News Update
Oct. 20, 2010

‘Final Drive’ Kickoff Planned for Oct. 28 at American Royal

The kickoff for a “Final Drive” Oct. 28 in Kansas City, Mo., will honor Stanley Stout, who was one of the beef industry’s most successful auctioneers and one of Kansas State University’s (K-State) most passionate supporters.

K-State’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry is using the event to launch a fund-raising initiative for the final phase of the Stanley E. Stout Livestock Marketing and Learning Center building project.

“Beef producers across America have committed to the ‘Final Drive’ by designating the proceeds of an animal in their live or internet auction to the fund,” said Ken Odde, head of K-State’s animal sciences department. “The American Royal Livestock Show and Rodeo provides the perfect opportunity to launch an event of this magnitude, because Stanley served many years on the Livestock Board and the Board of Governors for the American Royal.”

The on-campus learning center and state-of-the-art livestock sale facility that will bear Stout’s name will provide a permanent home to the K-State Legacy Sale — one of the longest running annual beef cattle auctions among U.S. land-grant universities. The facility also will provide diverse educational and community resources with Web and satellite communication capabilities.

“Stanley’s contribution of time and services to youth across America is legendary,” Odde said. “Countless young men and women already benefited from his generosity as he donated his time and expertise, auctioneering premium sales from the smallest county fairs to the grandest stage in the country — the National Western Stock Show.”

The “Final Drive” event will be Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Governor’s Room (2nd level) at the American Royal.

“Stanley Stout was both a great friend and professional colleague to beef producers across America,” Odde said. “He gave generously of his time and talents to K-State, as well, and was an avid supporter of Wildcat athletics and livestock events.”

Stout passed away April 30, 2006.

Further information about the “Final Drive” is available by contacting Aaron Hund, Director of Development for LMIC at K-State, aaronh@found.ksu.edu, or Emilie Fink, Development Officer for the College of Agriculture, emilief@found.ksu.edu, or by calling 1-800-432-1578.

— Release by K-State Research and Extension.

Did You Get Your Angus Beef Bulletin Extra This Morning

The October edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin Extra e-mailed this morning. If you did not receive the free monthly electronic supplement to the Angus Beef Bulletin and wish to do so, e-mail bulletinextra@angusbeefbulletin.com with the word “Subscribe” in the subject line. We’ll send you a link to the October edition and get you signed up to receive future installments.

Colorado State University Taylor Workshop Set for Dec. 13-14

With a theme of “Feeding the Beef Cow Herd for Maximum Profit,” Colorado State University’s (CSU) Beef Management Systems Group will be offering the Robert E. Taylor Memorial Beef Cattle Workshop Dec. 13-14. The event will be held in the Taylor Auditorium at CSU’s Agricultural Research Development and Educational Center, 4482 E. County Road 56, Fort Collins.

The two-day hands-on workshop will educate beef cattle producers about proper nutritional management of beef cows. A major emphasis will be on managing feed costs — the key to maximizing profitability on a beef cow-calf operation. Topics will include feeding for optimal reproductive performance, using body condition score, feeding during drought, and feeding crop byproducts. Guidelines on cost-effective energy, protein, and mineral supplementation programs will also be discussed.

The primary instructor during the workshop will be Danny Simms, a nutritionist with 39 years of experience working with beef cattle producers. Throughout his career, Simms served as a beef Extension specialist with K-Sstate, owned and managed feed companies, and worked as a consulting nutritionist. More recently, Simms authored the book Feeding the Beef Cowherd for Maximum Profit: A Guide for Cattle Producers and Industry Professionals, which will serve as a key resource throughout the workshop. 

The event will run from 10 a.m. Dec. 13 to 3:00 p.m. Dec. 14. Due to its hands-on nature, participation in the Taylor Workshop will be limited to the first 50 registrants. The registration fee is $150 per person; however, those who pre-register by Nov.10 will receive a $20 discount. To register, contact Nancy Weiss at Nancy.Weiss@colostate.edu, 970-491-7604 (phone), or 970-491-5326 (fax). The registration fee includes a personal copy of Simms’ 225-page manual and all meals during the event. A block of hotel rooms is available for $65 per night by contacting Days Inn in Wellington at 970-568-0444 and mentioning the CSU Animal Science Conference Rate before Nov. 30.

For more information, contact Jack Whittier at Jack.Whittier@colostate.edu or 970-491-6233.

— Release by CSU.

