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.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer an exciting educational opportunity for central Iowa beef cattle producers this February. The four-part series Boots in the Barn, will be hosted by Dallas County and Boone County Extension, and is set for for 5:30-8:30 p.m. on February 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the Towncraft Gallery, 1122 Willis Ave., Perry.

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.

The Three-State Beef Conference provides beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry with a regular update on current cow-calf and stocker topics. Iowa State University extension beef specialists Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark are Iowa organizers of the annual event, and say each year's content is based on prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions. The 2026 event is set for Jan. 13-15, at locations in Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, respectively.

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 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.

The Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference, Iowa’s premier educational event for Iowa’s cow-calf sector, enters its 54th year, and the trade show and program set for January 23-24, 2026, will certainly continue that tradition. The Bridge View Center in Ottumwa will again be hosting the CCCC, and admission will continue to be free thanks to ag industry vendors that will fill the exhibit hall.

The Iowa Beef Center is offering four Advanced Calving Clinics in early January to help Iowa cattlemen and women prepare for a successful calving season and subsequent breeding period. Clinics will be offered on Jan. 6 in Fayette and Clinton counties and on Jan. 7 in Greene and Montgomery counties. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said the clinics will feature a variety of learning sessions, and opportunities to share questions and experiences.

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.

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