Farmfest livestock tent offers panels and certification programs

By Scout Nelson

Farmfest visitors will find the livestock tent bustling during the three-day event in Morgan, Minnesota. Alongside Congressional delegates and farm bill panels, livestock producers can attend seminars tailored to their operations in the livestock tent.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Kelly Schmidt, executive director of Minnesota Beef Council, will moderate a panel providing an update on the H5N1 avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle. “I know that’s top of mind for a lot of livestock producers,” said Niki Jones, director of marketing at IDEAg Group, the organization behind Farmfest.

Panelists include Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen, Minnesota State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs, American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson, and Minnesota Milk executive director Lucas Sjostrom. Minnesota has had eight confirmed cases of the virus since April, affecting herds in Benton, Morrison, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Sibley, and Stevens counties.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, visitors can attend a panel focused on feedlot regulations and livestock policy issues, including California's Proposition 12, which impacts swine housing protocols nationwide.

Panelists include Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association past president Mike Landuyt, Minnesota Pork public policy director Lauren Servick, and Ryan Yates, managing director of government affairs at American Farm Bureau.

Thursday morning, producers can get their Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification. Kaitlyn Root, BQA coordinator with Minnesota Beef Council, will lead the program, marking the first time Farmfest has offered this certification.

Attendees can also register for a manure handling training session put on by University of Minnesota Extension, starting promptly at 8 a.m. in the Wick building. A 2015 law requires all commercial manure applicators to be certified and have a current license to work in Minnesota.

Most livestock-related exhibitors and vendors will be set up in or around the livestock tent, with cattle chute demonstrations held twice daily. Live cattle will be used to show how gentle the chutes are, Jones said. “It’s a pretty cool setup,” she added.

Farmfest provides an excellent opportunity for livestock producers to stay informed, get certified, and see the latest in livestock handling technology.

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