Farm Show Schedule

Erin was named Executive Vice President of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association in August 2022, previous to that she was the Industry Advancement Director at CCA since 2015. She will provide an overview of Colorado’s beef industry related to current issues, events, and status.

Dr. Jennifer Martin is an Associate Professor in Meat Safety and Quality along with Meat Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. She will have a discussion of on-farm slaughter and food safety principles aimed to enhance the quality and safety of meat products from small animals.

The Agricultural Labor Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2021 (AKA SB21-087) and rules related to the act are a game changer for many ag employers. Produce farms with large workforces are particularly affected. Hear brief talks from Colorado Dept of Labor and Employment and Colorado Dept of Agriculture staff on key elements of those rules with time for Q and A.

An outlook of the current industry profile. A look ahead to the hurdles that the industry could be facing and the role that industry groups like the Colorado Livestock Association are going to play. A brief update on the status the association and what CLA is engaging in.

Todd will provide a current snapshot of the US beef market including consumer trends, retail, foodservice, and will highlight some key marketing programs the Colorado Beef Council is currently conducting.

The University of Nebraska initiated a program called TAPS (Testing Ag Performance Solutions) with great success. This program allows producers to test new technologies and management in irrigated production without the financial risk. They can then compare their management against competitors to see how they rank within this competition. It has since expanded to Oklahoma State University during this time and Colorado State University is initiating the program in Colorado in 2023. This presentation will talk about the success of the program as well as how the program will work in Colorado.

Discussing the how small animal management differs from large animal management. Taking care of your small acreages while running a profitable operation. Seed mixes and plant types for small animals.

Colorado vegetable growers continuously face a labor shortage, market uncertainty and water scarcity. Integrated strategies combining advanced genetics and new cropping systems are needed to solve these challenges. Dr. Ma will present some of the case studies he participated and learned from the major vegetable production regions in US when he worked for Bayer Crop Science.

Katelyn McCullock is the Director and Senior Agricultural Economist at the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Katelyn has expertise in the cattle, hog, dairy, hay and grain sectors covering market analysis and outlook.. She is has been a frequent presenter on the national and regional levels, as well as through rural media outlets. Prior to joining LMIC, Katelyn has worked in the Farm Credit System as well as in Washington, DC for American Farm Bureau Federation on livestock related agricultural policy topics.

Kristin and her husband stated Long Shadow Farms in 2007 as a way to grow healthy food for their family. She will be speaking to understanding rules and laws regarding what you can and cannot do with your land. From understanding Land Use Code, HOAs, covenants and more.

These three speakers will offer overviews and updates on critical water-supply projects and collaborations that will help the region’s water users meet their future demands amid uncertain times. Greg Dewey will highlight Northern Water’s Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and its ag-focused components; Greg Peterson will touch on some of CAWA’s various ongoing endeavors; and Taylor Winchell will discuss Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) technology and an ongoing statewide collaboration to make this technology more accessible to water users.

Join Eduardo as he shares field based strategies that can help you better see and reduce the risk of food borne illnesses due to packing house food safety hazards.

Brian is the Chief Meteorologist/Climatologist for KKTV 11 News in Colorado Springs and has the same title for his own forecasting business. Brian’s goal is to help ag producers make their businesses more successful by using accurate weather forecasts, both short-term and long-term. He will breakdown the weather forecast and give us his thoughts on what lies ahead for 2023.

Backyard Livestock & Mixed Species Farming: Veterinary care, vaccinations, health information, and more! Learn how to develop and implement best practices of biosecurity/annual health care on your farm to protect you and your animals. As well as updates in the recent veterinary legislature and where to access animal health information.

Dr. Sara Place is an expert in livestock systems sustainability with over a decade of experience in academia, industry associations, and private industry. Most recently, Sara has been the Chief Sustainability Officer at Elanco Animal Health where she provided technical expertise on sustainability issues to customers and supported Elanco’s Healthy Purpose. Consumers, investors, and society at large are increasingly interested in questions of sustainable food production, including questions around if beef should be included in a “sustainable diet” and how should beef be produced. To answer these questions, scientific evidence and evaluation is critical. This presentation will provide an overview of the key issues related to beef’s role in a sustainable food system, including nutritional security, cattle’s ability to upcycle protein, and climate change.

