News Update

Industry Events
Sept. 24, 2007

Fall Sale Dates Featuring AngusSource®-Tagged Calves
September-December

To assist Angus producers in capturing added value from their participation in AngusSource,® the American Angus Association announces several fall sale dates. These scheduled sales will group AngusSource®-tagged calves as well as other age- and source-verified calves.

Current industry reports document that $15-$25-per-head premiums are being realized for age- and source-verified cattle. Reports indicate the genetic verification of Angus calves, such as AngusSource, are adding an additional $30 per head* more than non-Angus calves. In addition, AngusSource-tagged calves have the opportunity to qualify for Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) regardless of hide color.

Numerous AngusSource Value-Added Feeder Calf Sales are scheduled in four states. The sale dates and locations are listed below:

Sept. 29                 Fort Scott Livestock Market, Fort Scott, Kan.
Oct. 9                    Woodward Livestock Auction, Woodward, Okla.
Oct. 12                  Woodward Livestock Auction, Woodward, Okla.
Oct. 16                  Staunton Union Stockyards, Staunton, Va. (To be hosted by the Virginia Angus Association & Shen-Valley Angus Association, this sale plans to feature only AngusSource calves. The sale begins at 6 p.m.)
Oct. 20                  Fort Scott Livestock Market, Fort Scott, Kan.
Oct. 22                  Pratt Livestock Inc., Pratt, Kan.
Oct. 26                  Saint Onge Livestock Co., Saint Onge, S.D.
Oct. 29                  Faith Livestock Commission Co., Faith, S.D.
Oct. 29                  Pratt Livestock, Inc., Pratt, Kan.
Nov. 1                   Russell Livestock Exchange, Russell, Kan.
Nov. 5                   Pratt Livestock Inc., Pratt, Kan.
Nov. 10                 Fort Scott Livestock Market, Fort Scott, Kan.
Nov. 12                 Pratt Livestock Inc., Pratt, Kan.
Nov. 13                 Woodward Livestock Auction, Woodward, Okla.
Nov. 16                 Woodward Livestock Auction, Woodward, Okla.
Dec. 6                   Russell Livestock Exchange, Russell, Kan.

Participating livestock auction markets are currently taking consignments for calves that qualify for these sales. For further information, contact Ty Groshans, American Angus Association director of commercial programs, at tgroshans@angus.org or 816-383-5193.

* (Here’s the Premium study represents 236,889 calves sold as 10,850 lots from 10 states from 1999 to 2006.)

MU grazing school
Sept. 25-27, Linneus, Mo.

Farmers caught with short supplies of grass and hay can learn new methods of making feed go further at the annual grazing school at the University of Missouri (MU) Forage Systems Research Center in Linn County.

The school teaches how to improve grazing efficiency through management-intensive grazing (MiG). It also trains instructors for regional grazing schools hosted across the state each year in addition to training beef producers. The latest grasslands research is presented at the school at Linneus.

The grazing school covers topics on grazing basics, grass and legumes, soil fertility, animal nutrition and plant and animal growth. Other topics include economics, grazier’s arithmetic, ruminant animals and watering. Scheduled work sessions include planning grazing layouts and building fences.

Sessions are taught by specialists from MU Extension and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Added emphasis will be given to animal nutrition this year with the addition of Justin Sexten to the school faculty.

The three-day workshop costs $250 per person or $375 per couple. That fee includes the Missouri Grazing Manual and other handouts. Three lunches and two dinners also are included. Motels are available in Brookfield, Mo.

Reservations can be made by calling the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council at 573-499-0886 (mornings) or by e-mail at mfgc@mchsi.com.

Sign-in for the workshop begins at 7:30 a.m., Sept. 25. School adjourns at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

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. 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 $25.

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, the American Sheep Industry and the Association of National Grasslands.

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.

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.

OSU Summer Workshop
Oct. 10, Ohio

Ohio State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Team will sponsor the a workshop titled “Organic Livestock and On-farm Biodiesel Production” at the Mike and Dawn Roberts farm, 7203 Waynesburg Rd. N.W., Waynesburg.

