News Update

Industry Events
Feb. 15, 2008

MSU workshops
Feb. 16, Dillon, Mont.

Montana State University (MSU) Extension economists will offer a free workshop in Dillon on cost control and risk planning for livestock producers.

The meeting is meant to help livestock and forage producers develop personalized cost control plans, with a special emphasis on surviving in an environment with increasing energy and feed costs. Topics include energy-related issues affecting productions costs, feed resources, risk management tools and financial management strategies.

The workshop will take place at the 4-H building on the fairgrounds in Dillon. For more information, contact Extension educator J.P. Tanner at 406-683-3785.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the workshop will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided, and there is no registration fee.

The program is sponsored by MSU, North Dakota State University (NDSU), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA), and the National Crop Insurance Services.

Certified Livestock Manager Training (CLMT) program
Feb. 19, 20, Illinois

The Certified Livestock Manager Training (CLMT) program at the University of Illinois (U of I) at Urbana-Champaign will offer a series of workshops through March 2008 to help producers comply with the Livestock Management Facilities Act and other environmental regulations.

U of I Extension also has an Internet quiz option that, if successfully passed, substitutes for the requirement of attending a workshop.

Workshop topics include concrete construction, odor issues, manure management planning, mortality composting and updates on rules and regulations.

The workshops, open for all producers, are scheduled for:

Feb. 19 in Effingham (dairy/beef emphasis)
Feb. 20 in Breese (dairy/beef emphasis)
March 7 in Springfield

Producers should call 1-800-345-6087 at least two weeks before the workshop so that the manual or CD can be mailed to them ahead of time. If you have questions, contact Fonner at 217-333-2611 or clmt@uiuc.edu.

Additional details are available by visiting www.livestocktraining.com.

Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo
Feb. 19-20, Abilene

The annual Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo is set for Feb. 19-20 on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center. The center is located at 1700 state Highway 36 in Abilene. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Feb. 19, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 20. The event is sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The show will feature educational seminars, equipment exhibits, product demonstrations, the Town and Country Women’s Fair, the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association annual meeting, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce annual membership luncheon. Ten Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered during the educational seminars.

The show’s agriculture-related educational programs begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 20 in the Western Heritage Ranch House, Big Country Hall and AgriLife Extension Classroom. Included are an 8 a.m. Texas Department of Agriculture re-certification course in the Big Country Hall, a Texas Wildlife Association Membership Meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the AgriLife Extension Classroom and a Wildlife Workshop at 8:30 a.m. in the Western Heritage Ranch House.

The chamber of commerce luncheon will be at noon on Feb. 20 in the Big Country Hall. The keynote speaker will be Marcus Hill with Texas Ag Workers Insurance. The seminars are free to the public. Tickets for the chamber of commerce luncheon are $15 and are available through the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, at 325-677-7241. For more information contact the AgriLife Extension office in Taylor County at 325-672-6048.

High Plains BioFuels Coproducts Nutrition Conference
Feb. 20, Garden City, Kan.

The High Plains BioFuels Coproducts Nutrition Conference has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will be at the Plaza Inn (Clarion) in Garden City, Kan.

All existing registrations are still valid. Contact Chris Reinhardt, Kansas State University (K-State) Extension feedlot specialist at 785-532-1672 (office) or 785-410-2717 (cell) for further information.

R-CALF USA Annual Convention
Feb. 20-23, Omaha, Neb.

The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) will conduct its 9th annual convention Feb. 20-23 in Omaha, Neb. The theme for this year’s event is “Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer’s Prosperity — Together.” The location is the newly remodeled Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center, located at 3321 S. 72nd St., just off Interstate 80 at Exit 449.

For the second year in a row, the R-CALF USA Private Property Rights Committee will hold a seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Panel discussions throughout the convention cover topics including animal health issues, animal identification (ID), market competition, international trade and the Farm Bill. Also planned are updates on the National Beef Checkoff Program and country-of-origin labeling (also known as COL or COOL).

For more information about the convention or trade show, call R-CALF USA headquarters at 406-252-2516.

Academy for Ranch Management
Feb. 21-23, March 6-8, Sonora, Texas

The Academy for Ranch Management has scheduled two workshops in early 2008 for prescribed rangeland burning, a technique that renews vegetation by using fire to burn off unwanted brush.

A prescribed burning rangeland workshop is scheduled for Feb. 21-23, while an advanced workshop on the method is scheduled March 6-8. Both workshops will be at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Sonora.