In this presentation, Kyle will provide updates on various South Platte River issues, including Nebraska’s proposition to build a diversion structure near the Colorado state line, while Emily will offer updates on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and some background on why this program is so important to water development in Colorado.

Lane is a tax and accounting consultant and agribusiness advocate at Pinion (formerly KCoe Isom). Specialized in entity structuring for income and estate tax purposes, he works tirelessly to help farmers and ranchers succeed, reach their financial goals, and create long-term legacies for future generations. In 2020 and 2021 he identified over $5M worth of refundable tax credits for agribusinesses through the Affordable Care Act, enabling protection to businesses during a volatile market. Lane is an expert accounting resource for ag producers and food and beverage processors nationwide.

The future is here! Public and private efforts around the globe are working on mechanization and automation solutions to reduce the manual labor challenges for produce farm workers. In October 2022 a global conference and demo on labor saving ag tech debuted in California for the US marketplace. Learn more about the solutions and state of the industry featured there.

John is an agricultural economist at CSU and a member of the AgNext Team. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Arizona State University, an MBA from New Mexico State University, and a PhD in natural resource economics from Colorado State University. His research interests include the intersection of agricultural production and natural resource management.

This presentation will provide Eastern Slope and Western Slope perspectives on the Colorado River’s ongoing water shortages and the complex agreements aimed at addressing them.

Pedro Carvalho is the new assistant professor in Feedlot Systems for Colorado State University – AgNext Team. Pedro has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul – Brazil, a master’s in Animal Science from the University of Illinois, and a doctorate in Animal Science from Penn State University. After spending the last 2.5 years as the Assistant Professor- Feedlot Management at UC Davis, where he has conducted applied research projects to enhance beef production from dairy bull calves, i.e., antimicrobial alternatives in feedlot diets, beef on dairy crosses and different dietary and implant programs for calf-fed Holsteins and Holstein Crosses, he joins the AgNext team with the goal to bring sustainable solutions to beef producers in Colorado. With a background in extension where he hosted a weekly podcast and gave several talks and training to cattle producers in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and China, as well as his experience in applied feedlot research and management, he expects to bring tools and solutions that Colorado producers can apply to their farms to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Successfully growing your small-scale livestock business requires many tools, including understanding how to price products for different markets. This presentation will cover budgeting, pricing and marketing strategies for poultry and other small-scale livestock.

Tony will have a lively presentation on turf health and how that relates to weed issues and other negative impacts on turf. He will share his wealth of knowledge offering control suggestions.

Russ started in a rural fire district as a 15 year old with a volunteer fire department, and has been Chief of Galeton Fire Protection District since 2018. He is very aware of rural fire issues, from both the farmer side and the fire fighter side. Russ will discuss how to lower your rural fire risks. He’ll touch on several topics including building a defensible space for wildfires, flammable liquid handling, and electric safety and combustible management.

Animal manure is a fantastic resource, but it too much of a good thing can have negative implications. Fertilizer is a necessity for crop production, but following the 4Rs can take some additional planning. With the ever shifting cost of production, how can you best utilize nutrients, manure, and available planning tools to balance costs but still meet yield goals?

Bill brings more than 35 years of experience in dairy processing to Dairy MAX – including 10 years as Vice President of Operations for Sinton Dairy Foods Co. Bill joined Dairy MAX in 2012 and works with the dairymen, dairywomen and industry stakeholders in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. He will give a quick update on current dairy checkoff programs.

Michael has over 35 years of options and futures experience. He traded on the floor of the CBOE for 18 years in the S&P and Dow Jones options. Learn how proper utilization of Dairy Risk Protection, Livestock Risk Protection and Futures and Options can reduce and enhance profitability.

Derek and Justin will be speaking about weed management including annual grass control in terms of livestock operations. They will showcase how weed control and annual grass control increases usable forage quantity and quality, the water situation, and increases carrying capacity; followed with discussions around current cost share opportunities and various programs for rangeland restoration.

An overview of the life cycle of wheat stem sawfly, followed by a discussion of their agricultural and economic impacts. Recent CSU projects targeting this species will then be explored in-depth.

Brian is a Relationship Manager with American Ag Credit. His initial experience was working on his family’s dairy in California and for the past 15 years with American AgCredit. Brian will give a high-level overview of the dairy industry and American AgCredit’s vantage point of positives, risks, etc.

