March 1, 2010 – IMMEDIATE USE
Contact: Betsy Hodge, 315-379-9192; Dr. Mike Baker, 607-255-5923

NNY Spring Beef Week March 9-12 in Watertown, Plattsburgh, Malone & Canton

What do beef producers need to know to be successful? The Northern New York Spring 2010 Beef Week road show will provide livestock farmers in Clinton, Essex Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties with the latest production and farm business management tips. Programs are set for March 9 in Watertown, March 10 in Plattsburg, March 11 in Malone and March 12 in Canton.

The 2010 Northern New York Spring Beef Week agenda includes:
• Dr. Michael E. Baker, Cornell University Beef Specialist: Making Business Decisions: What you need to know and goals to work toward

• Need New Equipment? Banking industry representatives tell you what you need to take to the bank to secure a loan

• Jessica Prosper, Farm Business Management Educator with CCE Franklin and St. Lawrence County: Is There a Beef Farm Business Summary in Your Future?

• Betsy Hodge, Small Livestock Educator with CCE St. Lawrence County: Quick Assessment of Beef Producer Needs.

“A survey of New York’s beef producers identifies maximizing profit, minimizing losses, utilizing unused land, and improving quality of life among the goals for having beef cows,” says Cornell University Beef Specialist Dr. Mike Baker.

Baker will share data on eight cost and production factors that explain 82 percent of farm-to-farm variations in return to labor and management on 225 beef farms in Illinois and Iowa.

“Where are Northern New York farms in relation to these cost and production factors? Cornell University and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Northern New York are working with regional farmers now to build a database documenting the profit potential for Northern New York livestock producers. That data will help producers identify critical areas of opportunity,” Baker says.

A Farm Credit East representative and Farm Business Management Educator Jessica Prosper with CCE Franklin and St. Lawrence County will discuss recordkeeping and reports that producers can use to secure loan funding and to improve their farm business profitability.

“In 2010 Northern New York beef producers will have the opportunity to use a farm business summary process that dairy farmers have used to benchmark their production against a regional standard. I am looking to work with farms that have between 5 and 40 brood cows,” Prosper says.

Small Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge with CCE St. Lawrence County says, “The 2010 Northern New York Spring Beef Week provides an opportunity for beef producers to identify and prioritize their needs for attention by Extension and such groups as the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program that provides access to research, outreach and technical assistance.”

Producers are encouraged to register for a 2010 Northern New York Spring Beef Week program, i.e.:
• Tuesday, March 9, 6:30pm, Watertown: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, bring a dessert to share; register with 315-788-8450

• Wednesday, March 10, 7:00pm, Plattsburgh: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County, $5.00; register with 518-561-7450

• Thursday, March 11, 6:30 pm, Malone: North Country Community College, $5.00; register with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County, 518-483-7403

• Friday, March 12, 6:30pm, Canton: Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, $5.00, light dinner refreshments will be provided; register with 315-379-9192.

For more information contact Betsy Hodge at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, 315-379-9192, bmf9@cornell.edu.  #