Livestock Symposium

The University of Idaho Rangeland Center and partners will offer the 2015 Idaho Range Livestock Symposium, a one-day traveling program packed with information for livestock producers and land managers, at three locations across southern Idaho April 7-9. Local ranchers will share their perspectives and provide overviews of their operations at each of the symposium locations. The schedule is:

 ·       April 7: Idaho Falls at the Shilo Inn

·       April 8: Burley at the Best Western

·       April 9: Marsing at the American Legion Hall

 The event is free and open to the public. Partners include the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission, Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Idaho Cattle Association, and Agri Beef Co. Those attending will hear from experts on a variety of topics from the beef cattle economic outlook to using DNA markers to improve genetic selection. Other highlights include ranch estate planning and the cooperative monitoring program. The event goes from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., starting with a morning trade show with goods and services relevant to range livestock producers. Coffee and refreshments provided with lunch sponsored by Zoetis.

 Topics and speakers include:

·       Economic Outlook for the Beef Cattle Industry: Jessica Sampson, Livestock Marketing Information Center

·       Impacts of Climate Change to Ranching and Range Management: Tony Svejcar, USDA-ARS Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center; and David Bohnert, Oregon State University

·       Grazing Plans to Meet BLM Requirements:panel and moderated discussion featuring Idaho Rep. Merrill Beyeler, Leadore rancher; and Linda Price and Kyra Povirk, U.S. Bureau of Land Management Salmon Field Office

·       Cattle Genomics, Cattle Genomics: Bob Weaber, Kansas State University

·       Ranch-level Economic Impacts of GrazingManagement to Protect Sage-grouse: Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho

·       Family Estate Planning: Pete Volk, Volk Law PLLC

·       Statewide Survey Results of Idaho Residents Perceptions of Rangeland Uses: J.D. Wulfhorst, University of Idaho

·       Cooperative Monitoring Program: Brooke Jacobson and John Biar, ISDA

·       Perspectives from a local rancher highlighting the operation’s history and goals

 A field tour will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 10. The tour will feature stops at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, a carpool driving tour to BLM fire break projects, and a hands-on photo monitoring demonstration to show techniques used in the ISDA cooperative monitoring program featured on the symposium program. Lunch is sponsored by Simplot Land & Livestock and will be followed by a tour feedlot management facility in Grandview. Tour and lunch is free to participants who RSVP on the University of Idaho Rangeland Center website http://rangecenter.org, or by calling (208) 885-6536.