Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Roy Burris welcomed the group to Kentucky. Bob Harmon, Department Chair, welcomed the group to University of Kentucky. Dr. Don Boggs gave a brief overview of the Farm Bill and informed the group that ARS and CREES are in the process of integration. He hoped we would have time at the end of meeting to discuss future ideas for joint projects. Don is taking over additional responsibilities at KSU and therefore, this will be his last meeting as our advisor. This is the year of a NCR Mid-Term Report. Morning: Station Reports Dr. Nancy Cox, University of Kentucky Director of Agricultural Research, spoke to the group. Station Reports were continued. A tour of the University Beef Cattle Research facilities occurred after station reports. Other topics discussed: Rick Rasby discussed E-extension and invited participation. The group discussed how commodity groups, such as NCBA, find value in providing education as a marketing tool for recruitment. The officers for 2008-2009 are: Cody Wright, President Stephen Boyles, Vice-President Karl Harborth, Secretary The group appreciates the kind offer of Jim Russell to host the meeting. The projected dates for next meeting will be June 9-10, 2009. This will be Tuesday (AM/PM and Wednesday (AM). The location will be Iowa. Additional members: The group discussed the potential for having additional members from other states. Group members are encouraged to contact individuals that they feel would find our activities valuable to them. NECERA-87 is not restricted to the central region so anyone from any region is welcome to participate. Because some of the objectives of NC-1020 appear similar to ours, the group felt that we should investigate some cooperative activities with that NC-1020. The following are some proposed symposiums for consideration for the Midwest ASAS meeting. Time: Tuesday PM  presentation 30 minutes, 5 minutes discussion and include a break. OPTIMIZING THE FORAGE BASE 1. Grazing management & Calving season  Dan Faulkner, IL 2. Supplementation  Rick Rasby, NE a. forage b. crop residues 3. Wrap up - Systems Approaches  Allen, IL 4. A couple of appropriate abstracts USING DISTILLERS CO-PRODUCTS IN FORAGE-BASED SYSTEMS 1. Supplementing stocker cattle  Terry Klofenstein (NE) or Dale Blasi (KS) 2. Feeding beef cows  Cody Wright (SD) 3. Storage  speaker from NE 4. A couple of appropriate abstracts Concerns were expressed over the low attendance. Numerous conflicts were realized and planning for 2009 will need to address those potential conflicts.

Being an NCERA Coomittee, the primary accomplishments come in the form of enhanced cooperation, mentoring of newer committee members, sharing of extension programming ideas, and communications regarding new research and extension efforts at the various stations. An annual report from all stations is produced and distributed annually. Members of the committee are highly active in eXtension and most have strong linkages to state and national constituency groups. The committee hosts a highly successful educational symposium in conjunction with the Midwest ASAS meetings in odd numbered years.