Five-state beef conference scheduled Aug. 30-Sept. 1

AMARILLO – Many changes have occurred in beef cattle herds this past summer due to the drought and high commodity prices, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

Beef producers from five states can find out what this means to them at one of the three sessions scheduled as a part of the “5-State Beef Conference,” said Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo.

The program is a joint effort among AgriLife Extension, Colorado State University, Oklahoma State University, New Mexico State University and Kansas State University.

The meetings will each begin with registration at 2:30 p.m., followed by the conference from 3-7 p.m. Dinner will be served at each meeting, which are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

– Aug. 30, Cimarron County Fair Building, 1300 N. Cimarron St., Boise City, Okla.

– Aug. 31, Wiley Community Center, 203 Pheasant Run, Wiley, Colo. There will be a pre-conference open house from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Southeast Colorado Research Center, 2830 U.S. Highway 50 in Lamar, Colo.

– Sept. 1, Hemphill County Exhibition Center, 10,865 Exhibition Center Road, Canadian, Texas.

The topics and speakers on the schedule are:

– Structure of the Beef Industry with High Grain Prices, Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University.

– Genomics for Commercial Cattlemen, Bob Weaber, Kansas State University.

– Integrated Fly Control for Cow/Calf Operators, Justin Talley, Oklahoma State University.

– Managing Fertility and Productivity, Manny Encinias, New Mexico State University.

– Managing During a Drought – Chris Richards, Oklahoma State University; John Wagner, Colorado State University; and McCollum.

Registration will be $35 per person or $50 per couple prior to Aug. 21; on-site or late registration will be $50 per person or $65 per couple. Checks should be made payable to OSU Animal Science and mailed to Animal Science Extension, 201 Animal Science, Stillwater, Okla. 74078.

The registration form can be found at: http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/fivestatesbeef/index.html. For more information about registration, call 405-744-6060 or the local Extension office in each state.

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