Breed Back Better workshops planned for January 2026
12/2/25
AMES, Iowa – Amidst volatile markets, historic low herd numbers indicate an imminent cow-herd expansion. During this expansion, reproductive efficiency, intentional record keeping and sound financial management will set apart industry leaders that expand successfully without compromising quality.
Iowa Beef Center has planned six workshops across Iowa to help producers learn about proactively planning to take advantage of market conditions and animal reproductive efficiency. The Breed Back Better workshops will run from Jan. 8-29, in different Iowa locations.
“Each part of this program has been designed to incorporate interactive learning," said ISU cow-calf specialist, Randie Culbertson. “From a reproductive technology session that uses a beef breeding model, like the popular calving model, to a session challenging producers to put a pencil to paper to effectively use depreciation as a financial management tool, this will be a great program.”
Northeast Iowa extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said using benchmarks can be helpful in tracking their animals.
“There are some key measures producers can use to benchmark their herd’s calving season results against industry standards as well as the herd’s own history," she said. "We’ll work through calculating those, because most producers already have the records to do it.”
All workshops will begin with a light meal, and a brief market update from an Ever.Ag livestock economist. Registration for these workshops is $20 and will be made payable to the host county extension office.
Locations, dates and specific session details follow.
- Creston: Jan. 8, 5:30 to 9 p.m., SWCC Ag Site, 1545 W. Green Valley Road. Register by Jan. 6 by calling the Union County Extension Office at 641-782-8426.
- Centerville: Jan. 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Indian Hills Community College, 721 N 1st St. Register by Jan. 24 by calling the Appanoose County Extension Office at 641-856-3885 or by email lfirkins@iastate.edu.
- Fairfield: Jan. 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Cambridge Building, 2606 W Burlington Ave. Register by Jan. 25 by calling the Jefferson County Extension at 641-472-4166.
- Dunlap: Jan. 28,12:30 to 4 p.m. at the County Fairgrounds, 405 N 10th Street. Register by Jan. 26 by calling the Harrison County Extension Office at 712-644-2105.
- Hampton: Jan. 29, noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds Convention Center, 1008 Central Ave. W. Register by Jan. 27 by calling the Franklin County Extension Office at 641-456-4811 or or email xfranklin@iastate.edu.
- Calmar: Jan. 29, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Northeast Iowa Community College, Room 115 in the Dairy Center building. Register by Jan. 27 by calling the Winneshiek County Extension Office at 563-382-2949.
The Calmar location will also include a discussion on late gestation nutrition. Additional support for these programs has been provided by the Iowa Beef Checkoff, ABS Global, Inc., Ever.Ag and multiple local sponsors. Email the Iowa Beef Center with additional questions at beefcenter@iastate.edu.
-30-
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
