By Andi Anderson
The 2025 Driftless Region Beef Conference will bring together beef producers from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin for a two-day educational event on January 23-24.
Hosted at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, the 13th annual event features sessions tailored to the needs of cow-calf and feedlot operators.
The conference begins Thursday with keynote speakers Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University and Troy Rowan from the University of Tennessee. Marta Kohmann from the University of Wisconsin will present on sustainable grazing practices, focusing on long-term pasture productivity and grazing studies.
The day concludes with a “Bull Pen” discussion, where local locker plant managers will share insights on marketing beef.
Friday starts with a breakfast session featuring Bruce and Peyton River of Maquoketa, who will discuss the challenges and rewards of transitioning family farms. The rest of the day includes breakout sessions on cow herd and feedlot topics.
Key feedlot presentations include:
Risk Management in a High-Priced Market by Joseph Lensing, focusing on strategies to protect cattle value.
Market Timing for Midwest Cattle by Erika Woolfolk, presenting research on performance technologies and grid market decisions.
BeefXDairy Lifetime Performance Project by Denise Schwab, highlighting findings on beef-dairy cross calf nutrition and growth.
Erratic Intake in the Feedyard by Josh McCann, explaining the costs of inconsistent feed intake.
The conference concludes with Derrell Peel’s keynote, “Cattle Market Outlook: 2025 and Beyond,” offering an analysis of market trends and profitability factors.
Registration costs $120 before January 10, 2025, and $145 thereafter. Visit the conference website for details on speakers, topics, and lodging.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sstajic
Categories: Iowa, General