By Aimee Nielson
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 14, 2005) – The University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture will host the Kentucky Beef Conference in January 2006 to help
producers plan for future markets.
“Planning for tomorrow’s markets now is a big concern among producers,” said
David Herbst, UK Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural
resources in Adair County. “We will talk about how long this current market may
last and what producers can do to position themselves and their business to
benefit now and in the future.”
The conference will be Jan. 24 at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension
office in Lexington from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Herbst said with the support of
corporate sponsors, participants will hear from some of the top experts in the
beef industry.
Speakers include Randy Blach, executive vice president of Cattle-FAX and a
Colorado native who was raised in the cattle business; Harlan Hughes, professor
emeritus at North Dakota State University and author of the “Market Advisor” in
BEEF Magazine and on the World Wide Web at http://www.beef.mag.com or http://www.beefeconomics.blogspot.com.
Blach will give a marketing overview and discuss long-term marketing and
marketing strategies for 2006. Hughes will present a two-part discussion titled
“Investing in Your Cow Operation.”
In addition to the featured speakers, participants also will hear about animal
identification from UK Extension Beef Associate Jim Akers. UK Beef Specialist
John Johns will detail the Value Added Targeted Marketing Program as a way of
using carcass data in cow-calf operations. VATM is designed to assist producers
in obtaining carcass data with which may improve management and ultimately
market demand for their cattle.
The VATM program is a cost-share program
using funding from the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy (tobacco
settlement funds). Detailed or partial data has been received on more than 5,000
head of cattle, representing a broad cross section of the Kentucky feeder cattle
population. The data have documented improved health of cattle processed by
CPH-45 guidelines and that carcass quality of Kentucky calves is better than
national averages.
Registration is $10 and can be paid the morning of the conference. For more
information or to pre register, contact your local county Extension office by
January 20, 2006.
Writer:
Aimee Nielson
859-257-4736, ext. 267
Contact:
David Herbst 270-384-2317
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