Beef marketing workshops

There will be six one-day workshops across Alberta in early March bringing together cow/calf producers to better understand the beef markets, to discuss insurance price programs, and to identify market opportunities.

Cow-Calfenomics 2011–Strategies Moving Forward is a one-day workshop that looks at beef trends, explains some available tools for risk management, and helps cow/calf managers calculate their bottom line. The workshop locations include:

•    March 1, Fairview

•    March 2, Mayerthorpe

•    March 3, Ponoka

•    March 8, Claresholm

•    March 9, Hanna

•    March 10, Vermilion

This workshop is a partnership effort between Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Alberta Beef Producers, Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). Presenters will discuss strategies for reducing the two largest costs to cow calf operators - replacements and feed. Speakers will vary at the locations, but presentations will be similar.”

“The beef industry has been a very trying business for the last seven years,” says Grant Lastiwka, grazing/forage/beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “Lately, calf, yearling and fat prices have risen and by all appearances will be staying up for some time. Some of the themes that will be considered at the workshops are strategizing to make a profit in the years ahead; answering how cow/calf operators could profit more fully in the next few years and build back lost equity; retiring wealthier a few years from now; running a financially stronger cow/calf–yearling business in the future; and, taking advantage of sound financial opportunities that may allow involving the next generation.”

The objective of this series of workshops is to get cow/calf managers together for ‘idea networking’ and gaining a better understanding of the risks and opportunities in future beef markets, discussing what financial performance indicators are saying, demonstrating how to use the new Ranchers Return tool to determine profit, and how the three new Cattle Price Insurance Programs work.

“Our goal for seminar participants is that they will come away with a clearer picture of the future beef cycle,” says Lastiwka. “We also hope that cow-calf managers will leave with a few more ideas on profit making strategies to consider.”

Workshop cost is $25, which is payable at the door. For further information and to pre-register, contact Jacqueline or Ashley at the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta at 780-416-6046. Pre-registration is required on or before the Friday of the week before the workshop

“This is a seminar for all cow-calf managers wanting to look critically at their operations now and position themselves to take greater advantage of the near future,” says Lastiwka.

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