Farm & Ranch

[AgriLife Today] Cattle market outlook to be featured at Texas A&M beef cattle short course Aug. 1

Published

8 years ago

July 20, 2016

NTFR

By: Blair Fannin
Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]

Contact: Dr. Jason Cleere, 979-845-6931, [email protected]

COLLEGE STATION – A comprehensive cattle market outlook will be one of the featured presentations during the general session of the 62nd Beef Cattle Short Course at Texas A&M University in College Station Aug. 1-3.

During the Aug. 1 general session, Duane Lenz, market analyst with CattleFax, will give an overview of the current cattle market and trends heading into the fall production cycle, said Dr. Jason Cleere, conference coordinator and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, College Station.

“Lenz will discuss the contributing factors associated with the dramatic decline in cattle prices last fall and why it caught most by surprise,” Cleere said. “Then he will discuss the latest trends that are affecting our current cattle prices and give an overview of what we can expect with regards to supply and demand to finish out the year.” Also during the general session, Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo, will discuss hot issues affecting the beef industry. Dr. Brad Morgan, director of protein for Performance Food Group, will present Who is Our Beef Consumer and What Will They Want 20 Years From Now? Brian Bledsoe, Southern Livestock Standard meteorologist, will provide a weather outlook.

The short course is the premier beef educational event in Texas, attracting more than 1,400 attendees annually, Cleere said. It features 20 sessions covering basic practices, new technologies and other important industry topics. These sessions provide participants with an opportunity to choose workshops based on their level of production experience and the needs of their ranch.

Participants can earn nine Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide continuing education units if they are already licensed, Cleere added.

An industry trade show will be held during the event, featuring more than 120 agricultural businesses and service exhibits.

Registration is $180 per person before July 25 or $220 afterwards. It includes educational materials, a copy of the 600-page Beef Cattle Short Course proceedings, trade show admittance, admission to the prime rib dinner, lunches, breakfasts and daily refreshments.

Registration information and a tentative schedule were mailed to previous participants in May, but also can be found on the short course website at http://www.beefcattleshortcourse.com. Producers can register at the website or by contacting Cleere at 979-845-6931.

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Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.