Continued growth among the global population will heighten demand for food worldwide. Beef producers will need to be prepared to meet the challenges, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist.

“Farmers and ranchers of the world will be challenged to feed this ballooning population,” said Dr. Jason Cleere, who is coordinator of the 2009 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course scheduled Aug. 3-5 in College Station.

While the global population is predicted to increase from 6.5 billion this year to 9 billion by 2050, Cleere said beef consumption is also expected to increase worldwide due to increasing disposable incomes in developing countries.

This year’s short course, “Ranching for the Future”, will address these “many timely issues,” Cleere said.

Topics to be covered include: steps production agriculture needs to take to feed the growing population and deal with concurrent shrinking land resources; farmers and ranchers embracing future technological advances while using natural resources in a sustainable manner; and domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. ranchers.

The short course will also feature 20 other specialized workshops that are part of the cattleman’s college sessions. The workshops will address topics such as beef cattle nutrition, health, reproduction, marketing and forage and grazing management. The Aug. 5 sessions will feature live animal demonstrations and an opportunity for participants to obtain a pesticide applicator's license, Cleere said.

Short-course registration is $140 per participant (a late registration fee will apply after July 28), and includes admission to the two-and-a-half-day conference, the cattleman’s college, a copy of the 600-page short-course proceedings, trade show admittance, tickets to the Aggie prime rib dinner, breakfast each morning, noon meals and morning and afternoon refreshment breaks.

Attendees can earn seven pesticide continuing education units, 15 veterinary credits and numerous Beef Quality Assurance credits.

Producers interested in attending may register online at http://beef.tamu.edu or by contacting Cleere’s office at 979-845-6931 for more information.