Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Hosts 2002 Robert E. Taylor Beef Symposium

The Robert E. Taylor Beef Symposium, "Identifying Opportunities During Challenging Times," will run 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Dec. 3, and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Colorado State University Agricultural Research Department and Education Center facility, or ARDEC, at 4616 NE Frontage Road. Colorado State University’s Department of Animal Science and Cooperative Extension are hosting the symposium.

Speakers from around the country will focus on opportunities in marketing, drought-related decision making and quality assurance management planning.

"The symposium focuses on three critical issues facing agriculture professionals today and the ways farmers, ranchers, feedlot owners and others in the business can make a profit and find opportunities during drought and volatile markets," said Jason Ahola, interim Colorado State University Cooperative Extension beef cattle specialist.

Jim Robb, the center director for the Livestock Marketing Information Center, and Randy Blach, executive vice president of Cattle-Fax, will kick off the symposium by discussing major issues relative to beef and beef cattle markets.

Nolan Doesken, assistant state climatologist at Colorado State, will discuss the historical perspective of Colorado droughts and the 2003 weather outlook, followed by Dave Weaber and several cow/calf producers who will address the economic and management concerns of droughts and re-stocking.

LeAnn Saunders, director of marketing and communications for PM Beef, will talk about consumers demand for quality assurance and process verification programs be implemented into the beef production chain.

The two-day-long symposium will host 11 speakers and include a barbeque dinner the evening of Dec. 3 and a lunch on Dec. 4.

Pre-registration deadline is Nov. 22. Registration also will be held from 3-6 p.m. Dec. 3 and 8-9 a.m. Dec. 4. The registration fee for the first member from a business is $40; each additional member and students are a $20 fee.

For more information about the Robert E. Taylor beef symposium or to register, contact Jason Ahola at (970) 491-6233 or e-mail at ahola@lamar.colostate.edu or Nancy Weiss at (970) 491-7604 or e-mail at nweiss@agsci.colostate.edu.