Winter presents unique challenges to Kansas cattle producers.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A two-way verbal exchange between Kansas cattle producers and Extension specialists is the new approach to K-State’s 2014 winter ranch management seminar series, set to kick-off in January and conclude mid-February.
The series has a history of being a successful stretch of meetings, which are hosted throughout the state, said Bob Weaber, beef breeding, genetics and cow/calf specialist for K-State Research and Extension. Unlike previous years when the program has had a Web-based delivery for part of the content, originating on campus or at a particular ranch, this year the specialists will deliver the series in face-to-face meetings.
Weaber, along with other state, district and local Extension staff, will help answer producers’ questions about beef cattle issues surrounding animal health, nutrition, management, genetics and reproduction.
“Because of the wide range of topics and variety of climatic conditions over the past year in Kansas, there are many different issues facing producers,” Weaber said. “This is a great opportunity for us as state specialists to take our expertise out in the country and do a series of town hall format meetings, where we don’t have a specific agenda. We want to be responsive to the questions and needs of our producer clientele.”
Weaber said producers should come to the meetings prepared with questions. Some of the hot topics he foresees discussing include drought management and recovery, winter feeding and cow management, preparation for calving season, and as the bull buying season approaches in the spring, new trichomoniasis regulations (http://www.asi.k- state.edu/species/beef/research-and-extension/finaltrichrules.pdf), bull selection and genetics issues.
Although most of the questions will probably focus on winter issues, Weaber said Extension staff is open to questions regarding producers’ plans next year for breeding, calving and weaning.
“January is always a great time for producers, when the weather is bad and after they get chores done, to sit back, think and plan for the coming year, the calves that will be born in the spring and how they might manage those,” he said. “Certainly think about business strategy opportunities moving forward in terms of expansion.”
Meetings are to be held at locations throughout the state, but Rod Schaub, Frontier Extension agent, suggests Osage County producers should consider the meetings at Cottonwood Falls, Maple Hill and Paola, which are within easy driving distance. Date, place and contact for those meetings are:
Cottonwood Falls
- Tuesday, Feb. 11, noon
- Community Building, Swope Park, Cottonwood Falls
- Mike Holder, Flint Hills District, 620-273-6491
- Lori Bammerlin, Flint Hills District, 620-767-5136
Maple Hill
- Thursday, Jan. 16, evening
- Maple Hill Senior Center, 218 Main St., Maple Hill
- Austin Sexten, Pottawatomie County, 785-457-3319
- Kara Mayer, Wabaunsee County, 785-765-3821
Paola
- Tuesday, Jan. 14, evening
- Lighthouse Presbyterian Church, 1402 E. 303rd St., Paola
- Rick Miller, Johnson County, 913-715-7000
- Cody Sloan, Miami County, 913-294-4306
- Abbie Powell, Linn County, 913-795-2829
Participants are asked to RSVP for a selected location by the Friday before the event. Registration fees, which cover a meal, vary by location. Interested participants should contact the local host for registration.
More information about the K-State winter ranch management seminar series is available at www.ksubeef.org.
