Speakers

KEYNOTE:

Why We Can’t Continue Business as Usual
Jim Gerrish – Grazing Expert, Consultant & Speaker, American Grazing Lands Services LLC

Jim Gerrish is an independent grazing lands educator, consultant, and writer serving farmers and ranchers on both private and public lands in the US and internationally through American GrazingLands Services LLC . He currently lives in the Pahsimeroi Valley in central Idaho and works with numerous ranchers using both irrigated pastures and native rangeland as well as working with livestock farmers in high natural rainfall environments. His past experience includes over 22 years of beef-forage systems research and outreach while on the faculty of the University of Missouri. His research encompassed many aspects of plant-soil-animal interactions and provided foundation for many of the basic principles of Management-intensive Grazing. For 22 of the years he spent in Missouri, he stayed in touch with the real world on a 260-acre commercial cow-calf, sheep, and contract grazing operation. In this setting, he took a worn out marginal crop farm and converted it to a highly productive grass farm. After the move to Idaho in 2004, Jim keeps his day-to-day grazing tools sharp through management of a ranch unit consisting of 450 center pivot irrigated pastures, 90 acres of flood ground, and several hundred acres of rangeland.

BREAK OUT SESSIONS:

Utilizing High-Nitrate Feeds with Cattle
Dr. Eric Bailey, State Beef Nutrition Specialist, University of Missouri

Eric Bailey is an Assistant Professor and State Beef Nutrition Specialist at the University of Missouri. Dr. Bailey maintains an active applied research program in beef cattle nutrition, focusing on stocker cattle systems and improved usage of Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue pastures, the predominant forage in Missouri. Bailey has received over $1,100,000 in grants and has 22 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Bailey leads the MU Extension Feedlot School program and is the co-coordinator of the Missouri Grazing Schools, developed by MU Extension.

Benefits of Annual Forages
Dr. Paul Beck, State Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist, Oklahoma State University

He was raised on a wheat and stocker cattle operation in central Oklahoma, has B.S. and M.S. degrees from Oklahoma State University and a Ph. D from University of Arkansas. He was Extension Forage and Beef Cattle Specialist at the University of Arkansas Southwest Research & Extension Center for 21 years. Paul and his wife Melissa moved back to Stillwater, OK in 2018 where Paul serves Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences as the State Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist for beef stocker and feedlot nutrition.

How to Make What You’ve Got, Work – Stretching Your Forage Inventory
Reagan Bluel, Dairy Specialist, MU Extension

She serves as University of Missouri Extension statewide field specialist in dairy, housed out of Barry County. Classically trained in ruminant nutrition, Reagan has a passion of helping producers, dairy and beef alike, identify efficiencies and cost savings through ration formulation. Feed costs typically are the highest cost for all cattle enterprises, both beef and dairy. Understanding the intricate needs of the microorganisms within the rumen equips producers to feed their herd adequately, but not excessively, through these lean hay inventories.

Sheep & Goats: Busting the Myths of Parasite Control
Linda Coffey, Livestock Specialist, National Center for Appropriate Technology

Having raised sheep for nearly 50 years, Linda knows from experience that internal parasites are one of the major determinants of whether your sheep or goat enterprise is successful or not. She is a member and advocate of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control methodology.

Does Cow Size Really Matter?
Jim Gerrish, Grazing Expert, Consultant & Speaker, American Grazing Lands Services LLC

Liming Ozark Soil: What You Need to Know and Economic Considerations
Jake Hefley, Ag Business Specialist, MU Extension & Dr. Sarah Kenyon, Agronomy Specialist, MU Extension

Jake Hefley is a Field Specialist in Agricultural Business with the University of Missouri. He is located in Taney County and serves as the agricultural business specialist for nine counties in southwest Missouri. Jake holds a B.S. in Agricultural Business and Animal Science from College of the Ozarks and a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University. His work primarily focuses on farm financial management, informed decision making, and value-added agriculture. Jake is also involved with MU Extension’s value-added meats team and the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center.

Dr. Sarah Kenyon, Agronomy Specialist, MU Extension

Lessons Learned Our First Year with Virtual Fencing
Brice Hundling, Owner, Hundling Family Farms

Dealing with Black Vulture Issues
Cesare Kleeman, Biological Science Technician, USDA APHIS

Establishing & Management of Native Warm Season Grasses
Rick Rath, District Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation

Sheep & Goats: Enhancing Breeding: Selection and Cross-breeding
Dr. Homero Salinas, Extension State Specialist Small Ruminant, Lincoln University

Pasture Recovery Following Drought
Tim Schnakenberg, Agronomy Specialist, MU Extension

He serves as University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy specialist based in Stone County. He is one of three field specialists in agronomy serving the southwest region of Missouri. He has worked as a field specialist in agronomy since 1991 and focuses on pasture and hay management, forage development and improvement, crop production, pest management, pesticide training, soil fertility and health and soil conservation. Ongoing educational efforts include Livestock and Forage Conferences, regional hay production schools, regional grazing schools, farm tours, on-farm demonstrations and pesticide applicator training.

Enterprise Options for $5000/acre Pasture
Wesley Tucker, Ag Business Specialist, MU Extension

He is a field specialist in agricultural business and policy with University of Missouri Extension. Wesley has a BS and MS in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri specializing in livestock marketing systems. He has 22 years of experience assisting agricultural producers throughout the U.S. In addition to educational programs and consulting services, he serves leadership roles on the national board of directors for Annie’s Project: Empowering Farm Women and the board of directors for the International Farm Transition Network.

A Southwest Missouri native, Wesley grew up on the family beef operation where he farms today. He and his wife, Heather, a local veterinarian, and their daughter, Jordan, operate a commercial cow-calf operation in the Ozarks.

Understanding Beef Quality & Yield Grades
Kyle Whittaker, Extension Engagement Specialist, MU Extension

Kyle Whittaker is a retired Agricultural Education instructor, retiring from Marshfield High School in 2019. He is currently a extension engagement specialist at the University of Missouri Extension. He serves six counties in southwest Missouri. Kyle serves on a value-added meats team, that focuses on creating sustainable supply chains, by fostering relationships between local consumers, meat processors and local livestock producers. He assists meat processors in developing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, which is a requirement for inspection. He currently works with several meat processors in the areas of food safety, labeling and business management. He has instructed several programs on meat quality and educating consumers on how to purchase meat from a local supplier.

PRODUCER PANELS

Producer Panel | Grazing 300 Days – Extending the Grazing Season
Harry Cope, Livestock Producer, Cope Grass Farms

Cope Grass Farms is a diversified livestock farm grazing cattle, sheep & hogs on pastures ranging from fescue to annual forages/grain crops to very diverse native pastures. We produce and direct market beef, pork & lamb as well as commodity animals. Our goal is to achieve a 30 day mechanically stored winter-feeding period (sometimes we make it, sometimes we don’t).

Kip Lindquist, Owner, Lindquist Farms

Producer Panel | Sheep & Goats: Guard Animals
Robert Salmon, Owner, Salmon Ranch

Edward Persike, Owner, Persike Farms

Panel | Sheep & Goats: Multi-species Grazing Q&A
David Brown, Small Ruminant Specialist, MU Extension

David Boatright, Owner, Boatright Farms