Cutting Edge and Critical Information in this Year’s Hemphill County AgriLife Beef Conference

 Beef producers from all across this region will be gathering in Canadian, TX for the annual Hemphill County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef Conference on Tuesday, April 26th and Wednesday, April 27th at the Jones Pavilion in Canadian, TX. This year’s conference is all about beef cattle marketing and, with the terrible bleeding of equity from the fat and feeder cattle segments in recent months, the cow/calf producers need to hear the important and critical, cutting edge information, says Andy Holloway, County Extension Agent for Hemphill County. Holloway was a rancher who drought out before coming to Canadian, who very well understands how changing environments or markets can impact the cattle industry. Troy Applehans of CattleFax from Denver, CO will be the first speaker on Tuesday, April 26th. Troy will present very crucial statistical information on the recent past markets and how we got to the point we are today. He will also discuss the forecast CattleFax is making, based on market data on where the beef industry is headed, both short and long term. Applehans said this information will be critical for producers to make good marketing plans regarding the future. Holloway said “it will be worth more than 10X the cost of the registration ticket, in his opinion, just for this one presentation alone, much less all the other speakers, steak dinners, and entertainment”. Dr. Tim Steffens, AgriLife Range Specialist and WTAMU Professor will then present very interesting information on “How to convert low quality forage into high value beef”. Steffens is the co-founder of the Hemphill County AgriLife Grass Grazing and Animal Management School founded and located in Canadian, TX. This school resulted from a twenty year dream that came true last year at the 2015 Hemphill County Beef Conference. 29 producers paid $300 each to participate in the 40 hour in-depth study that has resulted in Dr. Steffen’s dream becoming a reality. Holloway said, to the best of his knowledge, this school is the first of its kind ever through AgriLife. Dr. Steffens will discuss the 2.0 version that will be offered to producers this year. Next on the speakers list will be Jason Barber of Superior Livestock Auction, Fort Worth, TX. Jason was born and raised here in the Texas Panhandle on a ranch near Channing, TX. He knows very well from his own ranching experience and education how important and vital marketing is to beef cattle producers on every level. Superior Livestock Auction is the largest beef cattle auction in the world with sales utilizing the latest in technology. Barber will speak on how technology has shaped cattle markets over the last decades to the present and how producers can utilize it to add value to their beef production. Barber will also discuss new technology that’s in the pipeline of development that will influence the way we sell our cattle in the future. Holloway added “Jason Barber is an Ag Professional that works hard every day to assist the beef industry with cattle marketing.” Holloway also said Superior is a strong leader in developing technology to assist cow/calf & other beef producers. A ranchers Brisket and Sausage lunch will be served and sponsored by the American Angus Assn. The food for this event will be catered by the Cattle Exchange of Canadian. Ken Jordan, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, TX will be presenting how producers with high quality cattle can add value to their programs by marketing some or all of their production as replacement quality females. Jordan Cattle Auction is thought by many to be the nation’s leading replacement female auction, featuring special sales throughout the year for replacement quality females. Jordan has also developed special premium calf sales for small producers, allowing them to enjoy some great added values through this opportunity for both steers and heifers. Keynote speaker for the 2016 Beef conference will be Salem Abraham, Abraham Trading Company of Canadian, TX. Salem is a very highly recognized businessman that has business interest in trading commodities that are publically traded, stocks, bonds, currencies plus real estate and oil and gas endeavors. Salem will offer insight and very thoughtful outlooks on strategies to market more effectively and reduce risk potential for beef producers. This presentation will encapsulate extremely valuable information for producers to consider. This beef conference will also feature 26 trade booths from vendors across the TX Panhandle and the State of Texas providing information on their products or services. Holloway said this will make the beef conference even more user friendly so that the time people spend at this event will be well spent. Ribeye steaks will be served sponsored by Indian Mound Ranch, Certified Hereford Beef Assn. and Thriftway Affiliated Store for the enjoyment of all the beef conference participants. This wonderful dinner will be followed by Red Steagall, the famous legendary Texas singing cowboy who was born and raised right here in the Texas Panhandle. During Red’s time of entertainment he will assist in the presentation of the first ever awarded “Hemphill County Rancher of the Year” award. This will be a very special moment for the conference. The Ag Tour on Wednesday, April 27th will feature a ranch stop at Little Robe Ranch near Higgins, TX on the very eastern edge of Hemphill County. There will be a ranch tour provided by the Jenkins Family and then a presentation made by Zoetis on the DNA testing of cattle to enhance EPD’s and its use to enhance the market value of beef cattle. The tour will depart back to Canadian where the group will enjoy KC Strip steak lunch sponsored by Ag Texas at The Citadelle. The tour group will enjoy a tour of the western art display called “Impressionism: Branding with Color, 1885-1935” this will be a real treat. Final stop will be the Canadian Animal Health & Nutrition (AH&N) where they will give a tour of the feed store plus their new shooting sports division. Wes Avent, partner in AH&N, will also have two beef cattle nutrionists to speak on new technology available in protein cubes for cows and the script law pertaining to feed that the FDA is putting into effect January 1, 2017. Corporate sponsors for this event are Capital Farm Credit and Panhandle Plains Land Bank. Please register ASAP by calling the Hemphill County AgriLife Extension office at (806)323-9114 or emailing kristi.huffman@ag.tamu.edu