Retirement Prompts Responsibility Changes in Extension Beef Group

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The retirement of Mr. Bill McKinnon, Livestock Marketing Specialist, has necessitated shifting of responsibilities among the Extension Beef Cattle Group. Several programs for which Bill was the leader will continue such as the VA Retained Ownership Program, VQA certified calf program and Beef Quality Assurance. Current members of the Extension Beef Cattle Group and their responsibilities are listed below. Programs in bold indicate those transferred from the Livestock Marketing Specialist position.

Extension Specialist	Primary Area of Responsibilities	Major Programs
Dr. John B. Hall	Cow/Calf Management Reproduction/Nutrition	Virginia Premium Assured Heifers* Beef Producer University Virginia Cow Calf Management Course VA Beef Quality Assurance* Virginia Quality Assured Feeder Cattle**
Dr. Scott P. Greiner	Genetics Carcass Quality	VA Bull Testing Program VA Beef Cattle Improvement Program (BCIA) VA Genetic Management Conference VA Retained Ownership Program
W. Dee Whittier, DVM	Cow/Calf Herd Health Bull Fertility	VA Beef Cattle Health Conference Virginia Premium Assured Heifers** VA Quality Assured Feeder Cattle*
John Currin, DVM	Stocker Cattle Health	VA Stocker Cattle Workshop VA Beef Quality Assurance** Youth Cattle Working Contests
Dr. Mark Wahlberg	Youth Livestock, Stocker/Feedlot Nutrition Mineral Nutrition	4-H Beef Projects VA State Fair Stockman's Contest Youth Judging Contests
Dr. Dan Eversole	VT-based Public Events Cow/Calf Nutrition	Farm and Family Showcase Purebred Field days hosted by VT FFA Judging Contests
Primary Leader * Co-Leader

The feeder calf marketing, lamb marketing, market projections and market analysis portions of Bill's position will not be formally covered and information in these areas will not come from the Extension Beef Cattle Group. However, area farm management agents or specialists from Agriculture and Applied Economics may provide information in these areas. However, at this time, assignment of these areas to particular individuals has not occurred and the future of educational programming in these areas is limited.

Beef producers should continue to first contact their local Extension Office for needed beef production information and technical assistance.