MARIANNA, Fla. — Cattle ranchers, employees, and family members from the Tri-state region (FL, AL, GA) are invited to attend the 35th annual Northwest Florida Beef Conference and Trade Show, to be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. The Jackson County Extension Service will host the event, located at 2741 Penn Avenue, Marianna, Florida. Registration and the Trade Show open at 7:30 AM central time, the program starts at 8:15 AM, and concludes with a steak lunch. There will be a $5 per person registration fee, payable at the door.
The past few years have been really hard for cattle producers in the Tri-state region. Tropical storms, hurricanes, drought and low cattle prices have been compounding issues. There is hope for the future, but the key is to learn from the past, to be better prepared for the next major challenge. The focus of the 2020 program will be Enhancing Ranch Resiliency, with speakers providing ideas on improving efficiency and a more flexible management plan for weather disasters. Matt Poore, North Carolina State, will be the keynote speaker this year. He is one of the best Beef Extension Specialists in the South.
Throughout his career his primary focus had been on herd nutrition, but has shifted somewhat, to help ranches become more resilient from natural disasters. Chris Prevatt, UF Livestock Economist will share a market outlook and ways to reduce costs utilizing forages. Angela Gonella-Diaza is the new researcher added to the staff at the Beef Unit in Marianna. She will share ideas on how to improve herd reproduction efficiency. Weeds and insects can significantly impact both yield and quality of forages. The final two presentations from Pratap Devkota, UF Weed Specialist, and Danielle Sprague, Jefferson County Agent, will guide ranchers to optimize pest management to reduce costs and maximize forage production. Use the following link for a printer friendly flyer to share with others or to post on your bulletin board or refrigerator: 2020 Beef Conference Flyer
Schedule of Events (Central Time)
- 7:30 – Trade Show & Registration Opens
- 8:15 – Welcome & Program Introduction
- 8:30 – Market Outlook and Cost Savings Options Utilizing Forages
Chris Prevatt, UF/IFAS Livestock & Forage Economist - 9:00 – Resilient Beef Herd Management
Matt Poore, NC State Beef Extension Specialist - 9:45 – Trade Show & Snack Break
- 10:30 – Managing Reproduction Efficiency
Angela Gonella-Diaza, UF/IFAS Cattle Reproduction Specialist - 11:00 – Weed Control for Resilient Pastures
Pratap Devkota, UF/IFAS Weed Specialist - 11:30 – Managing Insects to Protect Forage Production
Danielle Sprague, UF/IFAS Extension Jefferson County - 12:00 – Grilled Steak Lunch (thanks to JCCA Cooking Crew)
- 12:30 – 1:30 Trade Show Open
In addition to the educational program, the Beef Conference will also feature a Trade Show of businesses and agencies that offer goods and services to cattle producers in the region. There will be time allotted on the schedule to visit with the company representatives in the Trade Show to learn about specific products and services they offer for beef cattle producers in the region. If you are interested in representing a company or organization in the Trade Show, use the following link for more details: 2020 Trade Show Exhibitor Letter. You can also utilize the Trade Show Registration website for online registration, or contact Doug Mayo at 850-482-9620.
The Northwest Florida Beef Conference and Trade Show is an educational program provided by the UF/IFAS Panhandle Agriculture Extension Team. For more information on the Beef Conference, contact Doug Mayo, at 850-482-9620.
–UF/IFAS