September 2018

Thanks, Joe!

On September 7 Joe Sellers will turn in his keys to the ISU car that has basically been his office for the last 7-8 years or so.

Joe has established himself as an icon for beef producers interested in improving their forage and grazing management and there is no question his leadership in the development of IBC programs such as Greenhorn Grazing and Master Graziers will be missed. Joe’s passion for the productivity and forage potential has guided many of the pasture and forage programs that he has led. Joe was diligent in making sure that outside grazing "experts" who provided information to his clients were able to back up their recommendations with research or be ready to face some serious questions.

Joe has been a reliable source for research based recommendations for his clients for many years. This might include double checking a cow ration or help with marketing cattle. He developed the Chariton Valley Beef program as a way for producers to capture the value of superior genetics. Joe has been generous with sharing his time and expertise with young staff. Last year he hosted the Sellers “grazing boot camp” for our beef and agronomy specialists to help ensure our leading edge programs in forage and grazing management can continue and grow into the future. He also worked very closely with Dr. Jim Russell over the past year to totally revise and update the Pasture Management Guide. This is the go-to resource for pasture and grazing management in Iowa and the Midwest. Joe plans to spend more time with his cows and grandkids, and we wish him the best for the future.

Next month I will share some great news about staffing changes to ensure our excellent local programming across Iowa from the Iowa Beef Center.

Look for our programs in grazing and forages to continue and expand in the future. This fall we are planning several field days that showcase research and producers who are capturing the nutritional value of cover crops for beef cattle. Also look for continued offerings in the area of Beef Quality Assurance education and certification. Remember January 1, 2019 is the date that Tyson Foods has announced they will be requiring BQA certification by their suppliers. Our Beef Cow Systems Project is winding down and the staff will be working on the development of a Beef Cow Systems Manual based on the data collected over the last three years. Check our website for announcements related to the availability of this publication and a companion decision tool. Beyond our traditional meetings, we continue to expand our video offerings. They can be found on the IBC website or our YouTube page. Interested in improving your heifer development program and adding value to your heifers? Learn more about our Iowa Cowmaker Elite (ICE) program.

Finally, our goal is to develop relevant programs that meet the needs of beef producers in Iowa. With ongoing changes in staffing and new leadership in our cow-calf programming by Dr. Katy Lippolis, we are planning listening sessions across the state. Our field staff will be looking for local thought leaders to participate. If you would like to have direct input into the programs we develop and deliver to you from the Iowa Beef Center please contact us or your regional beef specialist. We will be planning these sessions later this fall or early next winter.

The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our "Growing Beef" newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use the "Ask our Experts" link on the website. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can also follow @iowabeefcenter on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

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