(TOPEKA) – An ultramodern feed center, cross-ventilated housing designed for cow comfort and a rotary milking parlor will be on display during the August 13 KLA/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Day at High Plains Ponderosa Dairy near Plains. High Plains Ponderosa is jointly owned by families from Kansas and Wisconsin, each with a long history in the farming, ranching and dairy business. The dairy cares for milking cows and heifers from 5 months of age until calving.
As one of the educational sessions, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy Manager Greg Bethard will lead a discussion on consumer perception. Bethard has spent his entire life in the dairy industry and understands the importance of maintaining consumer confidence in where their food comes from. He will highlight ways ranchers and dairy farmers can positively and responsibly tell their story, while also addressing concerns surrounding food production.
K-State extension beef veterinarian A. J. Tarpoff will explain best practices for external parasite management. Flies, ticks and various other external parasites can have a substantial economic impact on ranchers’ bottom lines if not controlled properly. Tarpoff will break down various management methods and take an in-depth look at the costs associated with each.
Another educational session will focus on the status of the CattleTrace traceability pilot project in Kansas. Launched in 2018, the program is intended to guide the development of a cost-effective national traceability program that can operate at the speed of commerce. CattleTrace Program Manager Cassie Kniebel will provide an overview and update on the project.
The Plains field day will begin with registration at 2:00 p.m. and include a free beef dinner at 6:00 p.m. All livestock producers and others involved in the business are invited to attend.
Parking for the field day will be located at Ormiston Farms, 24820 Road 13, Kismet, KS 67859. From Highway 54 in Plains, travel south on 5 Road for 6 ½ miles, then west on V Road for 3 miles. Then, at 2 Road (County Line Road) turn south. Parking will be located immediately on the right-hand side of the road.
Moyer Farms LLC near Emporia will host the August 15 field day. Rusty Acres of Dorrance will be the site of the final field day in the series August 22. Bayer Animal Health and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas are sponsoring all three field days. For more information, go to www.kla.org or call the KLA office at (785) 273-5115. Bayer Animal Health and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas are sponsoring the field days. For more information, click here 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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