At the end of 2022, US Dairy Exports were 17%-18% of total dairy solids and are projected to climb to 20% in the next few years. Exports have been growing at twice the rate of domestic consumption, but consistent and reliable supply, logistic congestion and inflation have limited the potential growth. Megan will outline what to watch for in 2023.

Daniel will talk about his experience at the University of Wyoming using drones to identify and map vegetation in research projects.

Barbershop harmony is truly an American a cappella, vocal style of music. The Valentine City Chorus has been singing Barbershop Harmony in Loveland for at least 40 years with a current membership of 16-18 singers at any time. Their current youngest singer is 22 and the oldest is nearing 90. Come hear this diverse group and their amazing blended voices as they share patriotic, gospel and other genres of music.

Ryan Taylor is the new Sustainability, Research and Industry Outreach Manager for the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee. He grew up in Fort Collins, and living on the edge of town always afforded a good mix of urban and rural experiences that drove his curiosity of the natural world and propelled him to studying soil.Assuming the risk of research so producers don’t have to. Why grower groups and CSU Ag Experiment Station should be taking on that responsibility.

Dr. Chapman has over 30 years of experience as an educator who focuses on helping people understand how human practices impact the environment. Dan has worked in recycling, composting, and organic farming since 1982. Come learn more about how to reduce and divert waste materials through proper recycling and composting practices. We will discuss the success and challenges of waste diversion in rural Colorado, as well as why these programs are important to the economic and environmental health of the state.

Grain sorghum is an excellent crop option for dryland and limited-irrigation acres across eastern Colorado. Sally will discuss agronomic considerations for producing grain sorghum in our unique growing environment. Emphasis will be placed on hybrid choices (including new herbicide tolerant lines), grain maturity, planting, and other production issues.

Ayesha is an early career meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder Colorado. She has previously interned in all sectors of meteorology throughout her journey from broadcast media to emergency management. At the start of her NWS career, Ayesha was previously a forecaster at NWS Cheyenne. She’s an Atlanta, Georgia native! Her educational background started in the sunshine state at the campus of Florida State University receiving a BS and currently, she is a master’s student at Colorado State University in the atmospheric science department.

Brock is a partner in Capital Focus L.L.C. Before starting there, he was a full-time employee of the Western Dairy Association. The First Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly will convene on January 9, 2023. Brock will focus his presentation on this year’s session.

Alistair is a station technician and data analyst at the Colorado Climate Center. He travels throughout the state repairing and maintaining the 89 weather stations that make up CoAgMET. When he’s not in the field he takes care of network’s QA/QC. He started at the Climate Center as a student intern in 2017 and became a full-fledged member of the team after graduating from CSU in 2019. In the other hours he enjoys fly fishing, mountain biking, and skiing.

Provide a deeper understanding of the history of the Federal Milk Marketing Order system and why we have it. Highlight how the federal orders are designed to regulate milk handlers on behalf of dairy farmers. Clarify how possibly changes can be initiate to the orders, emphasizing that a unified message by the industry would demonstrate to the USDA that the industry has worked together to determine the best way to improve the order for all dairy producers across the county. We will also discuss some of the ideas that have been brought forth so far to modernize the order.

Chad is a Forecaster with the National Weather Service in Boulder and a longtime Greeley resident. His work includes daily weather forecasts and warnings, supporting emergency managers during extreme weather events, and recruiting and training volunteers. Chad has a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Iowa State University and has worked for the NWS for 32 years. He has loved watching the weather since he was a young boy getting chased inside by Florida thunderstorms. He enjoys hiking and encouraging young people.

Becky Bolinger received her B.S. in meteorology from Metro State University of Denver, M.S. in meteorology from Florida State University, and her Ph.D. in atmospheric science from Colorado State University. She is now the Assistant State Climatologist at the Colorado Climate Center (within CSU’s department of Atmospheric Science). Her research interests are focused on Colorado’s climate variability, climate extremes, and drought. She spends her spare time with her husband and daughter, hiking, cycling, running, and enjoying Colorado’s beautiful outdoors.