It will take place from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and will feature the Roberts’ 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.

The event is free. Call 330-866-2132 for further information. Visit http://sustainableag.osu.edu to download the schedule.

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.

Agricultural Employee Management Seminar
Oct. 11-12, Kansas City, Mo.

In the ever-changing agricultural industry, employees are one of the most valuable resources; however, managing a variety of people is often an overwhelming task. “Employee Management for Production Agriculture” is a conference designed for all agricultural managers, from mid-level or unit managers to human resource personnel. The conference is set for Oct. 11-12 at the Kansas City Airport Marriott. Kansas State University (K-State) Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service along with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and National Pork Board are sponsoring the two-day event.

The conference is designed to give insight to managers on coping with the challenges and opportunities of managing employees in today’s environment. It is an ideal setting for managers of hired employees and for families working together to learn how to work more efficiently.

Conference registration closes Sept. 26; registration is just $150 per person for the first two employees from one firm or operation. Group rates are available if more than two people attend. A room block is available at the Marriott by calling 816-464-2200.

For a complete list of speakers and program topics log on to www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee. For more information about the conference or to register, contact Sarah Fogleman, KSU agricultural economist at sfoglema@ksu.edu or by calling 620-431-1530.

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 (TAMU).

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 TAMU 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.

Cattlemen’s Boot Camp
Oct. 29-30, State College, Pa.

The American Angus Association and Angus Foundation will conduct a Cattlemen’s Boot Camp this fall. The Boot Camp will be hosted by Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), State College.

Boot Camps are two-day educational programs open to all cattle producers and cover all aspects of the beef industry from basic production practices to the end product. All participants must preregister by the set deadline, and a minimal fee of $75 is charged to offset meals and materials.

The Boot Camp is Oct. 29-30 at the Beef/Sheep Unit on the Penn State Campus. The activities begin at 8 a.m., and the registration deadline is Oct. 1.

Hotel blocks have been reserved and rates negotiated at Holiday Inn Express, Williamsburg Square. Call 814-867-1800 and ask for the Cattlemen’s Boot Camp block to get the block rate of $82 per night plus tax.

Complete schedules and program topics are available online at www.angus.org. A Boot Camp is also set for Dec. 18-19 at Iowa State University in Ames. A Boot Camp is also tentatively set for early January at Washington State University, Pullman. Watch the Association and Foundation web sites for more information about these and other educational events.

Beef Producers Seminar
Nov. 1, Maryville, Mo.

The 2007 Beef Producers Seminar will begin at 4:30 p.m. and take place at the Nodaway County/Community Fair building in Maryville, Mo. Cost of admission to the event is $10 per person and includes a beef dinner.

Darla Eggers, director of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Foundation, will serve as emcee for the evening’s events. The seminar features three guest speakers discussing beef cattle management topics, including the proper handling of cattle, creative cattle nutrition and animal health management.

For more information regarding the 2007 Beef Producers Seminar and to register for the meal, contact the livestock specialist in your area or the Andrew County Extension Center at 816-324-3147.

The Beef Producers Seminar is sponsored by VitaFerm,® the American Angus Association and the University of Missouri (MU) Extension.

Range Beef Cow Symposium
Dec. 11-13, Colorado State University

The 2007 Range Beef Cow Symposium, hosted by Colorado State University (CSU), will be at the Larimer County Fairgrounds Dec. 11-13. The event is a biennial educational symposium designed as in-service training for cow-calf ranchers. It will feature well-known speakers who will provide updates on production topics in the areas of beef industry issues, genetics, reproduction, range and forage management, cattle health, beef nutrition and more.

The symposium is a joint effort of the Extension services from CSU, University of Wyoming, University of Nebraska and South Dakota State University.

For additional information, contact Jack Whittier, CSU Extension beef specialist, at 970-491-6233 or jack.whittier@colostate.edu; or Nancy Weiss, Extension secretary, at 970-491-7640 or nancy.weiss@colostate.edu.

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