19 October 2007

2 minute read

North America

This year's conference will focus on "Beef Quality in the Ethanol Era" and explore the impact of increased ethanol production on beef carcass and retail product quality; beef industry infrastructure and economics; and key related business issues for producers. Full conference details are available at www.beefconference.com.

Driven by ever-increasing, government-mandated production levels, almost 5 billion gallons of ethanol were produced in 2006. While these developments have been a boon to struggling rural communities, U.S. livestock producers, traditionally in lockstep with crop farmers, are wrestling with what this means, not only to the future of the U.S. livestock industry, but to the application and management of its feed co-products. The 2007 BEEF Quality Summit is designed to provide attendees with the background, knowledge and tools to garner more value from their cattle in the face of this ethanol-driven paradigm.

The conference will kick off with a keynote panel discussing the question "Are we filling the demand for quality beef today?" Keynote panel speakers include a representative from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse; Angelo Fili, executive vice president of Greater Omaha Packing Co, Inc.; Larry Corah, vice president of Certified Angus Beef, LLC; and Jeff Savell, regents professor of animal science, Texas A&M University.

The conference will also feature a trade show where producers can view new industry products and tools, and speak with equipment and service vendors in a one-on-one environment. A new feature of this year's conference will be a showcase where attendees can meet with representatives of various cattle and calf marketing alliances to discuss value-added opportunities.

TheCattleSite News Desk