By Elizabeth Ferry
Livestock farmers are continuously focused on improving the practices that they use to raise animals. Even small improvements can greatly impact the care that the animals receive and the bottom line for the business. By continuously utilizing educational experiences and reviewing newly developed resources, farmers can continue to grow and better manage their herds, while focusing on productivity.
One option where farmers can gain knowledge, hear about current research initiatives and results and learn new skills to invest in their operation is during the Michigan Ag Ideas to Grow With virtual conference. This conference is the Michigan State University Extension feature event for MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources month, which is held throughout the month of March. Over 60 sessions focused on agricultural topics will be delivered via Zoom and available for attendees from anywhere in the world.
Specific sessions emphasizing livestock production will be hosted the last week of February and the first week of March. Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes, with time for questions and answers with the speakers. The featured topics include:
- February 27: Getting Started with Beekeeping with Ana Heck
- February 28: Backyard Poultry; Facilities, Health and Animal Care Tips with Katie Ockert
- March 1: Basics of Biosecurity; Protecting Your Herd/Flock from Disease with Katie Ockert and Casey Zangaro
- March 2: The Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program Value Proposition with Charles Gould
- March 6: Best Practices for the Care of Your Horses with Tom Guthrie
- March 7: Parasites are Pests! Controlling Parasites in Your Livestock with Dave Thompson and Beth Ferry
- March 8: Interested in Selling at Farmers Markets? With Mike Metzger
Source : msu.edu