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Grassland conference, Nov. 5 and 6, tells of profit in grass
Farmers to tell how they make money from livestock Missouri The annual meeting of the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council is "not just another plain old meeting," said Eric Bright, a pasture-based dairy producer from Bucklin, Mo. "Farmers come up with alternative ways to do things in a profitable way. It gets people to thinking," said Bright, president of the council. "There is always something different." The group's conference is Nov. 5 and 6 at The Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark, Mo. The meeting is open to members and non-members. Bright said he was looking forward to hearing Chad Peterson, a grazier from Newport, Neb., who has buffalo, cattle and goats. "I want to hear about multi-species grazing," he said. Jason Salchow from Montana will speak on "Blue Collar Cows." He will tell about profitable cow-calf operations that use cows that might not look too good in a show ring, Bright said. A new emphasis this year will be a panel discussion on "Marketing Grass Through Animals." This includes direct marketing from the farm, community food systems, marketing alliances and grass-fed beef cooperatives. "There is a growing niche for farmers to sell directly to consumers," Bright said. "It will become more important in the decade ahead." University of Missouri specialists also will present new ideas in break-out sessions, Bright said. Justin Sexten, MU Extension beef nutrition specialist, will tell of the critical points in nutrition for replacement heifers going into cow herds. "Weaning, pre-breeding and calving are critical times for nutritional need," Sexten said. "There is a great deal of flexibility in how to raise heifers, but those are checkpoints that need attention." Richard Crawford, superintendent at the MU Southwest Center, heads grazing dairy research at the farm near Mount Vernon, Mo. He will tell what he learned from watching New Zealand dairy graziers that farm in the area. "New Zealanders graze differently than we do in Missouri," Bright said. "I'm interested in learning more about that." Bright and his family operate a 75-cow dairy on a management-intensive grazing operation. They are a seasonal dairy, milking cows from March until the end of December. Milk production is matched to the grazing season. Conference registration fee for MFGC members is $75 for individuals or $120 per couple. Non-members pay $105 or $150 per couple. Fees go up $15 on Oct. 29, said Joetta Roberts, MFGC executive secretary. The fee covers educational materials and three meals, including the awards banquet Monday night. To register, call Roberts weekday mornings at 573-499-0886 or e-mail mfgc@mchsi.com . Send payment to Missouri Forage & Grassland Council, PMB 225, 2000 East Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201-6091. The Resort at Port Arrowhead is the former Holiday Inn, where the meeting has been in the past. To reserve a room, call 1-800-532-3575. The Resort is located just off U.S. Highway 54 at the south end of Bagnell Dam Boulevard. Date: 10/25/07
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