DATE: 6/14/2006

CONTACT: Dr. Todd Davis, 864-656-5777; tddavis@clemson.edu

WRITER: Tom Lollis, 803-284-3343, ext. 241; tlollis@clemson.edu

Clemson will host Beef Cattle Marketing School in Newberry

CLEMSON – What are the risks in marketing beef cattle, and how can a producer deal with them?

Clemson University will host a session of the Southeast Beef Cattle Marketing School July 13-14 to help answer those questions. The school will be held at the Newberry County Farm Bureau Building in Newberry.

“Feeder calves have brought near record prices for the last two years,” said Todd Davis, Clemson Extension agricultural economist. Steers weighing 500-599 lbs. have been over $100 per hundredweight (cwt.) since the last week in April of 2004 and hit $125 per cwt. in 2005.

“However, prices have dropped by $10 to $15 per cwt. from last year, leaving beef producers to wonder about the market outlook for this fall and for next year,” he said.

In addition, rising fuel and fertilizer costs have affected profits.

The school in Newberry will give producers a chance to improve their marketing skills and learn how to use the commodity futures and option markets to protect against low prices.

“They will also learn how to use the futures market to predict a sale price for feeder calves,” Davis said. Speakers will also explain USDA grading standards and how calf quality affects the sale price.

The workshop will help producers better understand the pros and cons of alternative marketing systems like group feeder sales, networks and alliances. The program will include an update on the National Animal Identification System and give producers a chance to meet cattlemen who are using ID technology to improve record-keeping and management.

Registration is $35 per person in advance and $50 the day of the workshop. Lunch and dinner will be provided on July 13, so pre-registration is essential for planning meals and snacks.

Producers may register on-line through the University of Georgia website at http://www.ugatiftonconference.org.

The Southeast Beef Cattle Marketing School is a partnership among the USDA Risk Management Agency and Extension economists from Clemson University, Auburn University, the University of Georgia and the University of Florida.

The school will be replicated throughout the Southeast this summer and fall. Other workshops are scheduled for: Calhoun, Ga., July 19-20; Lake City, Fla., Aug. 8-9; Auburn, Ala., Sept. 14-15.

The Newberry program begins July 13 with registration at 8 a.m. and concludes around noon on July 14.

For further information contact Davis at 864-656-5777 or by e-mail at tddavis@clemson.edu.

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