Cost for each workshop is $395 and includes meals and lodging at the Sonora station.

The first workshop provides basic information on prescribed burning, weather, fuels, equipment and planning. It is designed to be a prerequisite to the advanced workshop. A prescribed burn will be conducted, weather permitting.

The advanced workshop provides additional information on weather and fuels with emphasis on planning and conducting a prescribed burn. A comprehensive exam is administered for those interested in completing the educational requirement for certified prescribed burn manager.

For more information about the workshops and to register, call 979-820-1778 or visit www.ranchmanagement.org.

Missouri fence laws workshops
Feb. 21, March 19, various locations

Joe Koenen, University of Missouri (MU) Extension ag business specialist, will explain state statutes governing fences during two upcoming workshops that will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

On Feb 21, workshops will be available in Kirksville, Park Hills, Poplar Bluff, Saint Joseph, Reeds Spring, Grant City, Chillicothe, Maryville and Blue Springs.

On March 19, the program can be seen in Kirksville, Palmyra, Salem, Mexico, Pilot Grove, Lincoln and Osage Beach.

Koenen will provide an overview of both state and county laws, as well as landowners rights and responsibilities.

The program will originate from the Kirksville Telecommunications Community Resource Center and will be broadcast to other locations via interactive video. Participants at all locations will be able to ask questions and interact with one another.

The cost is $5 per person, which includes materials. Individuals should preregister by contacting MU Extension in Unionville at 660-947-2705 or by e-mail at koenanj@missouri.edu.

Feb. 21 locations:

Kirksville - TCRC, 315 S. Franklin

Park Hills - TCRC, 5270 Flat River Road

Popular Bluff - TCRC, 200 E.K. Porter Building, 2080 Three Rivers Blvd.

St. Joseph - MU Extension, 4125 Mitchell Ave.

Reeds Spring - TCRC, Reeds Spring High School, 20277 State Highway 413

Chillicothe - Grand River Technical School, 1200 Fair St.

Grant City - Worth County R-III School, 510 East Ave.

Maryville - McKemy Center, 800 University Drive

Blue Springs - MU Extension, 1501 N.W. Jefferson, Suite 110

March 19 locations:

Kirksville - TCRC

Palmyra - MU Extension-NE Region, 400 S. Main, Suite 2200

Salem - TCRC, 1200 W. Rolla Road

Mexico - TCRC, 2900 Doreli Lane

Pilot Grove - C-4 School, 107 School St.

Lincoln - Lincoln High School, 101 W. Lamine St.

Osage Beach - State Fair Community College, 3797 Highway 54

Integrated Pest Management Seminar
Feb. 28, Dallas, Texas

An upcoming conference in Dallas will feature seminars on pest management for professionals, said an expert with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

It will take place Feb. 28 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, in Dallas.

The day-long Spring Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Conference offers training necessary for obtaining or renewing pest-control licenses, Mike Merchant, an AgriLife Extension entomologist said. Hosted by AgriLife Extension, the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. It costs $55 in advance and $70 at the door. Lunch will be served, but it is not guaranteed for participants who register on the day of the conference.

Focusing on outdoor pest control, seminar topics include laws and regulations, turfgrass pests, and insecticides for ornamental plants. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Battle at 972-952-9632 or mbattle@ag.tamu.edu. Conference information can also be found at http://sickplants.tamu.edu.

Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture
Feb. 28, Denver

Economics, water issues, transportation, technology and other factors that affect the development of Colorado’s agricultural regions will be discussed at the 17th annual Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture.

The forum, “Advancing Colorado’s Rural Development,” will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Double Tree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St. in Denver. Gov. Bill Ritter will speak to the group at 8:30 a.m.

State and national experts will present information about aspects of rural development such as water legislation, broadband Internet access, rural transportation infrastructure, agritourism and more. A panel discussion on rural development also is scheduled.

Afternoon breakout sessions will cover rural infrastructure, water and rural development, carbon and nitrogen credit marketing opportunities, and amenity-driven growth.

A welcome reception will be from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Feb. 27 at the governor’s residence at the Boettcher Mansion. The day will be capped with the Colorado Agricultural Hall of Fame banquet beginning at 5:30 p.m. A reception from 4:30-5:30 p.m. will precede the banquet.

Registration is $100 per person and $45 for students until Feb. 8; registration after that date increases to $120 and $50, respectively. Registration information and forms are available at www.colorado.gov/ag; click on “Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture.”

K-State Cattlemen’s Day 2008
March 7, Manhattan, Kan.

