K-state hosts cow-calf production clinics in december

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Kansas State University's beef extension specialists and agents are gearing up to host two informative cow-calf production clinics on December 7 and 14. These clinics, running from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., aim to delve into "Navigating Opportunities and Risks: Production and Forage Considerations," tailored to address the specific challenges faced by local cow-calf producers.

Jason Warner, a cow-calf specialist at K-State Research and Extension, highlighted the current scenario where producers are grappling with short pastures and high-priced harvested forages, often high in nitrates. The clinics are set against a backdrop of high calf and female prices, making the balance between feed challenges and economic rewards increasingly significant.

Attendees can look forward to interactive sessions including polls, forage sampling insights in drought conditions, and discussions on the implications of forage sampling. Adding to the depth of these clinics, K-State agricultural economist Jenny Ifft will present on the financial aspects of risk management tools.

The clinics are designed to be highly interactive, allowing ample time for open discussion and Q&A sessions. This approach aims to provide participants with both economic and production perspectives on risk management tools.

The clinics are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 7, at Bowyer Community Building-Lyon County Fairgrounds, 2700 W. US Hwy 50, Emporia, Kansas. Confirm attendance by Nov. 30 by contacting Chelsea Bartels on 620-273-6491 or chelse1@ksu.edu, or Brian Rees on 620-341-3220 or brees@ksu.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 14, at FNB, 101 C St., Washington, Kansas. Please RSVP by Dec. 11 through the Concordia office at 785-243-8185 or by emailing Kaitlyn Hildebrand at khildebrand@ksu.edu.

This initiative by K-State represents a concerted effort to support and educate cow-calf producers in navigating the complex landscape of agricultural production and management.