News Update

News Update
Jan. 8, 2008

Cattle Industry Convention Online

Angus Productions Inc. (API) is again providing online coverage of the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show, scheduled for Feb. 6-9, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev. Education, information and a little bit of fun, too, “Rush to Reno” will be the underlying theme of the event.

Attended by more than 5,000 cattlemen each year, the convention is the largest meeting of its kind in the United States. Five industry organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), the American National CattleWomen (ANCW), Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), are to convene at the event.

Throughout the event, speakers, boards and working groups are scheduled to address issues ranging from cattle handling to political lobbying, from public lands to tax regulations, from market outlooks to advertising schedules. Export regulations and cattle tracking systems are sure to be essential talking points.

For pre-event and general coverage of the event, visit the “Newsroom” at www.4cattlemen.com. Proceeding papers, synopses and PowerPoint presentations will be posted as they become available, as well as audio files of Pfizer’s ever-popular Cattlemen’s College.^â

After the event, visit the “Trade Show” page for highlights of the latest advances in animal health, management and recordkeeping. Visit the “Award Winners” page for coverage of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) results, Vision Award recipients, National Beef Ambassadors and other award winners.

2008 Great Lakes Cattle Feeding Short Course Set for Four Locations

Maintaining animal health and understanding the value and limitations of feeding distillers’ grain solubles are major challenges to feedlot managers. To learn about tools and strategies that minimize the consequences of poor animal health and to make the best use of ethanol coproducts as feed, producers can attend a two-part cattle feeding program set for four Great Lakes locations.

The 2008 Great Lakes Cattle Feeding Short Course will be Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 at the DeKalb, Ill., Farm Bureau Building; Jan. 22 and Feb. 5 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing; Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 at the Wood County Junior Fair Building in Bowling Green, Ohio; and Jan. 24 and Feb. 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Ontario. The program begins at 6 p.m. in every location.

The first session will look at nutrition and management programs for newly received feedlot cattle. There will also be a presentation on considerations for designing vaccination programs and the selection and use of antibiotics. Other presenters will discuss the effects of handling and cattle temperament on feedlot returns and the costs of a poor receiving program. 

The second session will kick off with a market outlook for corn and a talk about the challenges and limitations in feeding distillers’ grains in feedlot diets. Other presentations will explore minimizing “outs” and taking advantage of harvesting premiums, and conclude with regional age- and source-verification programs. Speakers include faculty members and Extension specialists from the University of Nebraska, Oklahoma State University, Utah State University and the host institutions. 

The registration fee is $30 (U.S. funds) for the first registrant from one operation, and $20 for each additional attendee from the same operation. College students and FFA and 4-H members can attend for $10. The registration deadline is Jan. 17. For more information or to register for the 2008 cattle feeding short course, contact Steve Rust at MSU by calling 517-432-1390.

The 2008 Great Lakes Cattle Feeding Short Course is sponsored by the University of Illinois, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Purdue University and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

— Release provided by MSU.

Northwest Florida Beef Conference Scheduled for Feb. 7

The Northwest Florida Beef Conference & Trade Show will take place Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Agriculture Conference Center located behind the Jackson County Extension Office just north of Interstate10 at Exit 136 in Marianna, Fla. Registration and the Trade Show will open at 8 a.m., Central time, and the program will get started at 9 a.m.The program will conclude with a steak lunch at 12:30 p.m.

This year the focus of the conference will be on drought management. Four major topics of discussion will be presented at the conference. Dennis Hancock, University of Georgia (UG) forage specialist, will discuss pasture management during long-term drought to help producers adjust their stocking rate, use optimal grazing techniques, make wise use of fertilization and emergency forage crops.

Curt Lacey, UG livestock economist, will focus on drought economics. Producers may be forced to make a number of difficult choices with rising input costs and reduced income due to herd liquidation. Lacey will provide some suggestions on herd reduction, as well as some marketing strategies and the tax laws that provide protection of this income.

The third speaker will be Darrell Rankin, who will discuss drought feeding with limited hay. Depending on 2008 rainfall, cattlemen may need to provide additional nutrition to keep their herd productive. Rankin will offer advice on how to stretch forage supply and keep herds productive with off-farm, purchased feeds.

The final topic will be drought toxicities. Doug Mayo, Jackson County Extension educator, will discuss how crops like corn, sorghum, and millet can become toxic during drought conditions. Mayo will also discuss toxic plants to be aware of as forage supplies become low.

The conference also features a trade show. For more information call Doug Mayo at 850-482-9620 or visit http://jackson.ifas.ufl.edu.

— Release provided by the University of Florida.

Master Farmer Award seeks Missouri’s best; New annual program has July 1 entry deadline

Farmers work every day for better, more efficient methods of raising crops and livestock. A new Missouri Master Farmer Award program will recognize the top-notch producers in the state. Four individuals will earn $1,000 cash prizes and industry-wide recognition each year, starting in 2008.

Gov. Matt Blunt officially announced the launch of the new Missouri Master Farmer Award program yesterday at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. “Today’s announcement in Saint Louis will be a great opportunity for Missouri farmers to be recognized for their hard work and commitment to Missouri’s No. 1 industry,” said Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “Our state’s farmers are true innovators when it comes to new ideas and technologies. They set precedence for farmers and agriculture industry leaders all over the world with the success of their farming operations. These Master Farmers will be able to share their success stories and challenges with generations to come.”

Coordinators of the award program are the Missouri Ruralist magazine and University of Missouri (MU) Extension, with support from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Gold sponsor, FCS Financial, will help fund the awards and educational program.

The Master Farmer Award program is created for all Missourians involved in agriculture. Judging committees will be looking for the best managers with innovative ideas, sound business skills, financial recordkeeping, soil and water conservation practices, agricultural leadership and community service.

An awards banquet for the first winners is planned for the 2009 Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. Also planned is an educational roundtable discussion with representatives from Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT), young farmer groups, FFA and MU Extension 4-H.

First established in 1925, the Master Farmer Award is the nation’s longest-running agriculture award program. States with award programs include Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia and now Missouri.

The nomination deadline is July 1. For information and a nomination form, visit www.missouriruralist.com and click on “Master Farmer.” Web links and nomination forms also are available at MU Extension centers and FCS Financial offices throughout the state, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture in Jefferson City.

— Release provided by the University of Missouri