mound, N.M., will chair the meeting.

The event will kick off with a welcome reception and social hour on Friday evening, and Saturday will begin with a general session followed by breakout sessions focusing on cow-calf producer issues. These topics include emerging animal health issues, grazing regulations, and a discussion of the proposed enhancements to the beef checkoff program. A second breakout session will focus on cattle feeder issues, including air quality, manure management, and the effect of alternative fuels on the feeding industry.

The NCBA Region V and VI meeting will take place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Public Lands Council (PLC). The PLC is an organization of public lands ranchers throughout the West, formed by NCBA, American Sheep Industry and Association of National Grasslands.

The registration deadline is Sept. 7. A full meeting agenda, along with hotel and registration information, is available at www.beefusa.org, under the “NCBA Events” section. More information is also available by calling NCBA at 1-866-BEEFUSA or NCBA Western Field Representative Dan McCarty at 406-855-2815.

Cattlemen’s Field Day
Oct. 2-3, Yatesville, Ga.

Three Trees Ranch will host a field day Oct. 2-3, at their Yatesville, Ga., location. Sponsored by Purina Mills, LLC, the one-and-a-half day seminar will focus on several key topics pertaining to ranch profitability, including:
• cow management with and without forage;
• the importance of bull development and mature bull conditioning to your reproductive success;
• how to effectively develop your heifers for performance and longevity;
• handling first-calf heifers and rebreeding; and
• Wind & Rain® mineral.

Participants registering for the free field day prior to Sept. 14 become eligible for drawings to win valuable prizes, including one ton of Purina Wind & Rain mineral and a certificate sponsored by Purina worth up to $3,000 toward the purchase of a Three Trees Ranch bull. On Day 2 of the field day, five winners will be selected for the mineral drawing, and one winner (who must attend both days) will be selected for the bull-purchase certificate. Must be present to win.

Each ranch or business that attends will be awarded a $250 certificate good toward the purchase of a Three Trees Ranch bull. Limit one certificate to each attending entity.

To make reservations, call Saralyn White at 863-425-5130, ext. 106, or Nancye Deloach at 615-315-4072.

LMA 2008 Auctioneer Championship qualifying round
Oct. 6, Turlock, Calif

The first of four regional qualifying championships for the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA’s) 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will take place Oct. 6 at the Livestock Auction Yard Inc., in Turlock, Calif.

The Turlock contest will be the western regional qualifier. The other three are:
• Southwestern Regional, Oct. 25 at Cattleman’s Livestock Commission Co., Dalhart, Texas
• Eastern Regional, Nov. 27 at Fort Payne Stockyard Inc., Fort Payne, Ala.
• Midwestern Regional, Dec. 8, Lamoni Livestock Auction Inc., Lamoni, Iowa

Regional Champions will be named at each contest, and the top eight scorers at each contest will qualify for the 2008 WLAC, scheduled to take place next June in Durant, Okla.

Regional contestants must be at least 18 years old and employed by a livestock auction market. Complete contest rules and the official entry form are available at www.lmaweb.com, or by calling 1-800-821-2048.

The deadline for entering the Turlock and Dalhart regional contests is Sept. 1. The deadline for Fort Payne and Lamoni is Oct. 26.

Korea-U.S.-Japan International Joint Symposium
Oct. 15-16, College Station, Texas

Producing beef with high levels of oleic acid and other heart-healthy traits for both domestic and Asian consumption will highlight an international symposium Oct. 15-16 at Texas A&M University.

Top international beef researchers will headline the second Korea-U.S.-Japan International Joint Symposium. Discussions on the economics of producing high-quality beef for domestic and foreign markets, and the latest research on Wagyu (Japanese) and Hanwoo (Korean) breeds will be featured.

“Our target audience includes individual producers and companies or organizations that emphasize the production of high-quality beef for either domestic or foreign markets,” said Stephen Smith, conference chairman and Texas A&M professor of animal science. “Accordingly, the symposium will focus on important aspects of high quality beef cattle production for the U.S., Korean and Japanese markets.”

For registration information, visit http://animalscience.tamu.edu/symposium/index.html or phone 979-845-3939.

Purdue agribusiness conferences, seminars
Oct. 22-26; Nov. 13-14

Purdue University will conduct two conferences and seminars aimed at those in agribusiness. An agrimarketing seminar will take place Oct. 22-26, and a National Conference for Agribusiness: “Re-Thinking Service Strategies: Innovations that Drive Profit” is scheduled for Nov. 13-14.

For more information about these conferences and seminars, contact Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business at 765-494-4247 or agbusinessinfo@purdue.edu.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.