MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University will host its annual Winter Ranch Management seminar series at four Kansas locations in February.
The meetings include strategies to mitigate environmental factors impacting reproduction and will feature presentations and comments by extension educators on profit-enhancing strategies.
Meeting times and registration fees vary by location, but all will include a meal. Participants are asked to RSVP for a selected location at least one week in advance.
The list of meetings include:
Minneapolis — Tuesday, Feb. 5, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Minneapolis Grade School (North Gymnasium Entrance). RSVP by Jan. 29 to
- Cade Rensink, Central Kansas District, 785-392-2147, crensink@ksu.edu
- Barrett Simon, Post Rock Extension District, 785-378-3174, barrett8@ksu.edu
- Brett Melton, River Valley District, 785-243-8185, bmelton@ksu.edu
- Clint Laflin, Midway Extension District, 785-483-3157, cllaflin@ksu.edu
Jetmore — Tuesday, Feb. 19, Noon – 3:30 p.m. in the Hodgeman County 4-H Building. RSVP by Feb. 12 to:
- DeWayne Craghead, Hodgeman Co. Extension, 620-357-8321, dcraghea@ksu.edu
Rush Center — Tuesday, Feb. 19, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Township Hall. RSVP by February 12 to:
- Alicia Boor, Great Bend Office, Cottonwood Extension District, 620-793-1910, aboor@ksu.edu
- Jared Petersilie, LaCrosse Office, Walnut Creek Extension District, 785-222-2710, jaredp11@ksu.edu
McPherson — Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2018, 12:45 – 3:45 p.m. in the McPherson County Extension Office. RSVP by Feb. 19 to:
- Terra Regehr, McPherson Co. Extension, 620-241-1523; tregehr@ksu.edu
For more information on the McPherson meeting, interested persons may also contact Shad Marston, McPherson County Extension agriculture agent at 620-241-1523 or smarston@ksu.edu.
Each meeting will offer a question-and-answer session between Kansas cattle producers and extension specialists.
Bob Weaber, a cow-calf specialist with K-State Research and Extension, said the series has a history of being very successful. Weaber and other state, district and local extension staff will be on hand to answer producers’ questions on beef cattle issues including animal health, nutrition, management, genetics and reproduction.
“The previous year’s variable weather across Kansas presented many challenges for farmers and ranchers,” Weaber said. “Our extension team continues to field questions from beef producers related to environmental effects and their impact on cow-herd reproduction.”
“The Winter Ranch Management series provides another great opportunity for state and local specialists to take our expertise out in the country for a series of impactful face-to-face meetings. Our extension team has a breadth of experience in beef cattle management, reproduction, genetics, animal health and nutrition. We’re here to help solve and prevent production problems with reliable information.”
Topics to be discussed are environmental factors affecting conception rates and forage quality and availability impacts on beef cow nutrition during late gestation and pre-breeding.
“Early in the year is a great time for producers to think and plan for the coming year.” Weaber said. “Many producers have a number of experiences in 2018 to reflect upon. As producers approach the calving season it is a good time of year to consider opportunities to improve management to reduce costs and enhance revenue streams.”
More information about the K-State Winter Ranch Management seminar series is available at KSUBeef.org.
— Angie Stump Denton, K-State Research and Extension
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