The Extension Office is already off to a busy year, with what should be an interesting and informative Calving Class Scheduled for next Thursday.

A Symposium had been scheduled at the Event Center in Grace, Idaho, for this week but was unfortunately canceled for various reasons.  The symposium was to cover a number of issues related to livestock, and specifically cattle, including drone usage, and various issues with infant mortality among cattle.  

Oneida Extension Educator Sawyer Fonnesbeck was scheduled to present the results of a multi-year study he has been conducting on the effects of different storage environments on the nutritional properties of hay.  That presentation will be rescheduled and we will update you as we know more. 

Next Thursday, the Extension will be hosting a Beef Calving School on January 15th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Event Center.  The University of Idaho Extension Veterinarian will be coming to talk about all things regarding calving out beef cattle. 

There will be a combination of classroom instruction and some hands on activities. A life size cow model will be used to demonstrate dystocia and other issues that may arise during calving season. The full-sized, rubber and composite models are being used to great effect in programs across the country, allowing participants to experience some of the issues related to calving that are generally only possible to experience over the course of many deliveries, and certainly not on a classroom-friendly schedule.  Dr. Lauren Christensen is a Veterinarian based in Moscow at the University of Idaho, and will bring a wealth of experience to the discussion and demonstration.

Idaho Ag Credit is sponsoring the meal. RSVP requested but not required. Call the office at 208-705-9517 to get your name on the list for what should be an interesting and informative session.

There is a lot to consider when it comes to calving (as Allison Eliason gets into in the article on this page), and the class should be a great way to get some additional input.

Other big events on the way include the Cereal Conference on February 4, which is one of the biggest events of the year for the Extension Office system and Ag in general.  We will bring you more information on that event as it becomes available.