News & Releases
May 2026
Jeff and Shelly Monck and Nicole and Jon Vernon wanted to expand their cow herd but had limited pasture available. So they incorporated annual forages into their grazing plan using oats, cow peas, rye, turnips and various other annual species to increase grazing acres from crop ground. Cattle producers interested in ways to stretch their pasture with annual forages are invited to attend a pasture walk at the farm near Monticello on June 23 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Forage producers interested in learning more about pasture weed management, fertility and interseeding are invited to a northeast Iowa pasture walk on June 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. The pasture is located at the Scott Cherne farm, 28639 Miners Creek Road, Guttenberg. The pasture walk aims to answer questions about weed management and selecting different forage species for pastures. Topics include a variety of issues related to fertilization, species selection and weed management, to be presented by Iowa State extension field agronomist Joshua Michel and Corteva pasture and land management specialist Ryan Hegland. The program includes pasture tour and light dinner after the walk. Contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Clayton County office with questions and to register at xclayton@iastate.edu or 563-245-1451.
Beef cattle producers are invited to learn more about creating and sustaining long term helpful practices in livestock and forage systems at a new educational opportunity in central Iowa. The Resilient Systems Field Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 9 at the Iowa State Beef Teaching Farm located south of Ames at 3725 520th Ave. The event is offered by ISU Extension and Outreach.
Cattle producers and industry professionals will have a unique opportunity this summer to explore virtual fencing technology in real-world settings during an event hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Iowa State University. Scheduled for June 16–17, the Virtual Fencing Bus Tour is designed to provide hands-on exposure to multiple commercially available systems while connecting participants directly with producers, researchers, and technology providers with stops in Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska.
April 2026
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer an exciting educational opportunity for beef cattle producers in May. The Beef Cattle Reproduction Workshop, hosted by Dallas County and Boone County Extension, is set for May 13 at the Dallas County Extension Office, 28061 Fairground Road, Adel. ISU extension beef specialist Chris Clark said the program will highlight hands-on learning with a new artificial insemination (AI) model.
IBC is excited to announce an opportunity to join our team as northwest Iowa extension beef field specialist. Individuals with experience in beef cattle industry feedlot and cow-calf are encouraged to apply for this newly opened position. The successful candidate will demonstrate skills in development and delivery of beef-related programming, as well as communication, organization, and network development. If you’d like to be part of a team that delivers science-based educational programming to producers in northwest Iowa, the region and state as needed, please consider applying.
March 2026
Calves are on the ground and various cover crop fields are turning green. As cattle are turned out to these annual forages, it’s good to review some timely reminders. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers the following tips from extension field agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe and extension program specialist Beth Reynolds.
The Iowa Beef Collective podcast is now part of AgriAmerica’s agricultural podcast list. As a one-stop shop for ag news and entertainment, Learfield’s AgriAmerica features nearly 100 podcasts and is available on a streaming channel 24/7. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Patrick Wall originated and hosts the Iowa Beef Collective video podcast from Iowa Beef Center at ISU, and said having the podcast affiliated with AgriAmerica is a great move for both entities.
February 2026
Dairy producers, feedlot operators, and industry professionals should plan to attend the 2026 Dairy Beef Short Course on March 17 in Sioux Falls, SD. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and features a full day of research-based information on feeding and managing beef-on-dairy cattle.
Experienced cattle feeders are invited to take part in an Advanced Cattle Feeders Clinic in northeast Iowa on March 3. The hands-on program is provided by Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and is designed to address some of the most pressing challenges facing Iowa feedyards today.
January 2026
All hay producers in the region are invited to attend the 41st annual Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association (EIHPA) Annual Meeting and Conference on Thursday, March 19, at Buzzy’s in Welton. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the program starts at 10:30 a.m. This year’s program will feature four ISU Extension faculty and staff: Dr. Shelby Gruss, Dr. Aimee Lutz, Joseph Lensing and Virgil Schmitt.
POSTPONED TO FEB. 23: The Iowa Beef Center with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer an Advanced Calving Clinic on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., at the Iowa National Guard Armory in Denison, located at 12 North 35th Street. ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk said the clinic will feature a variety of learning sessions and opportunities to share questions and experiences.
Cattle producers are invited to attend a calving workshop on Jan. 29 at the Afton Community Center. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark said the educational program will offer valuable information about calving, health, and nutrition, and include a hands-on calving simulation.
Water quality, feedlot health issues, and the cattle market outlook are just some of the topics that will be covered during the 2026 Feedlot Forum set for Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Terrace View Events Center in Sioux Center. The event is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach and the Sioux County Cattleman’s Association.
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, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque. 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.
News releases |2026|
