You've reached the Virginia Cooperative Extension Newsletter Archive. These files cover more than ten years of newsletters posted on our old website (through April/May 2009), and are provided for historical purposes only. As such, they may contain out-of-date references and broken links.

To see our latest newsletters and current information, visit our website at http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/.

Newsletter Archive index: http://sites.ext.vt.edu/newsletter-archive/

Virginia Cooperative Extension -
 Knowledge for the CommonWealth

2009 Virginia Forage-Beef Summit Addresses Key Issues Facing Livestock Industry

By Gordon Groover (xgrover@vt.edu), Extension Economist, Farm Management, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech and Chris Teutsch (cteutsch@vt.edu), Associate Professor, Southern Piedmont AREC

Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association are joining forces to host four educational workshops. The workshops will be held in Reva, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Wytheville, VA on January 12, 13, 14, and 15, respectively. The keynote speaker is Dr. Harlan Hughes, Professor and Extension Livestock Economist, Emeritus from North Dakota State University. Many of Virginia’s producers know him based on his “Market Advisor” column that appears monthly in BEEF magazine. Dr. Hughes will make two presentations, in the morning, insights into the “Key Issues Changing the Beef Industry” and following lunch a discussion centered on helping Virginia producers understand the importance of “Making Key Changes to Remain Profitable.”

The theme of the workshops is “Optimizing Livestock and Forages Efficiencies in Times of Change.” Participants will also want to attend to hear other speakers that many Virginia farmers will recognize.

Scott Greiner – Extension Animal Scientist, beef, Virginia Tech, will address “Cow Size, Efficiency, and Profit.”

Robert Shoemaker - Nutrient Management Specialist, Department to Conservation and Recreation and cow-calf producer from Fauquier County, VA, will discuss his knowledge and experience in “Managing Stocking Rates for Profitable Beef Production.”

Chris Teutsch - Extension Specialist, Forage/Livestock, Virginia Tech, will help participants understand the science and art of “Building and Maintaining Soil Fertility in Times of High Input Costs.”

Local producer panel – Each panel member will share their strategies for addressing the challenges presented by the markets and weather and the changes they plan.

For more information on these conferences contact your local Extension office, the Virginia Cattleman’s Association at (540) 992-1009, or the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council at (434) 292-5331 or email makenney@vt.edu.

Dates and Locations:

Monday, January 12, 2009, Reva Fire Department, Reva, VA
Tuesday, January 13, Mrs. Rowe’s Country Buffet, Mt. Crawford, VA
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg VA
Thursday, January 15, 2009, Wytheville Meeting Center, Wytheville, VA

Meeting Agenda:

Times Topics Speaker
8:30 AM Registration  
9:00-9:45 AM Key Issues Changing the Beef Industry Harlan Hughes
9:45-10:30 AM Cow Size, Efficiency, and Profit Scott Greiner
10:30-11:00 AM Break - Visit Sponsors  
11:00 AM Managing Stocking Rates for Profitable Beef Production Robert Shoemaker
11:45 AM-12:00 Noon VFGC Business Meeting Jerry Swisher
12:00 Noon Lunch - Visit Sponsors  
1:00-1:30 PM Building and Maintaining Soil Fertility in Times of High Input Costs Chris Teutsch
1:30-2:15 PM Meeting the Economic Challenge on Our Farms Local Producers
2:15-3:00 PM Meeting the Economic Challenge: Key Adaptations to Remain Profitable Harlan Hughes
3:15-3:30 PM Questions and Wrap-up  

Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension