The seminar series, hosted in early 2017, will highlight ‘Successful strategies for enhancing profit’ for beef producers and allow producers to ask questions of their local, district and state extension specialists.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – With lower expected revenues from the sale of calves in 2017 compared to 2014-15 prices many producers are seeking information on ways to improve their operation’s profit potential. With that in mind, the 2017 K-State Winter Ranch Management series of meetings will include comments from extension educators on profit-enhancing strategies practices for beef producers. The meetings will also feature a popular ‘town-hall’ style question and answer session between Kansas’ cattle producers and extension specialists. The Winter Ranch Management Seminar series runs in January and early February.
“The series has a history of being a successful stretch of meetings, which are hosted throughout the state of Kansas,” said Bob Weaber, K-State Research and Extension cow/calf specialist. Weaber, along with other state, district and local extension staff, will take part in the series to help answer producers’ questions. The specialists will answer a wide range of questions on beef cattle issues surrounding animal health, nutrition, management, genetics and reproduction during the Town Hall Q & A.
“Over the past few months we’ve received quite a few questions from producers looking for profit tips and tools,” Weaber said. “The Winter Ranch Management series provides another great opportunity for state and local specialists to take our expertise out in the country for a series of impactful face-to-face meetings.”
Producers are encouraged to come to the meetings prepared with questions. Some of the hot topics Weaber predicts are: winter feeding and cow management, bull buying and selection strategies, preparation for calving and breeding season as well as vaccination and animal health issues such as the new Veterinary Feed Directive.
“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 opportunities to reduce costs and enhance revenue streams.”
2017 Winter Ranch Management locations and contacts include:
Mound City
Thursday, January 26, 2017; 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Mound City First Baptist Church, 8424 Paine Road, Mound City, KS 66056
RSVP by January 19, 2017 to:
- Megan Westerhold, Marais des Cygnes Extension District-Paola Office, 913-294-4306; mwesterhold@ksu.edu
- Chris Petty, Southwind Extension District, 620-223-3720; cgp@ksu.edu
Syracuse
Tuesday, February 7, 2017; 5 – 8:30 PM (MOUNTAIN TIME)
Hamilton Co. Fairgrounds, 806 Main St., Syracuse, KS 67878
RSVP by January 31, 2017 to:
- Jenifer Sexson, Hamilton Co. Extension, 620-384-5225; jsexson@ksu.edu
Salina
Tuesday, February 14, 2017; 11 AM – 3:15 PM
Salina K-State Polytechnic Conference Center, 2310 Centennial Drive, Salina, KS 67401
RSVP by February 7, 2017 to:
- Katelyn Brockus, River Valley Extension District, 785-325-2121; kbrockus@ksu.edu
- Anthony Ruiz , Central KS Extension District,
785-392-2147; anruiz@ksu.edu - Neil Cates, Post Rock Extension District, 785-738-3597; ncates@ksu.edu
- Kashly Schweer, Midway Extension District, 785-483-3157; kschweer@ksu.edu
Olsburg
Wednesday, February 15, 2017; 5-8:30 PM
McCormick Elementary, 109 N First St., Olsburg, KS 66520
RSVP by February 8, 2017 online at www.pottawatomie.ksu.edu or call Pottawatomie Co. Extension Office at 785-457-3319.
For more information, contact:
- Anastasia Johnson, Marshall Co. Extension, 785-562-3531; anastasia@ksu.edu
- Greg McClure, Riley Co. Extension, 785-537-6350; gmcclure@ksu.edu
- Della Sass, Pottawatomie Co. Extension, 785-457-3319; dsass@ksu.edu
Atwood
Tuesday, February 21, 2017; 5-8:30 PM
Rawlins County Fair Building, 20366 RD S, Atwood, KS 67730
RSVP by February 14, 2017 to:
- JoEllyn Argabright, Rawlins Co. Extension, 785-626-3192; joargabright@ksu.edu
Meeting times vary by location but all will include a meal. Participants are asked to RSVP for a selected location by the close of business one week prior to the event. Registration fees, which cover a meal, vary by location. Interested participants should contact 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 or contact Bob Weaber, bweaber@ksu.edu.
