Missouri Livestock Symposium to be held in Kirksville December 2 and 3rd

Missouri Livestock Symposium
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According to Garry L. Mathes, chair of the 2016 Missouri Livestock Symposium, this year’s beef cattle section is intended to help producers economically plan for the future and learn the latest technological advancements in cattle production.

The program will be held December 2 and 3 in Kirksville, MO. Program details may be found at missourilivestock.com or by calling Garry Mathes at 660-341-6625 or the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866.  There is no cost to attend the program and no registration is needed. Event hours are from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, December 2 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 3. In addition to educational programs and speakers on all species of livestock (horses, beef cattle, sheep and meat goats), the Symposium also has a great program and speakers on forages, stock dogs, and farm succession planning, to just name a few of the topics. Mathes says, “the program will also cover the latest information on managing livestock risk with insurance and plan for successful farm succession.”

The beef cattle section features experts that will address timely topics important to cattle producers. Dr. Craig Payne, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian, will discuss the latest information and what producers need to know heading into 2017 in his talk on the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). According to Dr. Payne, VFD changes will affect every beef producer and they need to be prepared for the law that goes in effect on January 1, 2017.  

The beef section also features a panel discussion on calf marketing. The panel includes Corbitt Wall, DV Auction representative, Larry Tate, Linneus, Missouri cattle buyer and backgrounder, and Jerry Jackson, manager of Stampede Feeders, Scott City, Kansas. The panel will discuss the recent collapse in the cattle market and what producers need to do to capture the most value at sale time. Corbitt will have another talk later in the day titled, “Preparing to Market Your Cattle.” Given the recent turmoil in the cattle sector, Mathes believes the beef program will be heavily attended by producers looking for advantages and answers.  

Also on the docket is information aimed to help producers deal with a 20th century problem using 21st century technology. Dr. Craig Roberts, extension state forages specialist with University of Missouri will discuss a decades-old problem in a talk titled “Fescue Toxicosis and Management.” Following Dr. Robert’s talk is a session discussing the latest technology available to producers for dealing with fescue toxicosis. Dr. Diane Spurlock, AgBotanica will lead a session titled “Genetic Selection for Fescue Tolerance.” Fescue is a productive grass that has a major problem and this will be a great opportunity for producers to sit down and discuss the benefits of genetic testing for fescue sensitivity, according to Mathes.  

Additional beef related talks aimed at the interest of beef producers will be in the Farm Management section discussing the use of Livestock Risk Insurance as a tool to manage risk in the times of volatile markets.

The Missouri Livestock Symposium will also feature an agriculturally related trade show, a free beef meal on Friday evening at 6 p.m., and a free lunch on Saturday at noon, coordinated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and sponsored by many of Missouri’s fine commodity groups and the Missouri Livestock Symposium planning committee.

Friday evening’s program features a keynote address titled “The Financial Challenges and Opportunities Facing Missouri Agriculture” by Dr. Scott Brown.  Also on Friday Dr. Galen Hill of Kirksville, Missouri will be inducted into the Missouri Livestock Symposium Hall of Fame.

Full program details can be found at www.missourilivestock.com or by calling 660-665-9866 or 660-341-6625.

University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran.


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