News Update

Industry Events
May 2, 2008

UK Wheat Field Day
May 20, Princeton, Ky.

The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture’s annual wheat field day will be Tuesday, May 20, amid a background of high wheat prices and high production costs. The field day will begin at 8:30 a.m. at UK’s Research and Education Center in Princeton. Nine tour stops will be featured at the event. Tour stops featured this year include information on breeding for scab resistance, summary of ryegrass control with herbicides over multiple studies, on-the-go sensing and its relevance for farming and research and what happened to the nitrogen this year.

Additional topics include planting date and insecticide for control of aphids, fungicide labeling issues, an update on canola research and more.

Registration for this year’s program begins at 8:30 a.m. The program will conclude at noon, with lunch provided by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association. Brief comments will be made by Scott Smith, dean of the UK College of Agriculture. Emceeing the luncheon program will be veteran farm broadcaster Jack Crowner.

Certified crop advisers can receive 3.5 hours of continuing education credits in both pest management (1.5 hours) and crop management (2 hours). The program has also been approved for two general and one specific pesticide credit hours in categories 1A, 4, 10 and 12 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. For more information contact Dottie Call, Wheat Science Group coordinator, at 270-365-7541, ext. 234 or dcall@uky.edu

International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare
May 28-30, Manhattan, Kan.

The Beef Cattle Institute will host the symposium, which features several international beef cattle welfare experts including Donald Broom from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and Kevin Stafford from Massey University, New Zealand. Several well-known experts will also be featured, including Temple Grandin, John McGlone, Janice Swanson and Bob Smith.

A practical, pre-conference seminar on cattle handling will be presented by Lynn Locatelli and Tom Noffsinger from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 28 in Weber Arena on the Kansas State University (K-State) campus in Manhattan. We will also be hosting an open beef producer forum from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring Mark Gardner from Gardner Angus Ranch and Jan Lyons, past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

The meeting is sponsored in part by NCBA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The complete schedule of events and speaker biographies can be found at at www.isbcw.beefcattleinstitute.org. A unique feature of the symposium is the availability of a live webcast of the meeting, and sessions will also be recorded and available through DVD at the end of the conference.

For more information visit the web site or email Wrenn Pacheco at wpacheco@vet.ksu.edu.

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.

35th Annual 4-H Roping School
June 15-19, Stephenville, Texas

The 35th annual Texas 4-H Calf Roping and Break-A-Way School will take place at the Tarleton State University Equine Arena in Stephenville.

The statewide event is open to boys and girls 12 and older, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants should arrive before 2 p.m., June 15, and finish by noon June 19. Individual registration is $350 for the week. The fee includes group insurance, meals, lodging, stall rent for one horse and practice calves. All students will be housed in the Tarleton State University dormitories. A $50 deposit will reserve a place. For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Brown County at 325-646-0386 or e-mail Scott Anderson, Brown County Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent, at sa-anderson@tamu.edu. Applications are available at http://brown-tx.tamu.edu.

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.

World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
June 28, Worthing, S.D.

Competitive livestock marketing at its best will be on display June 28 at the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market in Worthing, S.D. Thirty-three of North America’s best livestock auctioneers will compete for the title of World Livestock Auctioneer Champion during the 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC).

The contest starts at 8 a.m. and is open to the public. Prior to selling cattle at the Saturday contest, the 33 semi-finalists are interviewed by a panel of LMA members on industry issues and topics. This interview will count for 10% of the semi-finalist’s score.

Saturday morning, the semi-finalists will each sell several drafts of cattle. The 10 top scorers then return for a final round of selling. The three titlists — world, reserve and runner-up champion — are announced at an awards banquet the evening of June 28.

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.