News Update

Industry Events
Oct. 4, 2007

Fall Sale Dates Featuring AngusSource®-Tagged Calves
October-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 premiums of $15-$25 per head 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.
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.)

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 800-821-2048.

The deadline for entering the Turlock and Dalhart regional contests was 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 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.

International Distillers’ Grains Conference & Trade Show
Oct. 21-23, Schaumburg, Ill.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and BBI International will host the 2007 International Distillers’ Grains Conference & Trade Show (IDGC) at The Renaissance in Schaumburg.

The event will focus on industry issues related to distillers’ grains produced at dry-mill ethanol plants and marketed to both domestic and international end users. The conference will feature general session speakers and specific breakout seminars, providing opportunity to network with buyers and sellers, animal health professionals, producers, researchers and others.

Contact Mike Deering, USGC director of communications, at mdeering@grains.org or 202-326-0625 for more information.

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.

S.D. beef clinics
Oct. 25-Dec. 13, eastern South Dakota

A series of seven clinics on beef quality assurance and critical management planning will take place in eastern South Dakota. South Dakota’s Beef Quality Assurance and Critical Management Planning Task Force will host the clinics, which are open to any beef producer and others in the industry who are interested in beef quality assurance.

The clinics will cover information on incidence and effect of carcass defects as well as information on proper sanitation methods, residue avoidance and cattle-handling techniques. Other topics will include proper injection techniques, feed additives and feed quality, and pathogen reduction at the farm and facility level.

A registration fee of $25 will include a handbook and training materials. Scheduled clinics include:
• 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 25, 4-H building, Sisseton
• 1:30-3:30 p.m., and 6:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 1, Extension complex, Watertown
• 10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 8, courthouse basement, Milbank
• 10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 15, 4-H service center, Clear Lake
• 10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 6, 4-H building, Hayti
• 10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 13, courthouse basement, Clark

More information is available at http://sdces.sdstate.edu/ces_website/files/BQACMP07.pdf.

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 was 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.

Kentucky grazing conference
Oct. 30, Bowling Green

This year’s conference is set to help producers hone their grazing management skills. In its eighth year, the conference will include management strategies to employ in the coming months to aid pasture recovery, options for summer grazing, techniques for reducing mud problems and improving pasture abused areas, as well as experiences with teff.

The conference will take place at the Western Kentucky University Expo Center in Bowling Green. Educational programs will be conducted in the morning with a business meeting and forage spokesman contest to take place after lunch.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., and there will be a $15 registration fee for written materials, refreshments and lunch. Exhibits and a silent auction are also scheduled. The student fee is $5.

Visit www.uky.edu/ag/forages for a complete conference schedule.

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, the University of Wyoming, the 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.

Illinois coproducts seminars
Jan. 16-Feb. 20, central and western Ill.

With the expansion of ethanol plants in Illinois and the Midwest, the production and availability of corn coproducts, mainly corn gluten feed (CGF) and distillers’ dry grain with solubles (DDGS), will play a major part in reducing the cost of beef cattle diets. Eight seminars, titled “Utilizing CoProducts in Beef Cow Diets” are scheduled in central and western Illinois to assist cow-calf producers with utilizing these products.

There are currently six ethanol plants located throughout central and northern Illinois, with two more under construction and two being expanded. Also, there are two corn processing plants (non-ethanol production) that periodically have coproducts available. Producers in western Illinois have access to three plants located in Iowa on the Mississippi River.

Thus, Illinois livestock producers will have access to a supply of coproducts to supplement their production of on-farm feedstuffs. Of critical importance, however, will be the following seminar topics: types of products available (wet vs. dry vs. pellets); the nutritional value of the different products (CGF vs. DDGS); transportation cost from plant to farm; potential storage losses; mixing and feeding methods; ration balancing programs; and proper mineral and vitamin supplementation.

Dates and locations of the seminars include:
Jan. 16 – Pekin – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Tazewell Co. Extension Office – 1505 Valle Vista
Jan. 17 – Perry – 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. – John Wood Community College – IL Rt. 104
Jan. 17 – Jerseyville – 6:30 to 8:30 pm – Super 8 Motel – IL Rt. 109 (South)
Jan. 31 – Macomb – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Intersection of IL Rts. 67 and 136 (E. of Macomb)
Jan. 31 – Roseville – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. – American Legion Hall – W. Intersection of IL 67 & 116
Feb. 2 – Lewistown – 8 a.m. to noon – Fulton County Ext. Office – Intersection of IL Rt. 97 & 100
Feb. 12 – Hennepin – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Steel Workers Hall – Intersection of I-180 & IL Rt. 26.
Feb. 20 – Petersburg – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Wankel Pioneer Seed Store – IL Rt. 97 (N-W of town)

Further information on the programs can be obtained by contacting a local Extension Office or the host County Extension Office; or by contacting Dave Seibert, animal systems educator at the E. Peoria Extension Center, at 309-694-7501, ext. 224 or dseibert@uiuc.edu.

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