CANTON -- Cornell University Extension Beef Specialist Mike Baker, Extension educators, a feed industry representative, and local livestock farmers are set for the 2010 Northern NY Fall Beef Week, an annual program to help livestock producers improve production and profitability.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, Baker will be talking about the decision to feed or sell cattle and the factors to consider when marketing feeder cattle, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Learning Farm, 2043 Co. Rt. 68. The charge is $5.

A feed industry representative will offer projections for winter feed costs and instructions on how to read feed tags.

Local livestock farmers will share tips on feeding calves to higher weights.

“There is a lot of feed available this year which gives farmers the options to feed their animals longer and sell them as heavier feeder calves in the spring or to grow them out to fed cattle for the open market and direct to consumers instead of selling them now,” Baker says.

Northern NY Fall Beef Week organizer and Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge says, “In addition to learning the latest practices from Cornell faculty and educators and industry representatives, the seasonal Beef Weeks in Northern New York offer farmers the opportunity to learn from one another about what works and does not work on the farm.”

Hodge says she expects those attending to learn how they can work with neighboring farmers to price, purchase and handle feed from the region’s dairy farmers who may have extra feed to sell.

There is also a presentation on how beef producers can work with the region’s dairy farmers to purchase their excess feed and take advantage of the abundant resource.

To register or for more info, call 379-9192.