Registration is open for the 71st annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course on Aug. 4-6 in Bryan-College Station. The event is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science.

The largest-attended beef cattle educational event of its type in the world attracts almost 2,000 attendees to the three-day event, said Jason Cleere, Ph.D., conference coordinator and AgriLife Extension statewide beef cattle specialist in the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station.

Producers are offered more than 50 hours of training on basic ranching practices, new technologies and hot topics in beef cattle production during the Cattleman’s College, which features 20 concurrent sessions and includes live-animal and chute-side demonstrations.

Attendees can access over 150 agriculture-related businesses and trade show exhibitors. Pesticide license holders and veterinarians can also earn continuing education units during the event.

The Youth Track is also back in place for high school students to learn more about hands-on beef cattle production.

Both in-person and virtual attendance are offered. The cost is $300 for in-person attendance, $160 for virtual registration and $150 for youth. A $40 fee will be charged for late registration after July 29. Go online for registration, or contact 979-314-8507 or email beefcattleshortcourse@gmail.com for more information.

Hot topics on the agenda

Cleere said in addition to the Cattleman’s College concurrent sessions, this year’s event will bring discussions on emerging topics such as New World screwworm and the farm bill, as well as the traditional market and weather outlooks.

“We always try to provide topics of interest to everyone from the new landowners just getting into the business to high-tech adapters and long-time producers to let them know what is coming up on the horizon,” Cleere said.

Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, will provide insights on the pace of the cow herd rebuilding across the industry and how the market is expected to take shape over the next few years. And, as is tradition, Colorado meteorologist Brian Bledsoe will give his long-term weather outlook.

The New World screwworm and the potential impact it could have on the beef cattle industry, including a historic look at the issue, will be of interest to producers across Texas and the nation, Cleere said.

Another issue of interest will be an update on the federal farm bill with Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., House Committee on Agriculture chief economist, Washington, who previously served as an AgriLife Extension economist. The 2018 farm bill was extended through Sept. 30 by the American Relief Act, 2025.

Related events

A Ranch Horse Program included with the full Beef Cattle Short Course registration will be offered on Aug. 3 at the Hildebrand Equine Complex. Those interested in only the ranch horse program can register for $60.  

Up to 32 hours of continuing education credits will be offered during the Veterinary Continuing Education programs offered Aug. 2-6. For questions regarding veterinary continuing education, contact Tom Hairgrove, Ph.D., at 979-571-9833 or thomas.hairgrove@ag.tamu.edu.

REGISTER AT https://beefcattleshortcourse.com