Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays is featuring his conversation from April with Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, about the 2024 Cattlemen’s Conference, coming up May 22nd and 23rd in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Anyone in the cattle industry is welcome to attend this year’s event, as some of the most critical topics in the industry will be discussed.
Last May, the Cattlemen’s Conference, in collaboration with Oklahoma State University and the Noble Research Institute, made significant strides in the seed stock industry with the creation of ‘Cattlemen’s Conference: A Blueprint for the Future.’ The success of last year’s program, as noted by OSU’s Mark Johnson, has paved the way for a much-anticipated part two of the conference.
Johnson said the objective of Cattlemen’s Conference Part Two: A Blueprint for the Future is to follow up on topics that did not have the chance for in-depth discussion at last year’s conference. One of those topics that Johnson said will be discussed this year is gene editing.
“This is a fascinating and interesting area that is going to impact all of us, not just in meat animals, but in humans,” Johnson said. “There are going to be decisions to be made, and it is important to be informed.”
Johnson said there will be two different panel discussions including industry leaders discussing new technology such as gene editing.
“All the way through, the backside of this is what is going to be the consumer’s perception of this beef product that results from some of these technologies,” Johnson said.
As technology is the solution to gaining sustainability, efficiency, and improving profit margins, Johnson said finding balance in consumer product acceptance is critical.
“Long term, we can produce food more efficiently,” Johnson said.
To learn more about the conference and register, CLICK HERE!
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR at the top of the story for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
