The Primghar Community Center is the location of a March 25 meeting for area beef producers and agri-business staff. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the O’Brien County Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The Primghar Community Center is located on the corner of 1st St NE and Hayes Ave.
“We will cover issues that impact area beef producers,” said Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist. “These are issues that affect how our beef producers both manage and market cattle.”
The meeting features the following topics and speakers.
Iowa DNR Work Plan for Beef Feedlots
This topic will be covered by Iowa Department of Natural Resources Staff from Field Office 3.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is operating under a new work plan committed to environmental improvement. This involves a comprehensive survey of all large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and medium-size animal feeding operations (AFOs) within five years. The survey may be either an on-site inspection or desk-top evaluation and is estimated to involve 8,500 facilities in Iowa.
Pro-Active Approach to Feedyard Assessments (Care and Handling)
Doug Bear, director of industry relations with Iowa Beef Industry Council, will speak about this topic. Consumers want to know how the beef they consume is raised. To address this need, the National Beef Quality Assurance program is now offering materials to help a feedlot producer document how cattle are managed and cared for. These materials are available from the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
Market Situation and Outlook
The folks at Kooima and Kaemingk Commodities Inc. know that market prices will be a priority question for attendees. Prices for both feeder animals and market-ready animals have reached record levels. Will feedlots and cow-calf producers continue to see high prices or are the markets positioned for a downturn? Will consumers continue to buy beef at current prices or will they opt for other meats?
Participants are invited to attend and ask questions about these important issues. There is no fee to attend but participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 21 with the O’Brien County Extension Office, by calling 712-957-5045 or e-mailing mrehder@iastate.edu in order to prepare materials and refreshments.
Source:iastate.edu