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Delta George

Agriculture Agent, Southwind Extension District

Editor's Note: Delta George is a K-State Research and Extension agriculture and 4-H extension agent assigned to Southwind Extension District -- Fort Scott Office, Bourbon County. She may be reached at the Fort Scott office by calling (620) 223-3720.

Educational opportunities available for farmers, ranchers

Thursday, August 23, 2012

As fall and winter quickly approach, I wanted to let you know of a few upcoming educational events that could be of benefit to you and your operation. Within the next month, there will be opportunities for you to improve your heifer development practices, gain information and advice on the continued drought and its effects on our farms and ranches, and to brush up on your bovine diseases and disease regulations. Below are four events you might be interested in.

A "Building Better Heifers -- Selecting, Growing and Breeding Heifers Using Today's Science" field day has been set for Aug. 28 at Dalebanks Angus, 1021 River Rd, Eureka, Kan.

Registration will be at 4 p.m. with the program starting at 4:30 p.m. Presentations and speakers include: Heifer development systems-Rick Funston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Reproductive technologies--Sandy Johnson, K-State; Proper collection of DNA samples--Kara Wilson, CAB and Tonya Amen, American Angus Association; Heifer selection tools--Bob Weaber, K-State; Post-breeding nutrition and early pregnancies--Scott Lake, University of Wyoming; and Healthy heifers to healthy cows--Dale Grotelueschen, veterinarian, Pfizer Animal Health.

To participate in the field day and free evening meal, please RSVP to Anna Curry at (620) 583-7455.

With the continued drought in mind, an informal meeting has been set for producers to visit with county, district and area extension personal on increasing forage supply, crop system considerations, adverse livestock health concerns, and reducing forage demand. Please join us on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Southeast Ag Research Center in Parsons for a complimentary meal and open discussion at 6 p.m. Please RSVP to (620) 223-3720 by Aug. 28.

Patch burning will be the main focus of the Bressner Pasture Field Day to be held on Aug. 30 at Yates Center. Registration will begin at the Woodson County Fairgrounds at 8 a.m., with the buses heading to the Bressner at 8:30.

Topics will include the effect of patch burning on forage composition, limited pond access with a tire tank demonstration, weather, erosion control on cattle trails, and a discussion on the cattle gains during the six years of patch burning research.

Lunch will be included, but an RSVP is necessary to the Woodson County Extension Office at (620) 625-8620.

Cattle producers may want to mark their calendars for a cow-calf workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Function Junction, south of Erie.

Presenters and topics for the evening will include Dr. Larry Hollis, DVM, K-State Research and Extension Beef Vet, cattle drought concerns; Dr. Cody Garten, DVM, U.S. Department of Agriculture, bovine trichomoniasis; and Dr. Don Coover, DVM, SEK Genetics, neospora abortions.

Producers in attendance will receive a voucher for five free BioPRYN blood pregnancy tests, or five free IDEXX PI BVD tests, or five free IDEXX Neospora tests.

The complementary meal and program will begin at 6 p.m. For more information and to register, please contact SEK Genetics at 1-800-443-6389. Additional information will be released as the event nears.