By Scout Nelson
McCurry Angus Ranch, owned and operated by John and Melody McCurry together with Mary McCurry, will host the KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Day on August 13 near Burrton, Kansas. The event will offer educational sessions covering cattle management innovations, grassland conservation, and current industry trends.
A major focus of the program will be virtual fencing technology. The McCurry family will showcase their collaboration with Halter, a company that provides GPS-based livestock management systems, and explain how the technology supports their grazing operation.
John McCurry will be joined by Halter representatives Connor Chesky and Cam Tew to discuss the use of GPS-enabled collars for managing pasture rotations. The system helps improve grazing efficiency while reducing the labor required for day-to-day cattle management.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to view a Bermudagrass circle where the virtual fencing technology has been put into practice. The demonstration will provide a firsthand look at how the system functions in a working ranch environment.
The field day will also feature a presentation on the current and future cattle market. Kevin Good, Vice President of Industry Relations and Analysis for CattleFax, will share insights on market conditions and discuss long-term trends that could influence the beef industry over the next several decades.
In addition, Good will examine global beef production patterns and their effects on the U.S. cattle sector. His presentation will provide producers with valuable information for planning and decision-making.
Another key topic will be the growing challenge of woody encroachment in grasslands. Dusty Tacha, state prescribed burn specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will lead a producer panel focused on managing invasive woody plant species.
Local ranchers and producers will discuss both the successes and difficulties they have encountered while addressing woody encroachment. Their experiences will offer practical insights for other land managers facing similar issues.
Registration for the event begins at 3:30 p.m. CDT, and the program will conclude with a complimentary beef dinner. Livestock producers, ranchers, and industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend. A second field day will take place August 27 at HP Rafter Lazy T Ranch near Hoxie, with support from the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and Huvepharma.
For more information, click here.
Photo Credit: kansas-livestock-foundation
Categories: Kansas, Education, Livestock