Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College at USMARC January 28, 2014

     The annual Farmers and Ranchers Cow/Calf College “Partners in Progress – Beef Seminar” will be held at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and Great Plains Veterinary Education Center near Clay Center on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 with registration, coffee and donuts starting at 9:00 a.m. The program will start at 9:45 a.m. and will run until approximately 4:00 p.m. The seminar is geared toward beef producers with an emphasis on cow/calf enterprises, but should be of interest to feedlot operations and anyone involved in beef production or education. This program is sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Farmers and Ranchers College. 

     This year’s theme will center on celebrations of two very note-worthy events. The U.S. MARC is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and UNL Extension is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Smith Lever Act and Extension at UNL. Of course there are other topics of interest to cattlemen as well. There is no cost for the event and the public is cordially invited to attend. It does include a noon meal which means that early registration is necessary to reserve a plate. The seminar features internationally recognized speakers and is designed to provide information that should help cattlemen in planning for the upcoming year or educate the public in topics and issues involving the beef industry.

     The “Cow/Calf College” will kick off with Dr. John Pollak, Director of USMARC and Dr. Dale Groteluschen who will give a welcome and a quick overview of their respective facilities. This will be followed by a special presentation by Dr. Pollak on: “USDA-MARC – Fifty Years of History". He will be followed by Dr. Ronnie Green, NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor, who will give his thoughts on “Innovating the Beef Industry: Living in 2013 but Thinking in 2050”. Beef producers will be able to look at beef production history and peer into the future in one setting. These presentations will be followed by a special recognition for a long time Beef Quality Assurance leader, Dr. Dee Griffin by the Nebraska BQA director and Farmers & Ranchers College.

     Lunch will be provided and will be handled with a rotation system during two noon sessions featuring Doug Straight NE Beef Council Director of Industry Relations and Rob Ehrich, NE Beef Quality Assurance Director who will team up to give a presentation on: “A New Direction - Nebraska Beef Check-off & BQA Programs” in one session. Also in the rotation will be a special presentation by Dr. Chuck Hibberd, UNL Dean of Extension, who will kick of the celebration of the Smith Lever Act and UNL Extension with ”UNL Extension:100 Years Young and Just Getting Started!!!” Attendees will also get to sample some Nebraska Extension Centennial ice cream and MARC 50th Anniversary cake to help celebrate the two special occasions.

     The afternoon session will be kicked off by Dr. Terry Klopfenstein, UNL Animal Science -Professor Emeritus in Ruminant Nutrition, who will treat producers to his discussion of: “Cows, Corn and Ethanol –The Golden Triangle” He will be followed by Dr. Jerry Volesky, UNL Range & Forage Systems Specialist at WCREC, who will give his take on the “Range and Pasture Drought Recovery”. There is no doubt that most beef producers are worried about how the last two year’s drought has affected grass and forage production These two presentations should help beef producers look at feed resource alternatives and management suggestions for recovering from the drought.

     All presenters will then join on stage to pull everything together, give their final thoughts and considerations and then avail themselves for a coffee-shop style panel discussion during which cattlemen can ask questions and get answers on topic questions that came to them during the day’s sessions. A chance for some excellent door prizes will be awarded to those that stay for the entire event.

     Any beef producer or other interested individual should pre-register by noon on Friday, January 24th, 2014, at the UNL Extension Office at 621 North Cedar, Red Cloud, NE 68930 or call (402) 746-3417 to insure a seat, lunch, and proceedings for the day. Walk-ins are accepted, but may not get a lunch. You may also email your registration to Dewey Lienemann at:  dlienemann2@unl.edu  Further information may be found at the Webster County UNL Extension site at: http://www.webster.unl.edu .