 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
July 12, 2004 Backgrounding Program Scheduled for Aug. 3 and 5 “Backgrounding Calves: Options Under Drought Conditions” will be presented in Billings, MT, and Rapid City, SD, at the Holiday Inn and Best Western Ramkota, Aug. 3 and 5, respectively. The program is an outreach effort of the Four-State Backgrounding Consortium consisting of North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, Montana State University and the University of Wyoming. “The objective of this integrated research and Extension program is to enhance economic development in the semi-arid four-state area by strengthening and capturing value from the beef cattle industry,” says Greg Lardy, NDSU Extension beef specialist and program facilitator. The programs in Billings and Rapid City will focus on drought management options and using backgrounding to add value to the cow-calf operation. “This fall, we will likely see record high prices for feeder calves,” Lardy says. “We want to show producers how to take advantage of these prices, especially in drought-stricken areas.” Valerie Regan, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service representative and lead USDA official on the national animal identification project, will kickoff the backgrounding programs with a special keynote presentation. She will address participants regarding the current status of the USDA’s plans for a national animal ID system. Other speakers include Montana Senator Conrad Burns and Montana Lt. Gov. Carl Ohs (Billings); Lardy and Charles Stoltenow, NDSU Animal and Range Sciences; Dwayne Griffith, MSU Agricultural Economics; Trey Paterson, SDSU Animal and Range Sciences; Dave Weaber, Cattlefax; Rod Heitschmidt, USDA-ARS, Miles City (Billings); Steve Paisley, UW (Rapid City), and Kent Tjardes, SDSU (Rapid City). Both locations will also feature panel discussions with backgrounders from the region. Topics to be covered by the presenters include backgrounding systems, economic considerations, grazing and drought, water quality, byproduct usage and health programs for weaned calves. The registration fee, if paid by July 29, is $35. At the door, the fee is $45. Registration covers the 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. program including lunch and dinner. For more information or to register, call (406) 994-3414 or e-mail Anita Gray at anitag@montana.edu. To learn more about the Four-State Backgrounding Consortium, visit http://www.4statebackgrounding.montana.edu. ### Source:
Greg Lardy, (701) 231-7660, glardy@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
|
North Dakota State University |
