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Published by Iowa Beef Center Current and archived issues Subscribe to IBC Growing Beef Newsletter Published by Ag Decision Maker Subscribe	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. 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. 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. News Archives

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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.

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.

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.

News Archives

Columns

Dan Loy, Iowa Beef Center director, writes this monthly column featured in Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

December 2022

Winding down 2022

While COVID did not go away in 2022, the lockdowns, social distancing and mask mandates did. Basically we learned to live with it. For us at the Iowa Beef Center it’s been great to have a full year of educational programming without restrictions. We noticed attendance at events has been lower, especially early in the year, but it was clear people were ready to interact and socialize.

Read the rest of this column.

Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary

Iowa Beef Center and extension specialists write the "Iowa Cow-Calf Commentary" featured in the Iowa Cattleman Magazine.

December 2022

Layering the cow herd up for winter

Ensuring cows have access to protection from wind and cold elements is just as important as making sure they have access to feed and water during the winter months. As wind chills drop or hair coats become wet, heat loss increases, driving up energy maintenance requirements to regulate body temperatures. Often, this signals the cow to eat more, and ultimately, increases the feed bill. A general thumb rule is that for every degree below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, a cow’s energy requirement increases by approximately 1%. While it’s inevitable that cows need more feed during cold stress periods, providing the cow herd with extra “layers” can help mitigate how much extra feed they need.

Read the rest of this column.