Cow-calf clinic at end of challenging year

The 38th Annual Central Texas Cow/Calf Clinic will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Milam County Youth Exposition Building in Cameron.

This program is presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension of Milam, Robertson, Bell, Burleson, Falls and Williamson Counties.

Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. with the presentations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Three hours of continuing education units will be given for Pesticide Applicators License holders. 1-IPM and 2-General.

Please RSVP with the Milam County Extension Office (254-697-7045) for a meal count by Monday, Dec. 31.

Cost is $20.

Central Texas cattle producers have faced their fair share of challenges over this past year.

Weather conditions led to the hottest and driest spring/summer we have seen since the drought of 2011. Stock tanks dried up, hay pastures went from green to brown in a matter of weeks and many producers found themselves supplementing the lack of available forage and hay with, corn and milo stalks when they could.

If that wasn’t enough, when the rain finally showed up in early September it didn’t stop, and along with it came a full battalion of armyworms and an early freeze.

Cattlemen in Central Texas are no stranger to hardships.

Whether it’s unfavorable weather conditions, bear market prices, or dealing with unwelcome pests, they seem to find a way to make it work.

For 38 years the Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic has made it a point to provide beef producers with the most relevant and up to date information, technologies, and management practices available.

Topics for this year’s program will include Dr. Jason Johnson, Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension Economist discussing current market trends as well as predictions and considerations for the upcoming 2019 year.

A discussion on Export Markets and the opportunity they provide to cow-calf producers will be given by Dr. Jason Cleere, TAMU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. Following Dr. Cleere’s discussion will be Kenny Mingus, owner, and auctioneer of the Milam County Livestock Auction talking about Current Topics and Issues in the Beef Industry.

There are several presentations after lunch, including a live demonstration on Advanced Reproduction Strategies including embryo and A.I. technologies will be given.

Dr. G. Cliff Lamb Professor & Department Head of Animal Science at Texas A&M University will be presenting this demonstration.