News & Releases
December 2022
The Three-State Beef Conference is scheduled for Jan. 10-12, 2023, with locations in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. The Iowa session will take place Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Warren Cultural Center Auditorium in Greenfield, with Missouri and Nebraska sessions scheduled for Jan. 10 and 12 respectively. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark said this year’s theme is “Measure to manage: exploring management strategies to cut costs, increase performance and capture value” and will offer tips and reminders for producers.
With nearly 2.5 million cattle in three Midwest states, university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference. The eleventh annual event will be held Jan. 26-27, 2023, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque.
Producers and haulers who need to renew or obtain their certification in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) can preregister now for an in-person training in Vinton in northeastern Iowa. Offered by the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the session Is set for Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Iowa State University’s new extension beef cow-calf specialist is looking forward to getting to know the state’s producers and learning how to best address issues facing them. Randie Culbertson said that starts with understanding the challenges, including her own change in perspective.
November 2022
Feedlot Forum 2023 returns to the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center on Jan. 17 with a production-focused agenda. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Beth Doran said the session presenters will provide information to increase income for beef producers and allied agri-business professionals.
Midwest Dairy and Beef Day – Foundations of Forage and Feeding from Field to Bunk is Nov. 30 and registration is still open for the free event. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation, and Northeast Iowa Community College collaborate to offer this annual program open to all beef producers, dairy producers, students and industry representatives. Extension staff from Iowa State and Wisconsin join private industry professionals and a producer panel for the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. program. Location is Iowa’s Dairy Center,1527 Highway 150 S, Calmar. To see the agenda and register go to www.nicc.edu/solutions/90378 or call NICC at 844-642-2338, ext. 1399.
The deadline to sign up for the 2023 Pasture, Range and Forage (PRF) Insurance is Dec.1, 2022. PRF insurance is a risk management tool that provides income to help offset the loss of forage production due to lack of precipitation. The insurance applies to grazing pastures, rangeland, and perennial forage acres that will be hayed. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Beth Doran said with the Dec. 1 deadline, time is short to apply for the insurance this year.
Producers and haulers who need to renew or obtain their certification in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) or Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) can preregister now for in-person trainings for both programs to be held in southwest Iowa. Offered by the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the sessions are set for Nov. 29 in Oakland and Dec. 6 in Clarinda. ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk is organizing the sessions and said both are provided at no cost.
Continuing and intensifying drought across northwest Iowa has cattle producers wondering how to prepare for 2023. Pastures were overgrazed, and the U.S. Drought Monitor has most of northwest Iowa rated as severe or extreme drought. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Beth Doran said a series of three meetings is planned to help producers manage previous drought conditions and prepare for continuing drought.
October 2022
The cost of a home-prepared quarter-pound cheeseburger is now 10.8 percent higher than just two years ago, and inflation is a major driver of that increase. As Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Beth Doran explains, the higher price is the result of higher input costs up and down the beef supply chain.
August 2022
Field peas and forages will headline a beef field day at the Iowa State University Armstrong Research Farm on Friday, Sept. 16. ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk said the field day program is geared toward local beef producers with information on exploring alternative cropping systems, tips for managing calves, and insight into the 2023 beef market.
Continued land competition, higher feed costs, and drought stressed forages are signaling Iowa cattlemen that it’s time to improve and fine-tune their grazing programs. Iowa Beef Center’s Fencing and Grazing Clinic has expanded to three Iowa locations this year to help meet that need with information and hands-on experience. Event partners are Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms. Clinics are set For Sept. 7, 12, and 14.
Incorporating a summer annual into a crop rotation provides much needed summer slump grazing while utilizing minimal row crop acres. Denise Schwab, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said a winter annual/summer annual forage rotation disrupts the standard corn/soybean rotation, which in turn provides benefits. She has organized two forage field days in eastern Iowa, Aug. 23 and Aug. 26, that will demonstrate annual forage rotations and share the results of ISU research plots. Both feature producers utilizing summer annual forages and are free to attend.
July 2022
Whether you were unable to attend the Hairy Heel Wart and Cattle Lameness Symposium on June 28 or you were there and would like to refresh your recollection on the topics and speakers, we have just the thing. Four archived videos and one presentation in pdf are now available.
If you’re thinking about attending this year’s Feedlot Short Course you’ll want to act soon. A few spots remain and Iowa State University extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk said participants in the August 2-4 event will be the first to experience new topics including a beef carcass fabrication demonstration in the ISU meat lab.
Producers and haulers who need to renew or obtain their certification in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) or Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) can preregister now for in-person trainings in eastern and northeastern Iowa. Offered by the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the sessions range in date from August 9 to September 21 and are available at no cost thanks to sponsors.
