Field Day at Rafter B

For more information contact:

Scarlett Hagins or Todd Domer (785) 273-5115

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 9, 2007

JMR CATTLE COMPANY TO HOST KLA/K-STATE RANCH FIELD DAY

( TOPEKA ) – Recordkeeping tips on qualifying for various cattle verification programs will highlight the topics to be addressed August 21 during a field day at JMR Cattle Company near Augusta . The ranch is owned by Jim and Sally Reeves. This will be the second of three ranch management field days presented by the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) and Kansas State University .

Jill Barnhardt of IMI Global and KLA staff person Matt Teagarden will help producers make sense of cattle verification programs. Barnhardt will highlight the basics of recordkeeping requirements for age- and source-verification markets and cattle destined for export. Teagarden will discuss additional marketing options, including natural beef programs.

Veterinarian Darwin Deets of Yates Center will give a presentation on utilizing ultrasound for early pregnancy detection. This technology is commonly used at JMR for sorting and marketing bred heifers. Deets provides this service at the ranch and will demonstrate how ultrasound can expand opportunities in a cowherd or feeder heifer operation.

Another educational session will focus on the safe and legal use of all-terrain and utility vehicles on farms and ranches. K-State Extension Assistant Kerry Ebert, an agricultural safety specialist, will discuss national accident statistics and provide safety hints for using these vehicles. KLA Assistant Legal Counsel John Donley will provide information regarding tax laws and titling requirements in Kansas .

In addition, attendees will have a chance to hear from Ramona cattle producer Tracy Brunner, who served on the industry-wide checkoff task force and a special National Cattlemen’s Beef Association checkoff study group. Brunner will discuss the task force proposal and field day participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback to KLA leadership.

The Augusta field day will begin with registration at 3:30 p.m. and conclude with a free beef dinner at 6:45 p.m. All livestock producers and others involved in the business are invited to attend.

JMR Cattle Company is located about 11 ½ miles south and ½ mile west of El Dorado . From the Highway 77 and 400 junction, go south on Pickrell Road two miles, then ½ mile west. Pickrell Road is a frontage road on the south side of Highway 400. From Augusta , go five miles east on Highway 400 to the Haverhill Road exit. Then travel 1 ½ miles south to 120th Road and turn east. JMR will be 1 ½ miles down 120th Road . Directional signs will be posted.

KLA and K-State also will host ranch management field days August 16 at Rafter B Outfitters near Russell Springs and August 23 at Perry Ranch of Oskaloosa. Unique aspects of each operation will be incorporated into the educational sessions.

Bayer Animal Health and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas are sponsoring all three events. For more information, go to www.kla.org or call the KLA office at (785) 273-5115.

KLA is a trade organization representing the business interests of independent beef producers at the state and national levels. Members of the association are involved in all segments of the livestock industry, including cow-calf production, backgrounding, cattle feeding, swine, dairy and sheep.

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