News Update

Industry Events
April 4, 2008

K-State Canola Field Tour
April 16, Rice and Reno counties, Kansas

Kansas farmers will have the chance to gather first-hand information on growing canola in Kansas from a fellow producer, canola researchers and other speakers during the Canola Field Tour in Rice and Reno counties.

The tour gives producers and others an opportunity to learn more about a crop that could become increasingly important in Kansas crop rotations.

Kansas State University (K-State) and Oklahoma State University have been collaborating on research aimed at increasing the profitability of canola production in the southern Great Plains.

Times, locations and speakers for the tour include:

9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. — Clark Woodworth Farm, Sterling
10:45-11:15 a.m. — Partridge Research Farm, Partridge
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — K-State South Central Experiment Field, Hutchinson

More information, registration and directions to the sites are available by contacting Troy-Lynn Eckart at 785-532-5776 or sprite@ksu.edu.

Agritourism Conference
April 16, Shenandoah Valley, California

The University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension in Amador County and Farms of Amador are sponsoring an agritourism conference at 21601 Shenandoah School Rd., Shenandoah Valley. Topics include agritourism operations and county regulations, managing risk in agritourism, creating a business plan, evaluation your resources for agritourism, consumer demand and marketing channels, and more. Tours of the Sobon Estate for Agricultural History Museum or the Amador Flower Farm are also scheduled.

The event is open to all farmers and ranchers from all counties. Registration, which costs $40, begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes an agritourism manual, a catered lunch, conference packet and morning refreshments.

For more information call Andrew Kramer at 209-223-6837.

K-State Beef Roundup
April 17, Hays, Kan.

K-State’s Agricultural Research Center at Hays has scheduled its Beef Roundup for April 17.

The annual event will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon in the center’s Hays Arena. There is no charge to attend the event, and lunch is complimentary.

The Roundup, which is open to beef producers and anyone in the community and beyond, will provide an overview of research projects ongoing at the center.

The presentations will include:

preconditioning and weaning management;
comparison of stocking strategies for western Kansas rangelands;
sensors to monitor illness in cattle;
effect of marbling and backfat on cow productivity;
walking tour of the feedlot;
effects of dietary vitamin A level and weaning age on beef carcass quality;
comparison of placing stockers on grass or directly on feed;
effects of implanting and feeding zilpaterol on performance, carcass characteristics and subprimal meat yields on fed cull cows;
effect of feeding rumen-protected choline to cows during late gestation and early lactation;
preconditioning management of early- and traditionally-weaned calves; and
summary of results from recent studies examining the use of distillers’ byproducts.

More information about the Roundup is available by calling 785-625-3425.

The Texas Challenge II
April 26, Franklin, Texas

Klaus and Bonnie Birkel, owners of Camp Cooley Ranch, Franklin, Texas, will again host and underwrite a celebration at the ranch on Saturday evening, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. featuring a Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) dinner and live entertainment. All Texas Angus breeders and supporters are invited to attend.

After the overwhelming success of last year’s event, an ultimate goal of raising $1 million by Dec. 31, 2011, has been set, with Texas Angus breeders challenged to raise $500,000.

All funds raised through The Texas Challenge II will count toward achievement of the nationwide fundraising initiative Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which aims to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011.

Beef Leaders Institute
June 1-4, Saint Joseph, Mo.

The American Angus Association’s first-ever Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) is set to facilitate discussion among participants and allow for tours of packing facilities and retail outlets. The BLI is limited to 20 participants annually, ages 25-45. Participation in the BLI is based on applications, which were due March 1.

For more information about the event or participation in future BLI’s, contact Shelia Stannard at 816-390-7093 or sstannard@angus.org; or Ty Groshans at tgroshans@angus.org.

Carcass Ultrasound Technician Training, Certification
June 5-7, Ames, Iowa

The National Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) Lab has announced the Summer 2008 field technician training and certification dates.

The Beginner Ultrasound Training Course will be offered at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, Iowa, and will cover the proper collection and interpretation of ultrasound images for both feedlot and breeding cattle. Participants need no prior experience or equipment, but they must preregister by downloading a registration form at www.cuplab.com.

An Advanced Training Course will follow June 5-7 in Ames, with an opportunity to take the certification exam June 9. Certification will be administered by the Ultrasound Guidelines Council (UGC) and co-hosted by ISU and The National CUP Lab. UGC Certification will also be offered June 10-13.