Continuing drought in northwest Iowa is forcing producers to alter their grazing plans. Fortunately they have “detours." Beth Doran, Iowa State University extension beef specialist said there are several avenues to consider, and reducing the stocking rate is top of that list.
The Beef Reproduction Task Force and Texas A&M University will host the 2022 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on August 30-31. The Beef Reproduction Task Force is a multi-state extension group made up of specialists from several land grant universities, and Garland Dahlke with Iowa Beef Center represents Iowa State University
The Beef Ration and Nutrition Decisions Software is designed to assist in the formulation of rations for beef cattle. BRaNDS users often have questions on information to use, reports that can be run, data to save and transfer, and more. IBC associate scientist Garland Dahlke and ISU extension beef specialist Chris Clark will present information and offer suggestions during two “Applied Ration Balancing, Tips, Techniques & Formulation using BRaNDS” sessions in mid-August.
Producers and haulers who need to renew or obtain their certification in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) or Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) can preregister now for in-person trainings later this summer in Carroll. Offered by the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the sessions are set for August 10 and are provided at no cost. ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk will present both workshops.
June 2022
From its first session in 2017, the Feedlot Short Course was created with today's feedlot producer in mind and remains true to that premise by adapting and adding content that's requested and relevant. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk is one of the program organizers and said it continues to be a source of up-to-date knowledge for attendees. The sixth annual event is hosted and organized by Iowa Beef Center at ISU, and will run from 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2 through noon on Thursday, Aug. 4.
Many producers have turned toward integrating cover crops as an alternative to extend the grazing season, and some have even begun utilizing warm season annual forages to fill some voids during the summer slump. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm will host a field day featuring ongoing forage research with summer annuals. The event will take place Tuesday evening, July 12, at the ISU Wallace Learning Center on the Research Farm near Lewis.
Keep current temperatures and humidity levels in mind during these hot, humid summer days, and make sure your cattle have shade and plenty of water. Check our heat resources page for more info.
Hairy Heel Wart (HHW) is becoming a significant problem for feedlot producers. It is not only difficult to diagnose but also hard to treat, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. To address the issue, ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are cosponsoring the "Hairy Heel Wart and Lameness Symposium - Iowa Checkoff Talks" on Tuesday, June 28 at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.
Livestock producers interested in strengthening or transitioning grazing practices can sharpen their skills by attending the upcoming Grassroots Grazing workshops. The series is offered by Iowa State University Extension and regional Natural Resources Conservation Service. Denise Schwab is one of the organizers and said this short course consists of five different modules taught over the grazing season.
NOTE: DATE CHANGED TO JUNE 15. One of the first Iowa State University Extension and Outreach pasture walks of 2022 is set for June 15. ISU Extension Union County is hosting the event at 1815 240th St, Shannon City, beginning at 6 p.m. The walk is for anyone interested in learning more about pasture management and cattle grazing, and features ISU extension specialists Chris Clark, Aaron Sauegling and Tim Christensen.
Cool temperatures and varying soil moisture have limited pasture and hay growth in northwest Iowa. Each forage species has unique characteristics such as growing season, height, regrowth potential, yield, feed value, presence or absence of anti-quality components, and suitability for haying, grazing or silage, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The 2022 Update for Veterinarians program offers current information and education focused on beef production. Organizer Chris Clark said practitioners who work with cattle will hear from Iowa State University experts on nutrition and diet formulation, troubleshooting common health problem related to nutrition, and more during the July 7 event.
May 2022
It’s time for a pasture walk in Lucas County and Andy Offenburger’s farm is the place. The event is set for Tuesday, June 21, beginning at 6 p.m., on the farm northeast of Chariton. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark said the program will include information from ISU extension beef, agronomy and ag engineering specialists on a variety of topics.
Beef cattle transporters are receiving notice from major packers reminding them to renew their Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) certificate. To help them renew or obtain new certification, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer BQAT trainings across northwest Iowa this summer. Extension beef specialist Beth Doran is organizing these trainings.
One of the first Iowa State University Extension and Outreach pasture walks of 2022 is set for June 8. ISU Extension Union County is hosting the event at 1815 240th St, Shannon City, beginning at 6 p.m. The walk is for anyone interested in learning more about pasture management and cattle grazing, and features ISU extension specialists Chris Clark, Aaron Saeugling and Tim Christensen.
With the cool and wet spring in 2022, there haven’t been many opportunities to seed forages. Is it getting too late to plant forages? The short answer is that there is still some time to seed forages this spring. While the typical planting window is late February (frost seeding) through late April, planting forages in May can still be successful. For areas south of I-80, agronomists suggest seeding by the middle of May, whereas north of I-80 could get by seeding even a little later in May. For spring seeding tips, see this article on the ICM website.
