Extension Highlights Summer 2016 | Page 7

Cornell Cooperative Extension State Beef Specialist Mike Baker was recently awarded a grant of $627,000 by the NYS Department of Ag and Markets to promote a growing/finishing model for beef cattle in the Southern Tier, also known as raising stocker cattle. In Dr. Baker’s words: “Stocker cattle are typically acquired as young lightweight calves that spend a summer grazing on pasture lands, which allows them to add weight inexpensively. At the conclusion of the grazing season, the animals are sold, reducing the need to purchase or make hay (a significant expense during the winter for breeding operations). Cattle and beef values are at an all-time high, especially for locally-produced products and livestock finished on grain or grass. And there is great demand for those products from institutional buyers such as schools and hospitals. Those market developments, along with the region’s abundant high quality forage lands, make Southern Tier counties well suited to grow their position in the stocker cattle market. A major appeal to growing stocker cattle is that the venture requires minimal investment in machinery and buildings, creating a low barrier

to entry. The only major requirements are access to grazing lands, which can be leased, and the capital to purchase cattle.”

To kick-off this multi-year initiative, Schuyler and Steuben CCE recently hosted a “stocker summit” workshop at the Tryone Fire Hall. At this meeting, Dr. Baker and other presenters emphasized that the stocker cattle enterprise is one of the few agricultural businesses that beginning farmers can get involved in without a lot of overhead. What they do need is training. This project will provide intensive training to increase the opportunity for success. Baker also added that it will be an opportunity for farmers looking to transition out of dairy production. For copies of the information presented in Tyrone, and upcoming events related to the initiative, visit: http://beefcattle.ansci.cornell.edu