Trainees are encouraged to register early, as classes fill quickly. For more information on Ultrasound Training or UGC Certification, please call The National CUP Lab & Technology Center.

Livestock Judges and Show Management School
June 26-29, Washington State University

The 2008 Pacific Northwest Livestock Judges and Show Management School is sponsored by Washington State University (WSU), the University of Idaho and Oregon State University and serves as a learning opportunity for new and experienced judges, show managers, fair superintendents, livestock sale committee volunteers, 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, parents, producers and livestock enthusiasts.

The event has been organized to improve the livestock industry by developing participants’ skills to effectively and accurately evaluate exhibition food animals; promote positive youth development; and showcase the benefits of animal agriculture and youth development programs.

Participants can select either the judges’ or show management track.

Registration for the livestock judge’s track costs $175 for three full days. The fee includes a judge’s notebook, three lunches, a banquet and refreshment breaks. Registration for the show management track is $100 for two days. The fee includes a notebook, two lunches, a banquet and refreshment breaks. The registration deadline is June 1. Registration for the livestock judges’ track is limited; register early to secure your spot.

For more information and to register, contact Sarah Smith, WSU Grant/Adams Extension, at 509-754-2011, ext. 413, or smithsm@wsu.edu; Jerry Newman, WSU 4-H Livestock Program, at 509-338-5938 or newmanj@wsu.edu; or Tiffany Boswell, 4-H program assistant, at 509-335-4128 or tiffany_boswell@wsu.edu. Complete registration information is also available at http://animalag.wsu.edu or http://4-h.wsu.edu/news/index.htm.

2008 BIF meeting
June 30-July 3, Calgary, Alta., Canada

The 2008 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary, Alta., Canada.

The event is expected to attract more than 500 seedstock and commercial producers, feedlot operators, academia, industry experts and beef industry service providers. Symposium topics will include the most current genetic improvement research and innovation dedicated toward advancements in beef production.

Angus Productions Inc. (API) will once again host online coverage of this popular industry event at www.bifconference.com. Symposium and tour schedules, accommodations and travel information, and archived coverage will be available in the weeks preceding the event. During and following the symposium, proceedings, audio, photos, synopses of presentations, and committee coverage will also be available.

A tentative schedule and registration information is now available by clicking on the BIF meeting link at www.canadianbeefbreeds.com.

2008 National Junior Angus Show
July 13-19, Des Moines, Iowa

Angus enthusiasts across the nation won’t want to miss the 2008 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) July 13-19 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Angus and Iowa Junior Angus associations will host “Christmas in July” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The weeklong event features the largest single-breed beef cattle show in the world, with more than 1,000 head of cattle exhibited by youth ages 9-21 years old — all members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA).

Youth will compete for top prizes in several divisions within the cattle show, including bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs; and owned heifers, cow-calf pairs and steers. Youth also have the opportunity to enter steers in a carcass contest.

In addition to the cattle show, numerous educational competitions take place during the week.

Besides the cattle shows and competitions, the NJAA conducts a mentoring program, and a showmanship clinic will be presented. Six members will be elected to the NJAA Board of Directors at the annual meeting during the week.

Exhibitors and contestants at the NJAS must be NJAA members and be 9 years old, but not yet 21, by Jan. 1, 2008, to compete in the activities. The ownership and entry deadline for cattle is June 1. Late entries are not accepted. Juniors members are encouraged to send their entries so delivery can be confirmed, or enter online.

For more information about the 2008 NJAS or junior Angus programs, including overviews of the contests, log on to www.njas.info or contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100.

2008 LEAD Conference
Aug. 1-4, Billings, Mont.

The annual NJAA Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference is set for Aug. 1-4 in Billings, Mont.

All juniors 14 to 21 years old are encouraged to attend this year’s conference, themed “Take it to the Top.” Juniors will have the opportunity to make new Angus friends, learn about current beef industry issues and tour agricultural and historical sites in “Big Sky Country.” In addition, the NJAA Board will present interactive workshops that explore the beef industry as well as personal development topics. Tour stops will include prominent auction yards, bull studs, ranches and a rafting trip.

Conference space is limited to 200 participants, so reserve your spot soon. Early registration for juniors, advisors and parents is $175 and due June 15. After this deadline, the rate increases to $200, if space is still available. Registration and release forms are available in the green NJAA information packets that were mailed to all junior members earlier this year and on the NJAA web site.

For more information about LEAD, visit www.njaa.info or contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100.

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