Mid-South Stocker Conference 2023

The Mid-South Stocker Conference (MSSC) is a multi-state effort bringing together specialists and extension agents in both Kentucky and Tennessee to provide an educational meeting for cattle producers focused on stocker and backgrounding cattle. The meeting rotates annually between Kentucky and Tennessee. The 2023 MSSC was held in Bowling Green, KY on February 21^st and 22^nd. The attendance for the 2023 meeting was approximately 120 individuals, from at least 4 states. The theme of the meeting was enhancing opportunities to utilize forage-based systems beyond tall fescue. Updates on animal health, marketing strategies, and market outlooks were also covered throughout the conference. A post-conference survey was shared to all participants with 13 responses. Participants were asked to rate their knowledge of the topics covered throughout the meeting on a 5-point Likert scale. The average knowledge or understanding of topics presented before and after the meeting were 2.7 and 4.4 respectively, representing a 63% change in knowledge or understanding. Producers responding to the survey represented over 16,000 head stocker calves. When asked about the economic impact that information presented in the meeting would have on their operation 8% believed they would see a $100-1000 increase in revenue, 15% believed revenue would increase $1000-2000, 30% reported a perceived increase in revenue of $2,000-5,000, and 15% perceived a $5,000-10,000 increase in revenue. Overall, the 2023 MSSC provided an effective educational meeting tailored to the stocker and backgrounding industries in both Kentucky and Tennessee.