News Update
Dec. 14, 2009

Angus TV Broadcast Scheduled

Spend an hour with the American Angus Association® this January from the comfort of your living room.

The organization will debut its first nationwide television broadcast at 9 p.m. EST, Jan. 4, 2010, on RFD-TV. Titled I Am Angus, the new program will feature breeders, feedlot operators, retailers and others who each play a significant role in producing Angus cattle and Angus beef.

The video will also feature newly created news segments about the Association, highlighting key programs and services — including genomic-enhanced EPDs and AngusSource® — designed to strengthen the economic position of cattle producers and feedlots. Read more.

NCBA Unveils Enhanced Educational Platform for 2010 Cattle Industry Convention

New, dynamic educational sessions with direct access to the leading authorities on pressing cattle industry issues, as well as discussion with other producers facing similar challenges, are available at the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas starting Jan. 27.

“Today’s political and business environment is pressuring both the short-term profitability and long-term viability of many beef farmers and ranchers. These unprecedented pressures originate from uncertainty in political, economic, trade, credit and consumer demand arenas,” said Tom Field, executive director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “As the beef cattle industry defends private property rights, individual freedom, and modern agricultural practices; the need to empower producers with knowledge becomes even more important.”

The 17th annual Cattlemen’s College® is a tremendous opportunity for all segments of the cattle industry to gain knowledge on the new ideas and technologies available to improve profitability. Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, this daylong event offers 15 sessions that cover all aspects of cattle production and marketing. To address today’s challenging industry environment, the 2010 curriculum will focus on four primary tracks:

• the political and economic climate;
  
• building consumer confidence and demand;
  
• enhancing profitability; and
  
• empowering producers to advocate for the industry.

Cattlemen’s College registration includes a networking lunch, sponsored by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), and a complimentary ticket to the Cattle-Fax Annual Outlook Seminar. A full list of sessions and confirmed speakers can be found at BeefUSA.org.

First-Ever Applied Reproductive Strategies Workshop at Convention

NCBA is partnering with the Beef Reproduction Task Force and Beef Reproduction Leadership Team to offer the 2010 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle, a workshop designed to improve understanding and management of the estrous cycle, estrus synchronization protocols, and other approaches to improving the efficiency of reproductive rates; as well as strategies to improve cow herd profitability via enhanced management techniques and strategies. Nutritional influences on reproductive success and the role of male fertility will also be covered. The program is designed for beef producers, veterinarians and artificial insemination (AI) technicians, as well as anyone interested in beef cattle reproduction.

Specific topics will include:

• reproductive management protocols for cows and heifers;
  
• nutritional management of the breeding herd;
  
• utilizing AI and carcass traits in development of a breeding herd; and
  
• producer perspectives on reproductive management technologies.

Registration for Cattlemen’s College and the Applied Reproductive Strategies Workshop can be completed at http://www.beefusa.org/convregistration.aspx. Space is limited. Be sure to register early to guarantee a spot in your course choices.

— Release by NCBA.

NDSU Schedules Dakota Cow-calf Clinic

Cow-calf producers will get a peek at the economic future of the beef industry and their operation at the Dakota Cow-calf Clinic, an interactive videoconference set for Jan. 7, 2010.

The clinic will be broadcast from the Bottineau, Steele, Griggs and Lamoure County courthouses; North Dakota State University (NDSU) Carrington Research Extension Center; and the Chase building in Grafton.

The NDSU Extension Service offices in Griggs, Bottineau, Walsh, Lamoure and Steele counties are sponsoring the clinic, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Topics and speakers for the educational event will include “Futures Trends in the Beef Industry” by John Dhuyvetter, NDSU area Extension livestock systems specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center, Minot, N.D. Subjects he will cover include the direction the cattle industry is headed, cattle numbers, low prices, DNA technology, beef food safety, the increasing age of cow-calf producers and niche marketing (natural, grass-fed, organic).

Steve Metzger, North Dakota Farm Business Management, will give a presentation titled “Controlling Costs for a Beef Cow Herd.” He will review current-year cow-calf budgets and explain where and why cow-calf production costs have increased. He also will benchmark these costs and important areas for input cost control, and provide producers with advice to help them fine-tune financial decisions based on this information.

Tim Petry, NDSU Extension livestock economist, will make a presentation titled “Market Outlook for Beef Cattle.” He will discuss cattle herd numbers, which are at the lowest point in years; low cattle prices; the poor economy; and what the future holds for the cow-calf producer.

The clinic is free and registration is not required. However, those wanting to attend should preregister because seating at each location is limited.

To preregister, contact:

• John Swenson, Griggs County, 701-797-3312, john.swenson@ndsu.edu;
  
• Brad Brummond, Walsh County, 701-284-6248, radley.brummond@ndsu.edu
  
• Al Ulmer, Lamoure County, 701-883-5301, ext. 209, al.ulmer@ndsu.edu
  
• Karl Hoppe, Carrington Research Extension Center, 701-652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu;
  
• Tim Semler, Bottineau County, 701-228-2253, timothy.semler@ndsu.edu; or
  
• Andy Johnson, Steele County, 701-524-2253, andrew.k.johnson@ndsu.edu.

— Release by NDSU Extension Service.

NMSU Hosts Six Regional Workshops on Increasing Profits at Farmer’s Markets

New Mexico State University (NMSU)Cooperative Extension Service will hold six workshops for current and future farmer’s market vendors across the state during January, February and March. The events are jointly sponsored with the New Mexico Farmer’s Marketing Association and Farm to Table.

With the increased opportunities to market their produce through farmer’s markets, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service wants to help farmers increase their profitability through the sale of high-value crops and value-added products.

“Farmer’s markets are a growing direct-marketing arena, where the business transaction occurs between the grower and the consumer. Through these workshops we want to help producers reduce their risk and increase their profits,” said Michael Patrick, NMSU Extension community resource and economic development specialist, who is coordinating the program that is funded by a Western Center for Risk Management Education grant.

Scheduled Saturday workshops include Las Cruces on Jan. 16, Silver City on Jan. 23, Los Lunas on Feb. 6, and Clovis on Feb. 27. Two additional workshops will take place Wednesday, March 3, in Espanola and Tuesday, March 30, in Farmington. Registration fee is $10, which includes lunch and workshop material. For location and an agenda for a specific workshop, contact the local Cooperative Extension Service office.

The workshops are being developed by local teams of farmer’s market managers, local producers and vendors, and county Extension agents.

Workshop topics will include crop diversification, growing season extension, value-added products, recordkeeping, enterprise budgets, and marketing and sales strategies. Each workshop will have a session unique to the location and a specific presentation during the lunch.

Besides talking about how to grow the produce, home economists will discuss food demonstration and food preparation in the marketing portion of the workshop.

“Many people will see produce at a farmer’s market that is new to them, and they will ask how to use it,” Patrick said. “The vendor has to be prepared to educate people on how to use or prepare their product.”

For vendors who plan to make a product to sell at the market, Nancy Flores, Extension food technology specialist, will present information about processing and preserving produce and producing value-added products such as jams and jelly. She will discuss the regulations associated with producing these products in home kitchens and commercial kitchens.

One aspect of farmer’s markets is that many vendors are not aware of the economics and marketing side of the business.

Merchandising and marketing practices will also be presented, including how to display produce, pricing and signage techniques. Ideas will also be presented on using promotional materials such as brochures, flyers and recipes for produce preparation.

To register, contact Rosanne Lehman at 575-646-3215. For more information about the specific agenda for each location contact the local Extension office.

— Provided by NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.