The Beef Symposium: Profitability and Sustainability in Ranching will be held June 16-17 in San Angelo. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Angelo State University are presenting the event.
The June 16 portion of the symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Foster Communications Coliseum in the First Financial Bank Pavilion, San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, 4400 Grape Creek Road.
Angelo State University’s Management, Instruction and Research, MIR, Center, 7945 Grape Creek Road, will serve as the location from 9-11 a.m. June 17.
The cost is $50, and registration is required at https://tx.ag/SanAngeloPSR.
“This is the premier grazing event of the season, and we are so excited to bring this program to West Texas ranchers,” said Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension rangeland specialist, San Angelo.
There are six Texas Department of Agriculture general continuing education units available — three each day for private applicator license holders.
“This symposium is a great opportunity to hear from leaders in the ranching, feedlot and livestock marketing industry,” said event co-coordinator Cody Scott, Ph.D., Angelo State University rangeland research scientist and professor, San Angelo.
Event supporters and presenters include San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, The Prairie Project, Tom Green County Soil and Water Conservation District, Texas Grazing Land Coalition and Bimeda Biologicals.
Program overview
Experts in all aspects of ranching operations, from ranch to rail, will be speaking at the event. The program will cover diversification strategies that build profitability and sustainability into operations.
“Now more than ever, we need West Texas ranchers to remain profitable, while also remaining vigilant in maintaining that productivity year after year, especially during droughts like this,” said Scott.
He said the event is designed for those interested in gaining more insight as a producer in the beef cattle world as well as those wondering how the generational, long-term operations are addressing challenges in West Texas.
June 16 topics, presenters, events
A day-long open forum will discuss cattle quality, marketing, medicine, rangeland health, sustainability and other timely topics. There will also be vendors and exhibits.
Lunch will be provided and an opportunity to socialize with experts, vendors and other attendees post-event will follow from 4-6 p.m.
The presentations and speakers are as follows:
- Brush Control; Return on Investments — Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Amarillo.
- Feeder Calf Evaluation, Quality and Yield Grading — John Kellermeier, Ph.D., Angelo State University meat scientist, San Angelo.
- Feeder Calf Preparation for Marketing — Ryan Moorehouse, Five Rivers Feedlot general manager, Johnstown, Colorado.
- Veterinary Challenges of Feedlot Cattle — Isaac Hardee, DVM, Five Rivers Feedlot, Johnstown, Colorado.
- Cow/Calf Operations “How To” and the Financial Returns — Wesley Welch, Spade Ranches president and CEO, Lubbock.
- Fully Integrated Cattle Marketing — Bill Belew, B&M Farms co-owner, Winters.
- Value of Grass and Rest Leading to Sustainability — Frank Price, Frank and Sims Price Ranch co-owner, Sterling City.
- Rangeland Health and Sustainability, Soil Health, and Ecosystem Services — Chad Ellis, Texas Agricultural Land Trust CEO, San Antonio.
- Integrating Stocker Operations with a Cow/Calf Operation — Cody Webb, Rocker B Ranch director of operations, Graford.
- Cost Share Opportunities through the Natural Resource Conservation Service — Kendall Tidwell, U.S. Department of Agriculture-NRCS district conservationist, Vega.
- Targeting the Ethnic Market with Small Ruminants — Benny Cox, Producers Livestock Auction small ruminants sales manager, San Angelo.
June 17 topics, presenters
The half-day event at the ASU MIR Center’s Ranch will consist of a four-station rotation. Each 30-minute session will include a hands-on learning experience.
- Carcass Evaluation — Robert Cope, ASU Food Safety and Product Development Lab instructor/coordinator of Meat and Food Science programs, and Eddie Behrends, ASU Meat and Food Science research associate and coordinator of community outreach, both of San Angelo.
- Spray Equipment and Individual Plant Treatment Applications — Treadwell.
- Carbon Credits — Anson Howard, Head of the River Ranch owner/operator, Christoval.
- Low-Stress Livestock Handling — Bruce Carpenter, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Ft. Stockton.
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