The 2008 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course concluded today at noon with nearly 1,500 registrants. It's the largest attended short course. News media, to follow up on topics and tidbits for stories, contact Blair Fannin at b-fannin@tamu.edu. Also, we'd like to know if these blog entries were useful to you. Send us an email.
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Dr. Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, gave a presentation this morning on early weaning calves. It's not for everyone and certainly not for the absentee cattle operator, he said. However, it does have a lot of merit in keeping female cattle in top shape, according to Gill. Dr. Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, also gave a presentation on calving strategies to reduce cow costs - a good practice today factoring in the high cost of feed.
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
The trade show inside G. Rollie White Coliseum draws beef producers by the hundreds to view the latest equipment and technology.
More than 1,400 enjoyed Monday night's prime rib dinner at the 2008 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.
- BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
The most animated speaker at Monday's general session was Dr. Steve Amosson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist. Amosson broke down today's complex energy world and its impact on beef production. Three critical components impacting commodity prices are oil prices, exchange rates and speculative funds. He also cited from a recent report conducted by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M.
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Dr. Mark Hussey, interim vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University and director of Texas AgriLife Research, opened the general session Monday at the beef short course.
"High energy, commodity prices, food safety and fluctuations in weather, these will make discussions with your colleagues over the next two to three days very timely," he said. "We are reminded on a daily basis how fortunate we are to live in a state, nation with access to safe, affordable, high-quality food and beef products."
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Dr. Mark Hussey (Photo by Jerrold Summerlin, AgriLife Communications)
The 2008 Texas A&M Beef Short Course was dedicated to Dr. Zerle Carpenter, who served as director of Texas AgriLife Extension Service (the Texas Agricultural Extension Service during Carpenter's tenure) for 15 years. Prior to that, he was head of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University and also served in teaching roles. His wife, Lou, and two daughters were on hand. Dr. Larry Boleman, associate executive vice president for operations at Texas A&M University, presented the recognition plaque to Carpenter prior to the start of Monday afternoon's general session.
- BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Much of the afternoon discussion was focused on high input costs or the three f's (fuel, feed and fertilizer). Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, said ranchers have gotten lazy over the past few years, enjoying high calf prices. They've also done a lot of wasteful driving, many in pickups they purchased that were too expensive and too big for the operation.
"You would be amazed at how much nonproductive driving we've done when there was cheap energy prices," he said. He also referenced to the many large pickup trucks parked inside the Texas A&M parking garage and how many would have bought a diesel pickup at a time when diesel was .70 cents a gallon more than gasoline.
"How many of us love driving those diesel pickups? More than necessary."
-BLAIR FANNIN
b-fannin@tamu.edu
Dr. Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist. (Photo by Blair Fannin, AgriLife Communications)
General session attendees before the start of the afternoon program. (Photo by Jerrold Summerlin, AgriLife Communications)
Lunchtime photos from the Texas A&M Beef Short Course (Blair Fannin, AgriLIfe Communications)
