The beef industry ebbs and flows with the weather, market prices, fuel and other input costs. With the added influence of external forces such as national and world politics, economics, animal rights and consumer perceptions, beef producers have much to manage and overcome to be profitable.

The 2018 Mid-South Stocker Conference aims to help stocker operators pursue greater profits as they produce and market feeder cattle as efficiently as possible. Beef specialists from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the University of Tennessee will host the conference March 7 at the Logan County Cooperative Extension office in Russellville.

“The stocker phase of beef production really fits the landscapes of Kentucky and other mid-South states because of abundant, quality forages that equate to efficient weight gains,” said Jeff Lehmkuhler, UK extension beef specialist. “We’ve partnered with Tennessee for this conference for more than 10 years, and we’re looking forward to offering participants current, research-based information to help them have successful ventures.”

Sessions will begin at 9 a.m. CST and include topics such as mineral supplementation, alternative forage options for stockers and confinement cattle housing considerations. Afternoon sessions will include accessing international markets, managing health disorders in feeder calves and virtual tours of Kentucky and Tennessee stocker operations. The meeting will wrap up with a 2018 market outlook. Participants can take part in a trade show during the lunch hour.

Participants who register by Jan. 31 will pay $50 for individuals, $90 per couple or $30 for students. On Feb.1, rates rise to $65 for individual tickets or $110 per couple and $45 for students.

Additional details and the conference registration are available online at https://ag.tennessee.edu/midsouthstockerconference. For more information, contact Lehmkuhler at 859-257-2853, jeff.lehmkuhler@uky.edu. Participants may mail registration and payment to Ben Crites, 821B W. P. Garrigus Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546. For an additional fee, online registration is available through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mid-south-stocker-conference-pursuing-greater-profits-registration-41250627738.