News Update
January 30, 2012
Ken Troutt Memorial Scholarship
Applications are now being taken for the 17th Annual Ken Troutt Memorial Scholarship.
This scholarship fund has been established in memory of Ken Troutt, renowned auctioneer for many Northwest bull sales. Scholarships of $500 will be announced at the March 28th WCA Bull Test Sale in Eltopia, WA.
To be eligible, youths must (1) be incoming freshman in the fall of 2012, enrolled in a college or technical school, and (2) be an individual or son/daughter of an individual that has consigned or purchased bulls in the 2008 or 2009 Cowman’s Classic Bull Sale or the 2009, 2010 or 2011 WCA Bull Test Sale.
Applications are due prior to March 20, 2012, and can be requested by contacting Kendall Cattle Sales, at 1040 Kendall Rd., Potlatch, ID 83855; 208-858-2163; or kendall@potlatch.com.
Two Ohio Small-Farm Conferences Set for March
Small-farm landowners interested in improving production and marketing practices will get the information they need in March at conferences hosted by the Ohio State University (OSU) Extension Small Farm Program in Wilmington and Massillon.
The first conference is the fourth annual “Opening Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show March 9-10 at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. The conference will feature 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers.
The conference kicks off Friday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m. with “Meat Marketing — Front and Center,” which will address such topics as the obstacles to marketing meat; labels and what they mean to both producer and customer; the meanings of the terms grass-fed, antibiotic-free, free-range, organic and grain-fed; finding the right processor; and pricing the product.
On Saturday, March 10, registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and the day concludes at 3:45 p.m. The day will feature 30 breakout sessions offered throughout the day, including Aquaculture; Bee Keeping; Cut Flower Production; Herb Production; Raised Bed Production; Invasive Species Affecting Your Woodlot; Pasture Management; Goat Production; Beef Production; Greenhouse/Tunnel Production; the Organic Process; Poultry Production; Addressing Health Issues for Livestock; Equipment Needs; Food Safety; Agricultural Law Considerations; Tomato Production, Pasture and Hay Production; Local Foods; Social Media Marketing; Financial Management; Livestock Production (including pastured pork and poultry); and Resources (How Do I Find the Info I Need?).
The cost is $20 for March 9, $50 for March 10 or $60 for both days. The registration deadline is March 5. For more information, see http://go.osu.edu/sfmtgs or contact Tony Nye, OSU Extension educator, at nye.1@osu.edu or 937-382-0901.
The other conference, the third annual “Living Your Small Farm Dream” Northeast Ohio Small Farm Conference and Trade Show, will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. March 31 at the R.G. Drage Career Center in Massillon, Ohio.
The conference will begin with a keynote address, “Top Ten Trends in Local Foods and How You Can Profit from Them,” by Eric Barrett, OSU Extension. That will be followed by 23 breakout sessions, including Managing the Woodlot for Profit; Leasing Farmland for Oil and Gas Production; Raising and Marketing Meat Goats; How You Can Profit from Social Media Such as Facebook and Twitter; Utilizing High Tunnels to Extend the Growing Season; High Tunnels and Organic Cost-Share Programs; Grape Production and Wine Making; Direct Marketing of Meat in Ohio; Herb and Cut Flower Production; Irrigation Systems for Fruits and Vegetables; Tax Issues for Small Farms; Pasture Raised Poultry; Rules and Regulations for Direct Marketing Food Products; Maple Production; Oil and Gas Legal Issues; Managed Grazing; Resources Available for Small or Beginning Farmers; and Starting an Orchard.
The cost is $50 per person. The registration deadline is March 22. For more information, see http://go.osu.edu/sfmtgs or contact OSU Extension educator Mike Hogan at hogan.1@osu.edu or 330-324-6341.
MSU Extension Hosts the Great Lakes
Forage and Grazing Conference March 7-8
The Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference will be March 7-8 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus in East Lansing, Mich. The conference will feature a new and expanded format with a variety of speakers.
Researchers, innovative farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the Midwest will be addressing forage making and feeding topics as well as grazing information important to dairy, livestock and equine managers.
“This conference has grown to a two-day event to provide more topics for hay and silage producers as well as the managers of grazing animals,” said Jerry Lindquist, MSU Extension grazing educator who’s coordinating the conference.
The conference will also feature a trade show consisting of forage and hay making suppliers along with distributors of grazing materials and equipment.
“If you are serious about forages and/or grazing, you do not want to miss this conference,” said Lindquist.
Limin Kung from the University of Delaware Animal Science Department, one of the leading silage inoculants researchers in the country and one of this year’s featured speakers, will present “The Art and Science of Making Optimum Silage.”
Another featured speaker is Joshua Dukart, a certified educator of holistic management and manager of Dukart Ranch, a cow-calf, stocker and equine operation. He serves as a field representative for the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, which has worked with ranches on the use of cover crops, specifically multispecies cocktail mixes, to improve soils and to extend the fall and winter grazing season for livestock.
Dukart will give two talks: “Cover Crops for Improving Soil Health” and “Cocktail Cover Crop Mixes for Livestock Grazing.”
The MSU Extension Forage and Grazing workgroup sponsors the conference in cooperation with the Michigan Forage Council. North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) and other organizations listed at the conference site have contributed significant financial support.
To view a complete list of all conference topics and speakers and to register, go to www.msue.msu.edu/osceola, or call Lindquist toll free at 1-888-678-3464 and enter 67236 when asked for a county.
Rasby to Discuss Cow-Calf Nutrition at
Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference
Rick Rasby, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) cattle feeding expert, will discuss the opportunities for including forages in cow-calf operations at the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference, which is scheduled for Feb. 7-8 at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney.
“With higher grain prices, the market is saying to use more forages,” Rasby said. “We’ll discuss how can we optimize the use of forages.”
He noted that while grazing is a tremendous opportunity, especially here in Nebraska, there are times of the year when feeding harvested forage will be necessary. “It is important to know the nutrient quality of that forage,” he said, “because you need to make sure you’re meeting the needs of the beef cow.”
Rasby joined the staff at the University of Nebraska in 1986 as extension beef specialist with primary responsibilities in cow-calf management, reproduction and nutrition. He received a bachelor’s degree from the UNL and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University. Since arriving in Nebraska, his extension programs have focused on economical feeding programs incorporating forages for beef cows and evaluation of reproductive performance of the cow herd. He was also instrumental in development of the beef website, beef.unl.edu.
Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (NAMA), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.
Other speakers include Ron Hanson, ag economics professor at UNL, who will provide a session on multi-generational family farm ownership; Al Dutcher, Nebraska climatologist, who will discuss weather patterns and forecasts for the coming crop year; and Trent Loos, well-known commentator, columnist and ag advocate.
Registration includes admission to all presentations and programs, a Tuesday afternoon reception, dinner Tuesday evening, admission to the large alfalfa industry trade show and the opportunity to bid in the fundraising auction that takes place Tuesday afternoon. The auction features a wide range of items including seed, harvesting equipment, supplies and other valuable products and services.
Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, Feb. 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.
For more information, call 1-800-743-1649 or visit www.AlfalfaExpo.com.
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