News Update
Dec. 26, 2007

Grazing Conference Returns to Missouri

A five-state "Heart of America" grazing conference returns to Missouri Jan. 7-8 with grassland farmers expected from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, as well as the host state. The conference, which rotates among sponsoring states, is gaining popularity, says Fred Martz, University of Missouri (MU) professor emeritus and member of the program committee.

Matt Boatright, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, will open the conference with a look at "The Future of Grassland Agriculture." Boatright is a cattle grazier from Sedalia.

Greg Judy, Clark, author of the book "No Risk Ranching," will speak on opportunities in grazing. He grazes livestock on land in the growing rural-urban fringe around Columbia.

The grazing conference features broad topics followed by breakout sessions on production practices, Martz says.

In addition to Midwesterners, the program features two Westerners telling about rangeland ranching. Kit Pharo, Cheyenne Wells, Colo., will speak on "From Production to Profit in Ranching." Bob Budd, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, Lander, Wyo., will speak on "Grazing for Ecological and Economic Sustainability."

Justin Sexton, University of Missouri Extension beef nutrition specialist, will tell how to use ethanol coproduct feeds for livestock on pasture. Sexton, who recently came to MU from the University of Illinois, was on the program committee last year.

Steve Flick, Kingsville, will speak on "The Future of Energy from Cellulosic Products." Explaining "Why We Do What We Do" will be Allen and Tauna Powell, beef producers from Laclede; Charles Fletcher, grassland dairy producer, Purdy; and Greg Judy.

A complete program can be seen at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mfgc/ by clicking on the "Heart of America 2008" link. Registration forms are there as well. The conference fee is $70 per person attending two days.

The registration desk and exhibit area open at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Holiday Inn Select on I-70 Drive Southwest in Columbia. The opening banquet begins at 6 p.m. with talks to follow.

For additional information call the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council at 573-449-0886 weekday mornings.

— Adapted from a release from MU Extension and Ag News.

Ultimate Genetics and Semex Form Marketing Alliance

Semex USA and Ultimate Genetics have formed a marketing alliance to offer an expanding variety of genetics and opportunities for their customers. Utilizing Semex USA's national distribution network and Ultimate Genetics' strong presence in the southern United States will help each company expand their dairy and beef product offerings.

Semex USA, formed in 1996, is a subsidiary of the largest cooperatively owned AI company in the world, Semex Alliance of Guelph, Ont., Canada. Ultimate Genetics LLC was formed in 1996 by the purchase acquisition of Medina Valley Genetics.

— From an Ultimate Genetics release.

Winter Conference to Cover Array of Ag Topics

Farmers and ranchers interested in the latest technology, methods and conservation practices to improve crop production on the High Plains can learn about those topics and more at the 2008 "Cover Your Acres Winter Conference" Jan. 22-23 in Oberlin, Kan.

The conference, which will begin with registration from 7:45-8:15 a.m., will be at the Gateway Civic Center. It is sponsored by Kansas State University (K-State) and the Northwest Kansas Crop Residue Alliance.

University and industry speakers will give presentations on an array of topics, including New Corn Seed Traits for No-Till; Improving Your Success in No-Till; N Recommendations for Wheat; Outlook for Sorghum, Bioenergy, Food and Export; Grain Marketing and Revenue Protection; No-Till Wheat 101; P Placement and Rate in No-Till and Strip-Till; Benefits of Chloride on Wheat and Row Crops; and What Precision Ag Can Do For You.

Other sessions will include Improving Your Success in No-Till; Managing pH in No-Till; Comparing Corn and Grain Sorghum Performance; The State of Fertilizer in 2008; Spray Application Technology; Soil Quality Change in No-Till; Plant Stand Management; Cellulosic Ethanol; Avoiding Strip-Till Mistakes; Improving Capture and Use of Water; Water Rights and Depleting Water; Spray Application Technology; and others.

Many of the sessions will run concurrently and will be repeated, so participants can attend as many sessions as possible, according to Brian Olson, conference coordinator and northwest area agronomist with K-State Research and Extension.

A panel of farmers discussing the ins and outs of crop rotations is one of several highlights of the conference, Olson says.

Continuing education credits for certified crop consultants will be applied for all of the university-based sessions except the farmer panels.

Due by Jan. 16, early registration to attend one day is $20 and for both days is $38. After that date and at the door the registration fee to attend is $40 for one day and $80 for both days. For more information or to register, contact the Northwest Research and Extension Center at 785-462-6281.

— From a K-State Research and Extension release.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.