Ag & Natural Resources
MASTER CATTLEMAN NOW ENROLLING FOR 2010
The Master Cattleman Program has been teaching Kentucky Beef Producers better management practices for more than 8 years. More than 3,000 beef cattle producers in 118 counties have participated in the program since its inception in 2001. Hopkins County has 27 alumni of the program.
Master Cattleman consists of 10 sessions developed and presented by specialists from the University of Kentucky covering such topics as management skills, forages, nutrition, facilities, environmental stewardship and industry awareness, genetics, reproduction, herd health, marketing & profitability, and the end product. In addition, optional hands on opportunities are available at one of the University of Kentucky’s Research Farms in the fall.
Previous programs for Hopkins County beef producers have been offered at either Princeton or Hopkinsville. Efforts are underway to offer the 10 sessions at the Hopkins County Extension Office starting in mid-January, 2010. It takes a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 35 producers to make a class. Thus far 20 producers have committed to the local program.
Participants for 2010 will receive The Kentucky Beef Book, Southern Forages, the Forage Pocket Guide,The Sire Selection Manual, and the 2010-2011 Kentucky Beef IRM Calendar as well as the producer notebook.
Those who complete the program will receive a personalized Master Cattleman farm gate sign. Participants must attend 8 of the 10 sessions and complete the Beef Quality Assurance certification to earn the Master Cattleman designation. There is a registration fee of approximately $75 per person which goes toward meal costs. The Hopkins County classes will run from 5:30 to 8:30 pm and will meet on Monday or Thursday evenings, January through March.
The Master Cattleman Program is funded by the Kentucky Ag Development Board through the Kentucky Beef Network. For more information about attending a Master Cattleman Program in Madisonville this winter, contact the Extension Office at 821-3650.
