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For more information contact:

Todd Domer or Scarlett Hagins (785) 273-5115

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 30, 2007

 

CREATIVE BEEF MARKETER ON KLA CONVENTION PROGRAM

 

          (TOPEKA) – The owner of a specialty northeast supermarket chain who forms direct alliances with ranchers and feeders to sell natural beef is among those scheduled to speak at the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention, November 29-30 in Wichita. More than 900 beef producers and other industry stakeholders are expected to attend the meeting.

          Stew Leonard, Jr., will give producers insight into how the beef industry’s product is marketed during his presentation, sponsored by MicroBeef Technologies. He owns one of the most unique retail food businesses in the world. While the average supermarket stocks 30,000 products, Stew Leonard’s stores focus on only 2,000. One of those is “Naked Beef,” a natural product line introduced earlier this year. Leonard brings in ranchers and feeders who supply Naked Beef, including some from Kansas, to meet with customers and provide a “face” behind the product.

          One of the most insightful and trusted market analysts in the beef business is on the KLA Convention program. Cattle-Fax Executive Vice President Randy Blach will tell producers how domestic beef demand, improving international sales, competing meat supplies, weather and feed costs will affect cattle prices during the coming year. His extensive outlook will come during KLA Beef Industry University (BIU), sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas.

         Joining Blach on the BIU program will be Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Hugh Lynch-Staunton. The Alberta cow-calf producer will assess a broad range of factors affecting beef trade between the U.S. and Canada. Among the subjects will be increased Canadian slaughter capacity and how Canadian livestock producers plan to market their products in the U.S. when the mandatory country-of-origin labeling law goes into effect.

         A pair of Kansas producers serving as national beef industry leaders is on the BIU program to talk about the future of the beef checkoff. Current Beef Board Chairman Ken Stielow, a cow-calf producer from Paradise, will share the process for selecting checkoff projects. Ramona cattle feeder Tracy Brunner will follow Stielow with a discussion about enhancements to the checkoff recommended by a broad, national working group, of which he was a member. The group’s suggestions include increasing the amount of the checkoff to compensate for the loss in buying power due to 20 years of inflation since the $1.00 per head was adopted.

         A series of three industry information sessions sponsored by Elanco will offer practical strategies producers can take home and implement to improve profitability. Veterinarians Lynn Locatelli and Tom Noffsinger will illustrate cattle handling techniques that reduce stress and boost animal performance. Bill Mies, a beef consultant with Elanco’s Global Beef Group, will tell producers how to identify characteristics in demand with buyers and raise a calf that meets those needs. Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Dan Thomson will suggest management approaches that reduce the incidence of Bovine Respiratory Disease.

         KLA members will use information presented by speakers as background for policy discussions in committee and council meetings at the convention. According to KLA President David Cross, a cow-calf producer from Lewis, all members are encouraged to come to Wichita and help develop strong policy to guide the association.

         Cross will present awards to top membership recruiters and those who are marking their 50th or 60th year as KLA members in 2007. Nine scholarship recipients will be honored as well.

         Many of the activities on November 29 will revolve around the equipment, technology and service displays in the KLA trade show. Producers will have ample opportunity to talk with exhibitors about products and services that improve business efficiency.

         A complete schedule and registration form are available on www.kla.org, in the November/December Kansas Stockman or by calling the KLA office at (785) 273-5115. All livestock producers are welcome to attend.  

         KLA is a trade organization working to advance members’ common business interests on legislative, regulatory and industry issues affecting producers at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members. 

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