Iowa Beef Center | Iowa State University

Mission: The Iowa Beef Center mission is to enhance the vitality, profitability and growth of the Iowa beef industry through timely and relevant producer education, applied research and improved access to information.
News from Iowa Beef Center
	The Three-State Beef Conference is designed to provide beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry a regular update on current cow-calf and stocker topics. Iowa State University extension beef specialists Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark are Iowa organizers of the annual event, and say the content is based on prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions.
	Three Iowa Beef Center team members were recently recognized for programming and reporting excellence through Iowa State University Ag and Natural Resources Extension. The awards were presented during the annual professional development event in October.
	Two northeast Iowa locations will host the four-part Boots in the Barn series in February and March. This program is for women dairy and beef producers and will be held in Edgewood and Decorah. Each date at both locations will have a dairy session from 1-3 p.m. and a beef session from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is $30 per person. See more information on the program topics, speakers, specific locations and registration.
	Where is the beef industry headed? Drought, a shrinking cow herd, rising costs, new regulations, and inflation have the industry floundering and producers wondering how to move forward, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How to navigate these issues is the focus of Feedlot Forum 2024 on January 16 at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.
	Cattle producers facing tight hay supplies, poor pastures and corn silage with potential for nitrates can get answers at a series of workshops planned and presented by Iowa State University extension beef specialists. Four workshops remain, set for Dec. 7-12 at various Iowa locations.
	The Inaugural Genetic Symposium is the place to be if you're a beef producer seeking information you need from sources you can trust to help guide your bull development or selection decisions. Attendees of the Dec. 18-19 event will engage with industry leaders and cutting-edge genetic tools, according to Iowa State University extension cow-calf specialist Randie Culbertson.
	What do all profitable cow-calf operations have in common? A live healthy calf crop is the key to profitability! To help Iowa cattlemen and women prepare for a successful calving season and subsequent breeding period, Iowa Beef Center is offering two Advanced Calving Clinics on January 15, 2024.
	The upcoming Driftless Region Beef Conference will showcase Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson from Colorado State University, known for her work in sustainability of beef with NCBA and JBS USA, She's now the director of AgNext, a center for research in animal and ecosystem health, and profitability throughout the supply chain, according to Denise Schwab, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The conference will be held Jan. 25-26, 2024, at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.
	The premier educational event in Iowa for cow-calf producers has been set for Jan. 26-27, 2024, at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Patrick Wall said this year’s Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference will appeal to all kinds of beef enthusiasts, while staying true to the educational focus on topics relevant to Iowa’s beef industry.
	While limited water presents significant challenges for livestock producers during drought, low water levels do offer an opportunity to make improvements in infrastructure to capitalize on future precipitation. Implementing effective water management strategies ensure productivity and health of the cow herd.
	Halloween is behind us, but for many in production agriculture, catching up on end of year business transactions and attempting to do some enterprise analysis is the real spooky season. Whether it’s simply from doing the task or from looking at the lump sums of line items like feed costs, the scare factor varies by individual. For people who prefer being out with the cows rather than in the office, it’s rarely a relished experience.
	Dealing with stress: Serious financial and other stresses continue to impact and affect those in our agricultural community. There are some resources to help deal with a variety of stress concerns and grief. The Iowa Concern Hotline is always available at 800-447-1985, iowaconcern@iastate.edu and at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/.
	Looking for a BQA workshop? Check this listing on this page of the Iowa Beef Industry Council website for a location near you. This page also has links to our IBC personnel, online BQA training, information on BQA transportation trainings and more.
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Mission: The Iowa Beef Center mission is to enhance the vitality, profitability and growth of the Iowa beef industry through timely and relevant producer education, applied research and improved access to information.

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