The annual Ranching Opportunities conference at Olds College on Feb. 9 will include an information session on being prepared for livestock emergencies.
The one-day conference takes place at the Olds College Alumni Centre. It is co-hosted by Olds College, Mountain View County, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association and others.
The theme of this year's conference is "Smart Strategies For Your Ranching Business."
Grant Lastiwka, with Alberta Agriculture in Olds, says the 2017 conference should be a valuable learning and information sharing opportunity for producers and other stakeholders.
"Every year the group tries to come up with a variety of topics that are going to meet the varying needs of the industry and with that in mind this year is no exception," said Lastiwka.
"This year's agenda is focusing on a changing future and of course some of that comes from social media and how that is being used.
"It's about arming producers with good information and at the same time realizing how much the consumer is benefiting from our wonderful production system and environmental responsibility that so many producers are critically putting in best management practices in their operations."
The producers' panels at this year's conference will focus on the 5 Ws of crop cover. Producers scheduled to be involved include Morrie Goetjen, Rod Bergouwen and Graeme Finn, with Laura Gibney moderating.
The conference will also include several breakout sessions.
The Get Prepared for a Livestock Emergency session will be hosted by Nora Abercrombie with the biosecurity programs of the government of Alberta.
The session will include instruction on how to make an emergency plan and a tour of the Red Deer livestock response trailer.
The On the Fence sessions will include Electric Fencing hosted by Jim Bauer of Anchor JB Ranch, 3D Fencing hosted by the Grey Wooded Forage Association, Gallagher Canada Power Fence hosted by Garth Hein of Lone Star, Precision Fencing hosted by Lloyd Quantz of Greenedge Precision Fencing, and Wildlife Friendly Fencing hosted by the Alberta Conservation Association and Multisar.
There will also be lectures on Conventional vs. Natural Beef finishing by William Torres with Cattleland Feedyards, and a verified sustainable beef project update from Fawn Jackson with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
"It's about arming producers with good information."Grant LastiwkaAlberta Agriculture
