Livestock workshop coming to county

Published Thursday, March 20, 2008

By Staff

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is partnering with the Risk Management Agency of the USDA and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to offer a one-day Livestock Risk Management workshop from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, April 14 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center located six miles southwest of Vernon on Highway 70.

The objective of the workshop is to provide cattlemen with an overview of the current market situation and risk management tools approved by the Risk Management Agency and that are available through local crop insurance agents as well as other risk management programs through the Extension Service. The speakers for the workshop include specialists from both agencies who will cover the current market situation and outlook and an update on the pasture, rangeland and forage insurance.

Texas cattle and forage producers have faced many frustrating conditions over the past 10 years. Drought, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) incidents, volatile markets and rising input costs such as fuel and fertilizer have combined to increase risk levels in the cattle industry. Now, with the cost of corn and feedstuffs, producers are again faced with unparalleled input costs. Although cattle prices have stayed relatively high, never has the importance for risk management been higher in the cattle industry.

There is no registration fee for the workshop, however, those interested should reserve a spot by calling Stan Bevers at (940) 552-9941, ext. 231 or Janet Case at (940) 552-9941, ext. 238 or by e-mailing s-bevers@tamu.edu or jcase@ag.tamu.edu.

For more information or to register online, visit http://agrisk.tamu.edu