Alltech Hosts First Ever Global Beef 500

With the success of Global Dairy 500, Alltech has added another premier forum for those in the beef industry, Global Beef 500. Continuing the topic of feeding a growing population from Alltech’s most recent symposium, Global Beef 500 will address this issue as well as others such as sustainability, targeting export markets, new ways to brand beef, and the controversial issue of GIPSA. This event will be held at the Lexington Convention Center in downtown Lexington, Ky., Nov. 1-4.

The conference will begin with a Kentucky Ale welcome reception on the first night, Nov. 1. The following three days are filled with discussions focused on tackling the problems beef industry faces and reviewing innovative solutions that are available. Attendees will be able to participate in a tour of Alltech’s facility, a bluegrass barbeque at the Kentucky Horse Park, and a discussion dinner on the subjects of calf health and branded beef.

Various topics will be introduced during the three days from experts in the industry including:

• Salmonella and E. coli.: Fact of life? How do we live with the consequences? Guy Loneragan, Texas Tech University
  
• Setting the stage: The global meat market, Bill Cordingley, Rabobank
  
• Feedlot perspective in Argentina vs. the world’s: Strategies to reduce the environmental impact, R. Tronconco, Cámara Argentina de Feedlot
  
• Antibiotics resistance: Is it preventable? Mike Apley, Kansas State University
  
• Exciting new technologies for the feedyards, Juan Tricarico, Alltech
  
• Social media: A look at the changing face of our industry, Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm New Media
  
• Crisis and opportunity: Sustaining a business in turbulent times, Peter Kerr, Asbury College.

A special roundtable featuring Leandro Abdelhadi, Argentina; Bob Sands, USA; Gerry Giggins, Ireland; and Trent Loos, USA will be sure to generate discussion as the panelists explore “Forecast 2025: A vision for the future.”

Join us Nov. 1-4, 2010, in Lexington, Ky. For more information or to register, visit www.alltech.com/globalbeef500.

— Release by Alltech.

Luling Foundation Water Field Day to be Oct. 29

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Plum Creek Watershed Partnership and Luling Foundation will present the Luling Foundation Water Field Day from 9 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. Oct. 29.

The program will take place at the Luling Foundation on 523 South Mulberry St. in Luling.

The field day is free and includes lunch, however attendees must pre-register with the AgriLife Extension office for Caldwell County to ensure an accurate count for the meal. Registration is from 8:30 a.m.-9 a.m. with presentations to follow.

Tour stops will address rainwater catchment systems and sustainable gardens, a solar-powered water well, the Riparian Area Management and Conservation Reserve Program area, and a rainwater harvesting system at the barn. Presentations will include the new technical and financial assistance program available to producers in the Plum Creek Watershed, the Lone Star Healthy Streams Program, and soil nutrient management and water law.

This program is offered as part of the educational outreach and awareness efforts relating to the Plum Creek Watershed, said Nikki Dictson, AgriLife Extension program specialist and partnership coordinator.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education credits in the general category will be offered, she said. Dictson said the watershed is used for a number of recreational purposes and provides an important habitat for a variety of aquatic plants and animals, but high levels of bacteria and non-beneficial nutrients are threatening it.

“From May 2006 through February 2008, the partnership developed a watershed protection plan to protect the water in the creek.” she said. “Since that plan was adopted, the partnership and other stakeholders have been participating in plan implementation community education efforts, which include the upcoming field day on Oct. 29.”

Dictson added that of particular interest at the program will be a lunchtime presentation by B.J. Westmoreland on a new program offering technical and financial assistance for farmers and ranchers in the Plum Creek Watershed.

“The Caldwell-Travis and Hays County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board partnered to provide this assistance to develop and implement water quality management plans on agricultural lands,” said Westmoreland, a district technician for the Caldwell-Travis Soil and Water Conservation District.

The site-specific plan developed through and approved by local SWCDs includes appropriate best management practices, land treatment practices, production practices, and technologies that prevent and abate agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution.

“Livestock waste has been identified as a significant potential contributor of pollutants to the watershed,” he said. “Providing technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to identify and initiate best management practices will help address this and other agriculture-related issues, which are having a negative effect on water quality.

“Some benefits of participating in this program, in addition to improving environmental quality, include creating a strategic plan for how to best manage an operation’s natural resources, enhancing the value of the operation and eligibility for cost-sharing to help defray applicable land-management practices,” he said.

Those interested in attending the water field day in Luling are asked to pre-register by Oct. 23 to ensure an accurate meal count and materials. To pre-register, contact the AgriLife Extension office for Caldwell County at 512-398-3122.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.