April 2022
It's time to start thinking about scouting for alfalfa weevil. Even with recent cool temperatures, overwintering alfalfa weevil adults have become active, made their way to alfalfa fields, and have likely begun laying eggs in stems. Alfalfa weevil is a cool-season pest and is able to survive less than ideal temperatures by moving under residue or near the crown. Adult alfalfa weevils become active and start laying eggs as soon as temperatures exceed 48°F. Alfalfa weevil egg hatching begins when 200-300 GDD (base 48°F) have accumulated since January 1. See more info and a GDD map in this ICM article.
Many Iowa producers are including winter annual forages as a cover crop to protect water quality and improve soil health. These forages also can help reduce feed costs and improve the health of spring calving cow herds. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said three field days will be held this month in northeast Iowa as a part of the Forage Alternative Research Project demonstrating the use of winter annuals for spring grazing.
March 2022
Current retail values of diesel fuel can be used as an index to estimate current and near-future yardage charges in maintaining livestock. Iowa Beef Center associate scientist Garland Dahlke said it’s important for producers to know their costs, especially in light of higher fuel prices. He recently updated the Iowa Beef Center’s Yardage-Diesel Fuel Relationship calculator to help producers determine cost estimates.
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) at calving is an important predictor of numerous important outcomes such as dystocia, calf vigor, quantity and quality of colostrum, postpartum intervals, return to estrus, and subsequent pregnancy. Very simply, BCS of 5-6 at calving time should be the goal. Chris Clark, Iowa State University extension beef specialist, said it is important for producers to analyze BCS at calving and other key times of the year.
February 2022
The annual Iowa Forage and Grassland Council Conference returns to an in-person offering in 2022. Set for March 30, this year’s event will take place at the Iowa State University McNay Research and Demonstration Farm near Chariton, and features a full day of information.
The Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association (EIHPA) Annual Meeting and Conference is back in 2022 for its 37th year. The meeting will be March 24 at Buzzy’s in Welton, and all hay producers in the region are invited to attend. This year’s featured speakers are Dave Lubben from Monticello discussing his experiences making and feeding baleage, and William Edwards, retired ISU economist, presenting info on the return on costs for hay shelters/buildings.
The Silage for Beef Conference returns for a fourth year as a one-day event with a full slate of topics and presenters on this vital part of beef cattle diets. New this year, the March 17 event focuses on small grain silage and will be available to attend in person or by livestreaming. Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach join University of Nebraska Extension and Lallemand Animal Nutrition in providing the conference each year.
Many dairy farms have adopted the practice of breeding a portion of their herd to beef bulls to produce calves for the beef production. As this practice has become more common, some dairy farms are interested in determining the practicality and profitability of retaining their beef x dairy calves to market as feeder or fed cattle versus marketing as baby calves. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension will host a two-part webinar series in March focusing on practices that can help optimize the value of dairy-beef cross animals. Optimizing Value of Dairy Beef Cross Cattle from Birth to Harvest will be held on Tuesdays, March 8 and March 22.
The 6th International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare will be hosted as a series of webinars on the fourth Wednesday of each month from February through June 2022. The Symposium features research on a variety of beef production topics including development of new or enhanced methods/tools for animal welfare assessment, indoor production practices and cow-calf management. Iowa State faculty members Dan Loy and Terry Engelken are among the speakers for the first session on Feb. 23. No cost to attend. Sessions run form 1 to 3 p.m. Central Time. See more info and registration link.
The I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 as part of the pre-educational events for the Central Plains Dairy Expo. It will be held in the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD in rooms 8, 9, and 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Iowa State extension dairy specialist Fred Hall said the focus of this year's program is Surviving Today - Opportunities to Evaluate.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer "Boots in the Barn" this spring in southern Iowa. This unique educational opportunity for cattlewomen is a five-part meeting series that will be hosted by Monroe County Extension at the Monroe County Extension Office in Albia. The series is set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. on March 1, 15, 22, 29, and April 5. Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Chris Clark said the program will include some interactive learning and hands-on activities.
The Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are offering a series of forums across the state that will focus on beef markets and economics. Four meetings around the state will be held from Feb. 24 through March 2
January
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Beef Center and the University of Nebraska are teaming up to offer the 2022 Feedlot Roundtable session at the Tama County Extension office on Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. The sessions focus on different aspects of beef feedlot operations and are offered annually in Nebraska and Iowa for feedlot operators and interested agribusiness people.
Cattle producers are invited to attend a calving clinic early next month at the Afton Community Center. Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Chris Clark said the Feb. 3 educational program will offer valuable information about analyzing body condition score, stages of labor, assisting with the birthing process and newborn calf care
The 2022 Driftless Region Beef Conference will focus on future aspects of the industry ranging from new beef products to alternative proteins, according to Denise Schwab, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The conference will be held Jan. 27-28 at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.
