Livestock conference to look at effect of ethanol on beef industry
US - The growing demand for ethanol and corn is having a big effect on the U.S. cattle industry, say organizers of this year's Montana Livestock Forum and Nutrition Conference to be held April 10 and 11 in Bozeman.
27 March 2007
1 minute read
"The change that the entire beef industry is talking about is the explosive growth of the ethanol industry and its effects on the price of corn for livestock," said John Paterson, Montana State University Extension beef specialist. "As the price of corn has increased, so has the price of other feedstuffs. It is becoming more difficult for producers to stay on top of the variety of issues."
Another issue for U.S. beef producers is the potential of importing Canadian cull cows and processed beef again.
Those and other controversial issues will be addressed at the conference to be held at the Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman. With the theme of "Energy Policy and the Cattle Industry," the 56th annual conference is sponsored by MSU's animal and range sciences department, the Montana Feed Association, the Montana Beef Network and several other organizations and companies.
National and local experts will include keynote speaker Larry Corah of Certified Angus Beef. He will address "Why are we seeing a decrease in quality grade beef, and are ethanol byproducts responsible?" Gary Brester, professor of agricultural economics and economics at MSU, will speak about re-establishing U.S. imports of Canadian cull cows and processed beef.
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