Pedro Carvalho is the new assistant professor in Feedlot Systems for Colorado State University – AgNext Team. Pedro has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul – Brazil, a master’s in Animal Science from the University of Illinois, and a doctorate in Animal Science from Penn State University. After spending the last 2.5 years as the Assistant Professor- Feedlot Management at UC Davis, where he has conducted applied research projects to enhance beef production from dairy bull calves, i.e., antimicrobial alternatives in feedlot diets, beef on dairy crosses and different dietary and implant programs for calf-fed Holsteins and Holstein Crosses, he joins the AgNext team with the goal to bring sustainable solutions to beef producers in Colorado. With a background in extension where he hosted a weekly podcast and gave several talks and training to cattle producers in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and China, as well as his experience in applied feedlot research and management, he expects to bring tools and solutions that Colorado producers can apply to their farms to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Dannele is the Director of the Northern Plains Climate Hub at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Fort Collins, Colorado. She specializes in the economics of farm and ranch management under risk & uncertainty, including drought planning and response. Dannele was raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where her weather memories involve a lot of snow and cold! She has an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Oregon State University.

We will cover how Idem Irrigation is looking at precision application of water, fertilizer and chemicals and the impact that we are creating through our unique application process.

The outlook for grain, forage and livestock commodity prices are strong for 2023 and there is evidence that the strength can persist for several years. Drought through some of the country during the 2022 growing season has created a persistent uncertainty. This risk to supply and strong demand both domestically and internationally have created an opportunistic market for Colorado grain and forage producers. The outlook for cattle, calves, and beef suggests these markets are turning a corner to substantially tighter supplies and higher prices. There is also substantial optimism in the long run for protein product markets. An assessment of the commodity markets will be offered, as well as macroeconomy, and practical strategies for price risk management and forward pricing will be discussed.

Jason has done sports photography for the past 30 years. Over that time, he has photographed
NFL, NHL, IndyCar, NASCAR and NHRA events. Jason is a PRCA photographer who’s work has been recently published in the PRCA publication Pro Rodeo Sports News including the cover photograph from Cheyenne Frontier Days and the inside cover from the Greeley Stampede.

Jason is also the Co-founder and COO of Xiant Technologies. Xiant has developed lighting
technology for performance animals. Animal applications of the technology include poultry, beef
and dairy and equine . The technology has proven increased animal livability, improved animal behavior and performance.

Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife as they present programming for private landowners and agriculturalists including habitat programs and opportunities and landowner big game licensing. Meet biologist, district wildlife and program managers in this informational session to support collaborative efforts stewarding our shared wildlife resource.

Making Your 2023 ARC/PLC Decisions: Farmers and Ranchers in Colorado manage in excess of 4 million FSA base acres that are subject to Title 1 programs and as part of the USDA “safety net”. The decisions made regarding these programs are crucial income source for many producers. In this session we will explore the payment outlook in 2023 for ARC-CO/PLC for the major program crops in Colorado and assist growers in preparing for the March 15, 2023 enrollment deadline.

Sam Kieffer serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Vice President, Public Policy. In this role, he leads the AFBF government affairs, advocacy and economics teams in advocating for farmers and ranchers with Congress and the administration. He began his career with Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in 2005 and held several positions within the organization including Regional Organization Director, National Government Relations Director, and Manager of the Government Affairs & Communications Division. Kieffer is also a 12-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he served as a logistics officer. Kieffer grew up on a family grain and beef farm in Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Dickinson College, a master’s degree in public administration from Widener University and a master’s degree in business administration from Delaware Valley University. He is also a recipient of FFA’s Honorary American Degree.

By the end of this century, the global population is expected to nearly double to 12 billion. The need for increased food security and to protect our natural resources is often at odds. Governments worldwide are proposing climate change policy and legislation to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses and reduce the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. In addition, there is increasing pressure to reach timebound NetZero goals from multi-national food companies as companies aim to reduce their impact on climate change. AgNext at Colorado State University is working to identify forward focused solutions to help close the tremendous gap in understanding how producers can work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also maintaining a sustainable and profitable industries that support vibrant communities.

CAM’s on the Road is the traveling branch of CAM’s Ag Academy Agricultural Literacy Outreach Program. Explore the possibilities of bringing programming centered around cultivating a more agriculturally literate public to YOUR community. Learn about what CAM’s is all about, our program offerings, youth involvement opportunities, tips and tricks to get started… and more! This opportunity is for individuals looking to partner with CAM’s Ag Academy to develop impactful agricultural literacy programming in their areas.