The 2022 Mid-South Stocker Conference will challenge producers to take a broad view of their operations from the comfort of their homes. Due to the pandemic, the conference is taking place online with the theme “Grass to Cash: Forage Opportunities for Stocker Cattle.”  

The conference is an annual event, a partnership of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the University of Tennessee. This year, the free conference is 12 to 2:45 p.m. EST Feb. 23.  

“The online conferences are shorter than previous, in-person events, but they are packed with valuable information,” said Jeffrey Lehmkuhler, UK extension beef specialist. “We had good attendance with the online conference last year, and we hope to attract even more producers this year.” 

The opening session will focus on grazing management for stockers with Matt Poore, ruminant nutrition specialist for North Carolina State University. The second session begins at 12:40 p.m. when Liesel Schneider, assistant professor of animal science, and Clair Hunkler, animal science graduate teaching assistant, both from UT, will discuss respiratory disease in stocker cattle. At 1:15 p.m., Jimmy Henning, UK forage extension specialist, will discuss baleage production. At 1:40 p.m., attendees may watch virtual tours of Kentucky and Tennessee stocker operations, followed by a stocker operator panel discussion at 2:10 p.m.  

Interested individuals can find more  information and register at https://midsouthstockerconference.utk.edu/. After registration, participants will receive instructions for how to connect to the event. The Mid-South Stocker Conference helps operators explore ideas for efficient and healthy cattle production and helps define stocker production’s role in a rapidly evolving cattle industry to effectively meet consumer expectations.