Is it harvest time yet?
Brian Rees
Friday, October 16, 2009
I believe most in the Emporia area would agree the past few days have not been exactly what we would hope for in early fall. Hopefully we would be having temperatures in the 60s and 70s with some sunshine — and maybe that will be coming soon.
I know that anyone with crops in the field, wheat to be planted or livestock outside would welcome warmer, sunny weather for a while.
The local crop yields are looking favorable for most in the area at this time. The bigger question now will be harvest — being able to get the crop out of the field before it deteriorates in quality or quantity.
I have not heard of any significant quality degradation to date on the grain that has been harvested, but I would not be surprised to find some damage once combines are able to get in the fields again.
For those that were able to get part of their wheat planted, the rains were beneficial. The wheat I have seen does look great so far, but it too would benefit from some sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Regardless of the weather, good information on the beef business is always beneficial. With that in mind, an informational meeting for cow-calf and feedlot operators will be coming up on Oct. 27. Starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Anderson Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds, the final of three statewide meetings will feature timely information on nutrition, genetics, beef marketing and age and source verification.
The topics of discussion and speakers include:
- Doug Frank, beef product manager for ABS Global, who will share results of the Circle A Sire Alliance and the impacts on feed efficiency in cow-calf operations and feedlots;
- Rick Funston, reproductive physiologist for the University of Nebraska, who will discuss fetal programming research that demonstrates carcass quality and heifer fertility can be influenced while calves are in utero;
- Bill Bowman, chief operating officer for the American Angus Association, who will discuss EPDs, bio-economic indexes and the promise of genomic-enhanced EPDs; and
- Brian Bertelsen of U.S. Premium Beef, who will update producers on Japan’s interest in source and age verification and provide insight into the future potential for export markets for U.S. beef.
A beef dinner will be served to all registered attendees. Reservations are encouraged by Wednesday to Sandra Utter, ABS Global, (620) 672-1881, sutter@absglobal.com or Matt Caldwell, American Angus Association, (913) 755-1105, mcaldwell@angus.org, American Angus Association, ABS Global, Cattlemen’s Choice Loomix, Frontier Farm Credit and Pfizer Animal Health are hosts for the meeting.
This seems to be a great chance for local producers to receive forward looking beef production information in our own backyard. This presentation is one of only three statewide on these topics, so we are indeed fortunate. If you are planning on being involved in the beef industry for the future, please plan on attending.
- Brian Rees is the agriculture and natural resources agent for K-State Research and Extension in Lyon County. For more information on this column, crop and livestock production, farm management, farmstead safety, crop and pasture leases or other ag-related items, e-mail him at brees@ksu.edu or call the Lyon County Extension Office at 341-3220.