The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture is hosting the Kentucky Beef Conference in January 2005 to help producers “Plan Today for Tomorrow’s Markets.”“Planning for tomorrow’s markets now is a big concern among producers,” said David Herbst, UK Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Adair County. “We will talk about how long this current market may last and what producers can do to position themselves and their business to benefit now and in the future.”The conference will be January 27 at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension office in Lexington. Herbst said with the support of corporate sponsors, participants will hear from some of the top speakers in the beef industry.Speakers include Randy Blach, executive vice president of Cattle-FAX and Colorado native who was raised in the cattle business; Phil Meyer, owner of Bohannon-Meyer Insurance Company in Versailles and manager of Bluegate Farm in Fayette County and the Bohannon-Meyer Farm in Woodford County and Dennis Walter, owner and operator of a 100-plus acre beef cattle operation in Campbell County. Walter also serves in many leadership roles in the agricultural industry including the Kentucky Beef Council and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.Participants also will hear from Bob Peterson, who grew up on a farm in Iowa and raises feeder cattle and markets fed cattle for Pro Cattle in Iowa; Lowell Clifford, a beef producer from Harrison County who has a cow/calf herd on 375 acres and Jason Sandefur, manager of Berle Clay Farm in Bourbon County, a UK graduate in animal sciences and agricultural economics who was instrumental in the adoption of a certified preconditioned for health (CPH) sale in Paris, Ky.In addition to the featured speakers, participants also will hear CPH case studies presented by UK Extension Agricultural Economists Lee Meyer and Kenny Burdine.Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the meeting adjourns at 3 p.m. Registration is $10 and can be paid the morning of the conference. For more information or to pre-register, contact your local county Extension office by January 24, 2005.Sponsors of the 2005 Kentucky Beef Conference are Elanco Animal Health, Kentucky Beef Network, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Central Kentucky Ag Credit, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Farm Credit Service and Kentucky Bank.