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Ag Decision Maker

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The future of information sharing is so much more than in-person meetings, and Patrick Wall is making it even better. The Iowa State University extension beef specialist hosts a new video podcast from Iowa Beef Center called the Iowa Beef Collective. Regardless of your role in the beef industry, he said you'll find something of interest and value.

Are you up to date on your Beef Quality Assurance or BQA Transportation certification? Southwest Iowa producers have two opportunities to renew or complete certification before the end of the year. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk is organizing both locations, set for Nov. 11 in Oakland and Dec. 9 in Clarinda.

The university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference to educate beef producers. The fourteenth annual event will be held Jan. 22-23, 2026, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque.

The popular estrus synchronization planner for beef cattle is now available in an online/phone application format. First available years ago through the Beef Reproduction Task Force as a for-purchase tool, the planner and its multigroup version have been offered at no charge via the Iowa Beef Center website since 2011. IBC research scientist Garland Dalhke is a member of the task force, and developed and maintains the spreadsheets. Now he's created an online version also available at no charge.

Emerging technologies are on the agenda for a November 13 field day near Red Oak, and all are invited. Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and South Dakota State University Beef Extension have partnered to showcase, demonstrate, and discuss a wide variety of new tools and techniques in beef production. ISU beef specialist Erika Woolfolk said a unique feature is the SDSU technology trailer packed with a variety of livestock technologies.

The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University is excited to announce the third annual Genetic Symposium to be held Nov. 19-20 in Ames, at the ISU Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. This year's symposium, planned by Iowa Beef Center and ISU Extension cow calf specialist Randie Culbertson, will focus on the practical implementation of genetic tools and technologies for commercial beef production.

 

 

News Archives

Columns

Director Column

Denise Schwab in The Cattleman Magazine.Aimee Wertz-Lutz, IBC director, writes this monthly column featured in Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

October 2025

I had the opportunity recently to participate in a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training hosted by field specialist Denise Schwab and held at the Tama Livestock Auction Facility. It reminded me that while we certify periodically, it is important to always keep BQA practices at the forefront of our minds because of their positive impacts on cattle, the customers’ eating experience, and the industry’s bottom line.

Read the rest of this column.

Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary

Iowa Beef Center and extension cow-calf specialist Randie Culbertson writes the "Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary" featured in the Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

October 2025

To cull or not to cull – that is the question

Following years of persistent drought, we are currently in the phase of the cattle cycle when our cow numbers are down and calf prices are high. High cull cow prices continue to signal the opportunity for increased culling of females from the herd. At the end of the day, there are pros and cons to culling that should be considered when deciding who to keep and who to send to town.

Read the rest of this column.