K-State’s Cattlemen’s Day 2008 is set for March 7 in Weber Hall on the university’s Manhattan campus.

The day will begin at 8 a.m. in Weber Arena with a commercial trade show and educational exhibits. A program with featured speakers and breakout sessions will start at 10 a.m.

Several guest and university speakers will be program highlights, including world-renowned animal behavior specialist Temple Grandin, who will present “Animal Welfare From the Consumer Perspective.” Grandin is an associate professor at Colorado State University.

The registration fee is $25 per person. The registration includes both refreshments and a lunch.

Other program topics and speakers include: Beef and the Consumer; DNA Marker-Assisted Selection; Cashing in on Ethanol CoProducts; Preconditioning for Optimum Cattle Performance and Carcass Value; Fertility Assessment in Bulls and Strategies for Improvement; Controlling Brush and Sericea Lespedeza in Native Pastures; Value-Added Beef Processing Technologies; and Biofuels Expansion.

The day will end with the 3:30 p.m. K-State Legacy Bull Sale at the university’s Purebred Beef Unit.

More information is available at www.asi.ksu.edu or by calling 785-532-1281.

Bovine ultrasound clinics for veterinarians
March 13-14, Bell, Fla.; April 3-4, Cortland, N.Y.

Merial is sponsoring a series of bovine reproductive ultrasound classes for veterinarians. These classes will provide hands-on, in-depth instruction in the use of ultrasound for bovine reproductive exams.

Craig DeMuth and Jill Colloton are the instructors of the seminars that include classroom and on-farm curriculum. “Bovine reproduction can be improved by learning about technological advancements,” DeMuth says. “Efficient reproduction takes the right tools. The goal of these classes is to educate veterinarians about current practices, products and technologies that can maximize efficiency when it comes to reproduction.”

The classroom portion of the ultrasound course will cover what to look for when purchasing an ultrasound unit, practical tips for using ultrasound in the field, a video demonstration of ultrasound imaging, current topics in bovine reproduction, and how ultrasound works. The on-farm portion includes: identifying normal and abnormal ovarian and uterine morphology, early pregnancy diagnosis and fetal viability, fetal sexing, and twin diagnosis.

Attendees of the clinic can apply for nine hours of continuing education (CE) credits. For more information and to register, log on to www.bovineservices.com or call Colloton at 715-352-2232. For more information visit www.merial.com.

Heart of Oklahoma Cattle Conference
March 22, Shawnee

The Heart of Oklahoma Cattle Conference will take place March 22 at the Exposition Center in Shawnee located at 1700 W. Independence St.

The conference will investigate the “Keys to Success in the Commercial Cow Business,” and speakers will discuss practices that can lead a producer to a successful business.

Early registration is $8 by March 17 and $12 the day of the conference; this will cover the cost of lunch and handout materials.

Registration on March 22 begins at 8:30 a.m., with the first session starting at 9:30 a.m.

The morning session will cover practices such as a defined calving season, beef cow body condition at breeding and calving, replacement heifer growing, herd health and immunizations, calving management and bull care.

An afternoon presentation will examine how to evaluate a calf crop based on value to the consumer. Attendees will examine calves at feeder weight and again at market weight to see if phenotypically a person can actually determine what cattle characteristics can be examined and be indicators of carcass value and quality.

The final session of the day will look at market-weight cattle going through the harvest phase and breaking them down into wholesale and retail cuts. A trade show is also scheduled.

The Heart of Oklahoma Cattle Conference is sponsored by the Pottawatomie Cooperative Extension Service and Pottawatomie County Cattle Producer’s Association.

For more information about the conference or vendor information call 405-273-7683.

NIAA Annual Meeting
April 1-3, Indianapolis, Ind.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) 2008 annual meeting, themed “Animal Care and Well-Being: Facts Not Fiction,” will host producers, animal health and management professionals, animal agriculture Extension specialists, and individuals involved in animal agriculture.

Tuesday’s opening general session will feature four speakers, including Wes Jamison, Ray Stricklin, Steve Kopperud and Charlie Arnot.

NIAA’s 12 species-based and issues-based committees will meet after the opening general session on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, and Wednesday, April 2. Committees are open to all attendees.

Thursday, April 3, will be devoted to a one-day ID.INFO Workshop.

A schedule of events for NIAA’s annual meeting and the 2008 ID.INFO Workshop, meeting registration, list of NIAA committees and hotel information are all available at www.animalagriculture.org or 270-782-9798.

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