Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contacts: Dr. Emi Kimura, 940-552-9941 ext. 233, emi.kimura@ag.tamu.edu
Marty New, 580-255-0546, marty.new@okstate.edu

WICHITA FALLS – The annual Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference – Driving Your Cattle to Profit is set for Dec. 1 at the Region 9 Education Service Center, 301 Texas-11 Loop, Wichita Falls.

Cattle graze on native rangeland with encroaching brush.

(Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

The conference is a joint effort between the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

This annual conference provides up-to-date information on topics that will influence cattle profits, said Dr. Emi Kimura, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Vernon.

“Wheat and cattle prices have certainly changed, and the weather and producer’s decisions will be more important than ever,” Kimura said. “This year’s agenda reflects those decisions and should be a good one with well-known speakers from our region.”

Registration is $25 and includes educational materials, a noon meal and refreshments. Make checks payable to Wilbarger Project Fund.

For purposes of meal planning, preregistration is encouraged. To preregister, contact your local Extension county office in Texas or Oklahoma, or Allison Ha at 940-552-9941, ext. 225 or email Allison.ha@ag.tamu.edu.

The registration form can be downloaded from http://bit.ly/2z8KzNg, and mailed along with a check to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, attn: Allison Ha, Box 2159, Vernon, Texas 76385.

Kimura said the expected audience will be cattle operators from the Texas Rolling Plains, North Texas and southern Oklahoma. The conference alternates between Texas and Oklahoma, where two of the more famous cattle trails – Chisholm and Great Western – crossed.

The program will include the following topics and speakers:

– Weed and Brush Control in Range and Pasture, James Jackson, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Stephenville.

– Beef Cattle Market Outlook and Update, Dr. Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist, Stephenville.

– Maximizing Feeding Efficiency, Dr. Dave Lalman, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle specialist, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

– Conversion of Cropland into Pasture, Kevin Derzapf, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service rangeland management specialist, Weatherford.

– How Much Forage Do I Have? Kimura.

Industry sponsors also will have their products on display during the event.

“Cattle operators and pasture owners who attended this conference in the past have benefited from the updated knowledge on varieties of topics as well as the interaction with our speakers,” Kimura said. “We expect the good discussion and interaction with speakers and sponsors to continue with this upcoming conference.”

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife