Cow-calf producers will get a peek at the economic future of the beef industry and their operation at the Dakota Cow-Calf Clinic, an interactive videoconference set for Jan. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The clinic is free and registration is encouraged due to limited seating at each location.
The clinic will broadcast from the Bottineau, Steele, Griggs and LaMoure County courthouses; NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center; and the Chase building in Grafton.
Topics and speakers for the educational event include, “Future Trends in the Beef Industry,” by John Dhuyvetter, NDSU area Extension livestock systems specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot, N.D. He will cover the direction the cattle industry is headed, cattle numbers, low prices, DNA technology, beef food safety, the increasing age of cow-calf producers and niche marketing.
Steve Metzger, North Dakota Farm Business Management, will present “Controlling Costs for a Beef Cow Herd.” He will review current-year cow-calf budgets and explain where and why cow-calf production costs have increased. He also will benchmark these costs and important areas for input cost control, and provide producers with advice to help them fine-tune financial decisions based on this information.
Tim Petry, NDSU Extension livestock economist, will present “Market Outlook for Beef Cattle.” He will discuss cattle herd numbers, low cattle prices, the poor economy and what the future holds for the cow-calf producer.
To preregister, contact John Swenson, Griggs County, at (701) 797-3312 or john.swenson@ndsu.edu; Brad Brummond, Walsh County, at (701) 284-6248 or bradley.brummond@ndsu.edu; Al Ulmer, LaMoure County, at (701) 883-5301 or al.ulmer@ndsu.edu; Karl Hoppe, Carrington Research Extension Center, (701) 652-2951 or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu; Tim Semler, Bottineau County, at (701) 228-2253 or timothy.semler@ndsu.edu; or Andy Johnson, Steele County, at (701) 524-2253 or andrew.k.johnson@ndsu.edu.