Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council annual conference set for Feb. 4 in West Des Moines
12/19/25
AMES, Iowa – The 2026 Iowa Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference date, place, and schedule are set! Join us Feb. 4 in West Des Moines for a day of learning, networking, and continuing to strive for improved forage management across Iowa.
Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., with educational sessions kicking off at 10 a.m. and concluding at 3 p.m. First, a session titled “Grazing for the Birds” from the Iowa DNR and Audubon Conservation Ranching will feature benefits of grazing public lands and using grazing as a beneficial conservation tool.
Dr. Shelby Gruss, Iowa State University extension forage specialist and Iowa Forage and Grassland Council board member, will partner with ISU plant pathologist Dr. Alison Robertson to discuss rust and other emerging diseases in forage crops, focusing on both the plant and animal impacts. The third session will follow a similar tag-teamed approach with ISU entomologist Dr. Erin Hodgson discussing common pests and insects to watch in alfalfa, silage, and other forages, and Dr. Gruss addressing the subsequent feed value impacts.
During lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to view and network with various forage research poster presenters and representatives from tradeshow vendor booths. The IFGC will also conduct its annual business meeting, confirm officers for the 2026 year, and hold elections for new board members.
The day will conclude with a presentation by Iowa Farm Bureau livestock economist Dr. Chris Pudenz, who will address trade, New World Screwworm, and recent developments impacting cattle and forage markets in Iowa and across the country.
The conference is open to the public and will be held in the Iowa Farm Bureau auditorium, 5400 University Ave., West Des Moines. Thanks to sponsorship from Iowa Farm Bureau and Premier 1, conference registration fees are $45 for the day, while IFGC members pay $30. Lunch is included in the registration fee. To register or find more details, visit the IFGC events page.
The Iowa Forage and Grassland Council is led by a board of directors composed of agricultural producers, industry stakeholders and educators to advance forage production in the state. IFGC hosts or supports a variety of forage-focused meetings throughout the year, including its annual meeting generally held in February. Regardless of membership, all who have a vested interest in Iowa’s forage production are invited to attend. Learn more about the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council including how to join the organization, on the IFGC website.
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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:
Beth Reynolds, ISU Extension and Outreach program specialist, 515-294-9881, bethr@iastate.edu
