Driftless Region Beef Conference 2026 offered in Dubuque Jan. 22-23
1/5/26
DUBUQUE, Iowa – University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and University of Wisconsin Extension services are working together to offer the thirteenth annual Driftless Region Beef Conference to be held on January 22 and 23, 2026, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, IA. Past participants in this conference said the program would increase their economic return by more than $10 per animal managed, testifying to the value of attending the conference.
The aim of the conference is to provide educational sessions for beef producers. The early registration fee of $120 per person must be received prior to midnight on January 7, 2026. After that, the price increases to $145 per person. To register please visit https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/beef/ where you can also find more information on topics, speakers, and lodging.
ISU extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said cow-calf producers should be especially interested in hearing from Dr. Mark Hilton from Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants in Indiana on the role and value of basic biosecurity to the beef operation. His first presentation will focus on the daily management practices that protect your operation from health challenges.
One of the new pests of concern to cow operations is the Asian Longhorned Tick, which is moving into the upper Midwest and brings with it the disease Theileriosis. Dr. Teresa Steckler from Illinois will discuss the movement of this tick and how to manage its impacts. Dr. Matt Spangler from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln will share information genetic selection for the “right” cows based on the operation's goals, resources and constraints. The final Thursday speaker is Dr. Kellie Curry-Raper from Oklahoma State University. She will share some of her research looking at what practices add value to feeder calves and how to implement those changes in the cow herd.
The Friday breakout sessions include a hands-on cow reproduction session with Dr. Randie Culbertson and Beth Reynolds, both from Iowa State University, using a cow model. Beth will also do a session on the pasture interseeding sudangrass project that can be used to boost over-grazed pastures like calving pastures. Hilton's second session is on proven profit tips for cow-calf producers. Profits have been tremendous in recent years but eventually will moderate in future years. Finally, Culbertson will present a session on using genetics to your advantage.
To wrap up the conference, everyone will come together again to hear from Dr. Brenda Boetel from the University of Wisconsin talk on the cattle market outlook for 2026 and beyond, which encompasses the current cattle market situation and factors affecting producer profitability.
For more information on the conference and to register please visit https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/beef/ where you can also find more information on topics, speakers, and lodging.
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The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
Contact:
Denise Schwab, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist, 319-721-9624, dschwab@iastate.edu
