News Update

Upcoming Industry Events
July 20, 2006

Precision ag conference
July 23-26, Minneapolis, Minn.

The Eighth International Conference on Precision Agriculture will include sessions about remote sensing, engineering technology, sensors, precision management, profitability, information management, modeling, sampling strategies and more.

More than 30 companies will exhibit new products and services during the conference. For more information visit www.precision.agri.umn.edu/Conference.

2006 Agricultural Technology Field Day
Aug. 1, Great Bend, Kan.

Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension, the Kansas Agricultural Research Association (KARA) and several corporate sponsors will host this year’s event, meant to educate crop producers and agribusinesses of potential applications of agricultural technologies. The field day will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Airport and Expo Grounds in Great Bend.

Participants will learn from producers who have used technologies such as yield mapping, automated guidance, variable rate applications, data analysis and other technological advances.

For more information or to register, visit www.ksagresearch.com. Forms, along with the $25 conference fee, must be submitted to 1810 22nd Rd., Sterling, KS 67579 by July 24. The fee includes all field day handouts and lunches. On-site registration is $50.

International Conference on The Future of Agriculture
Aug. 6-9, Sacramento, Calif.

The International Conference on The Future of Agriculture: Science, Stewardship and Sustainability will be at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento. Conference participants will come together in technical sessions, panel presentations and interactive group discussions to develop strategies to address pressing environmental issues in agriculture through the integration of science, technology and policy.

The conference is presented by the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. EPA Hazardous Substance Technical Liaisons Program, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center at K-State. For complete information call (785) 532-2562.

Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course
Aug. 7-9, College Station

Forage and beef nutrition management will be some of the topics discussed during the 52nd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. The event, which will take place on the Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus, will highlight such topics as forage and nutrition, stretching hay supplies, managing cattle and wildlife, pond management and more.

The short course will have 15 specialized workshops as part of its Cattlemen’s College. Cattle market, climate and landowner issues will be addressed.

Short course registration, including course proceedings, trade show admittance, a prime rib dinner and additional meals and breaks, is $120 per person if registered by July 31. Producers may register online at http://animalscience.tamu.edu or by calling (979) 845-6931 for more information.

North Plains field day
Aug. 9, Etter, Texas

The field day will take place at the North Plains Research Field southeast of Etter, Texas. The program begins with registration at 8 a.m., followed by field tours from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.

A luncheon will feature guest speakers State Rep. David Swinford and Steve Amosson, who will present legislative updates and an outlook on energy expectations and irrigation considerations, respectively. Other field day topics will include alternative crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, forage production and dust control at confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Contact a TAMU Extension educator for more information.

Kansas Angus Tour
Aug. 11-12, Scott, Gove and Wallace counties

The Kansas Angus Association’s (KAA’s) 2006 tour, themed “Out West,” will feature ranch tours, farm displays, speakers and youth activities.

The tour will begin at noon Friday with registration and ranch displays at the Scott County Fairgrounds. Tour stops will include Royal Beef Feed Yard, Scott City, as well as several Angus operations. Friday’s activities will conclude with a social at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Oakley.

Saturday’s activities will include ranch stops, lunch and workshops presented by K-State Research and Extension.

To register for the tour, visit www.kansasangus.org by Aug. 1. For more information or to register, contact Anne Lampe, KAA secretary, at (620) 872-3915 or kansasangus@wbsnet.org.

Nebraska Angus Tour
Aug. 17-19, southeast Nebraska

The Nebraska Angus Association’s (NAA’s) 2006 tour will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Beatrice Holiday Inn Express. The tour will continue on Friday at the University of Nebraska Dalby-Hallek Farm, Virginia, with a guest display and a tour of Cedar Creek Pottery. After lunch, the tour will stop at the Otoe County Fairgrounds, where participants will be able to view several Angus displays. After several tour stops, the day will conclude at the hotel for an evening social sponsored by the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce.

Activities on Saturday begin with breakfast and guest displays, followed by stops at Mid-America Feed Yard, Ohiowa, and Bruning Cattle & Feedlot Fencing LLC, Bruning.

To register, contact Jennifer Svoboda, NAA secretary, at (308) 628-4379 or info@nebraskaangus.org, by Aug. 7. Hotel reservations need to be made by Aug. 3. Rooms are available at the Beatrice Holiday Inn Express at (402) 228-7000.

NAIS info expo
Aug. 22-24, Kansas City, Mo.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture will provide the latest information on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), as well as broad coverage of technical developments, traceability systems, stage programs and various views on animal identification.

For additional information, including registration, lodging and an updated schedule of events, go to www.animalagriculture.org/id/IDINFOEXPO2006/Default.htm, or call (270) 782-9798.

Cattlemen’s Boot Camp
Aug. 29-30, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

The American Angus Association, Angus Foundation and University of Illinois (U of I) will conduct a Cattlemen’s Boot Camp at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. The Boot Camp is open to all cattle producers and will cover various segments of the beef industry as well as give perspective on emerging technologies.

U of I animal science professors, Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) staff and other guest speakers will present the program. Some small groups will be formed to allow for more hands-on interaction.

The event is set to begin at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. Bus transportation will be provided to the university. The Boot Camp will conclude around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Registration is $75, which includes most meals and materials for the Boot Camp. Enrollment is limited, so sign up today by contacting the Association for registration materials.

Prior to the Boot Camp, an Angus Skills Lab will be conducted. The lab is designed for new Association members. It begins at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday at the U of I beef unit.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn. Make reservations by calling (217) 328-7900, and be sure to ask for the American Angus Association block to get the negotiated rate. For more information contact Shelia Stannard, Association event coordinator, at (816) 383-5100 or log onto www.angus.org.

Farm Progress Show
Aug. 29-31, Amana, Iowa

The 53rd annual Farm Progress Show will be at the Amana Colonies facility near Amana, Iowa. The show will display agriculture’s innovations, information and technology. The Farm Progress Show is the nation’s leading outdoor farm show and showcases the most extensive, state-of-the-art agricultural equipment, products and services.

The show is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for ages 13-17 and admission is free for ages 12 and younger. Parking is also free. For more information visit www.farmprogresshow.com.

UNL Lab open house
Aug. 30, Whitman, Neb.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will host an open house at its Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) to celebrate the center’s 25th anniversary. GSL is located three miles north and five miles east of Whitman.

Several university-sponsored activities and demonstrations are scheduled. Visit http://westcentral.unl.edu/GSL/ for more information.