Ag Digest (May 8, 2015)

Bioindustry Summit set

The 2015 Bioindustry Summit is set for May 28 in the Memorial Union on North Dakota State University's campus.

The summit will explore changing market, technological and political conditions and their impacts on the region's bioeconomy.

This year's summit will be the first to include a government networking event where innovators, entrepreneurs and investors will be able to visit informally with program specialists from a number of state and federal agencies. There will be a roundtable to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the region's bioeconomy.

A research and development showcase will highlight research from regional scientists. Interested individuals should submit their ideas using the summit's electronic system.

The summit will open with registration and a continental breakfast at 7:45 a.m. U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., will be the keynote speaker.

The summit is sponsored by NDSU, the NDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, the Bio Science Association of North Dakota, North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, North Dakota Soybean Council and North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy.

The registration fee is $100 for professionals before May 22 and $125 after that date. The fee for students is $50. Registration includes access to all events, breakfast, lunch and two breaks.

For more information, contact David Ripplinger at (701) 231-5265 or david.ripplinger@ndsu.edu or Ken Hellevang at (701) 231-7243 or kenneth.hellevang@ndsu.edu .

4-H Youth Conference set

The 2015 4-H Extension Youth Conference will be June 15-18 on North Dakota State University's campus.

The conference is open to all North Dakota youths who have completed seventh through 12th grades. Youths do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to attend.

Delegates will participate in workshops and team-building activities, hear from keynote speakers, volunteer in the Fargo-Moorhead community and attend a banquet, all with the goal of become great leaders.

The mission of the conference is to energize and empower North Dakota youths with the tools necessary to form partnerships among youths, volunteers, Extension staff and communities.

The registration fee is $225, which includes all meals from Monday evening through Thursday brunch, housing for three nights, an event T-shirt and a photograph of the attending delegates. Using the conference bus system will cost an additional $75.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, contact your local Extension Service office or the Center for 4-H Youth Development at (701) 231-7251 or NDSU.4-H@ndsu.edu .

N.D. Farm Toy Show celebrating 30th anniversary

The 30th annual North Dakota Farm Toy Show, Auction and Craft Show will be June 20 and 21 in LaMoure. Farm toy exhibits and crafters will set up in the LaMoure school gym. There will also be a kids pedal tractor pull, toy auction, door prizes and a free gift for the first 50 people.

The event starts at 9 a.m. June 20 and goes until 4 p.m. The kids pedal tractor pull is at 1 p.m. The Toy Farmer Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A barbecue hosted by LaMoure Lions will be at 4:30 p.m. in Sunset Park. The toy auction will be at 6 p.m. at the LaMoure Civic Center.

The craft show will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 21. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Toy Farmer hosts the event, which approximately 1,000 people attend each year.

For more information, visit www.toyfarmer.com or call (800) 533-8293.

Angus university feed-out set

The North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center is partnering with the North Dakota Angus Association to sponsor the fourth annual North Dakota Angus University calf feed-out program this summer and fall.

Cattle producers interested in gaining a better understanding of how Angus-sired cattle from their operation perform in the feedlot, quality grade or the potential profitability available through retained ownership can consign steers to the program.

Producers consigned 164 head of yearling and fall steer calves to the project last year.

Consigned animals should be steers with at least 50 percent Angus genetics and a desired target weight of 800 and 900 pounds at the time they are placed in the program. Producers wishing to consign steers that are lighter than 800 pounds should contact Chanda Engel, livestock research specialist, to discuss potential options.

Participants will receive periodic progress reports on their calves' performance as well as a final report on the overall performance, efficiency and carcass traits for their calves.

Producers who consign cattle pay the feeding costs based on the average cost of gain, veterinary costs and a modest yardage charge. The center carries the costs until the cattle are marketed. After the cattle are marketed, the center deducts all applicable fees from the sale price without an interest charge.

Consigned cattle should be delivered to the center's feedlot the first week of June.

To consign a group of cattle or for more information, contact Engel at (701) 652-2951 or chanda.engel@ndsu.edu ; or call Mike Wendel, North Dakota Angus Association program liaison, at (701) 710-0425.