MANHATTAN, Kan. – Volatility in cattle prices and the regulatory environment has motivated many producers to seek information on ways to improve their operations profit potential through better management and selection. With that in mind, the 2016 K-State Winter Ranch Management Seminar Series will focus on best management practices for beef producers.
The series, which includes five meetings throughout Kansas, will feature the “town-hall style” two-way verbal exchange between Kansas’ cattle producers and K-State Research and Extension specialists. The Winter Ranch Management series will take place in January and early February.
The series has a history of being a successful stretch of meetings, said Bob Weaber, cow-calf specialist for K-State Research and Extension and one of the series presenters.
Weaber, along with other state, district and local extension staff, will take part in the series to help answer producers’ questions about the Food and Drug Administration’s new Veterinary Feed Directive and antimicrobial stewardship, tools for beef sire selection, the effect of branding on beef product consumer satisfaction, and vitamin and mineral supplementation for the beef herd.
“Over the past few months, we’ve received quite a few questions from producers regarding the implementation of the new Veterinary Feed Directive regulations and selection of beef sires using genomically-enhanced selection tools,” Weaber said. “The Winter Ranch Management series provides a great opportunity for us as state specialists to take our expertise out in the country and do a series of face-to-face meetings.”
The specialists will be prepared to answer a wide array of questions on beef cattle issues surrounding animal health, nutrition, management, genetics and reproduction, Weaber said, so producers should come to the meetings with their questions.
Some of the other hot topics Weaber foresees discussing include winter feeding and cow management, preparation for calving and breeding season, as well as vaccination and animal health issues.
“Early in the year is always a great time for producers, when the weather is bad and after they get chores done, to sit back, think and plan for the coming year, the calves that will be born in the spring and how they might manage those,” he said. “Certainly it is a good time of year to think about business strategy opportunities moving forward in terms of expansion.”
2016 Winter Ranch Management locations and contacts include:
Emporia
Date: Thursday, Jan. 7, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Anderson Building, Lyon County Fairgrounds, 2650 W. U.S. Highway 50
RSVP by Dec. 31 to Brian Rees, Lyon County agriculture and natural resources agent, 620-341-3220 or [email protected].
Concordia
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Cloud County Community College, 2221 Campus Drive
RSVP by Jan. 13 to one of the following: Katelyn Brockus, River Valley Extension District livestock production agent, 785-325-2121 or [email protected]; Anthony Ruiz, Central Kansas Extension District livestock production agent, 785-392-2147 or [email protected]; or Neil Cates, Post Rock Extension District livestock production agent, 785-738-3597 or [email protected].
Lawrence
Date: Thursday, Jan. 21, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Building 21, Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St.
RSVP by Jan. 14 to Roberta Wyckoff, Douglas County agriculture and natural resources agent, 785-843-7058 or [email protected].
Alta Vista
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Alta Vista Baptist Church, 402 Main St.
RSVP by Jan. 26 to Kara Mayer, Wabaunsee County agriculture and natural resources agent, 785-765-3821 or [email protected].
Greensburg
Date: Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30-9 p.m.
Location: Greensburg Community Center, Kiowa County Fairgrounds, 720 N. Bay St.
RSVP by Jan. 28 to Barrett Smith, Kiowa County agriculture agent, 620-723-2156, 620-546-3918 or [email protected].
Meeting times and registration fees vary by location. All meetings will include a dinner meal. Participants are asked to RSVP for a selected location by the close of business one week prior to the event. Interested participants should reach out to their local host contact for registration and RSVP details.
More information about the K-State Winter Ranch Management Seminar Series is available at www.ksubeef.org.
