Beef workshop can improve profitability

     Are you interested in finding ways to modify your operation to control costs, optimize feed utilization or improve profitability?

     The Iowa Beef Center has spent the last three years working with 28 cooperators to characterize the cost, feed utilization, land use and best management practices for three different cow production systems, and now we are ready to share the results of this study. The three systems included the traditional system of grazing during the summer months and providing stored feed in the winter months, extended grazing where cows are fed only a limited amount of stored feed, and a limited grazing system where cows are fed stored feed throughout most of the year.

     A series of workshops will share these results along with a tour of a local cooperator. The workshop for this area is Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Jones County Extension office and Expo Hall in Monticello. The tour will feature the operation of Dave Lubben and Lydia and Neal Grant. Their operation was a part of the tradition production system, although they have done a lot to extend their grazing system also. Some of the features of this operation include a calving barn for all first-calf heifers, a sand pasture for calving cows, a rotational grazing system for summer grazing, and extensive corn stover winter grazing.

     Data collected in this project included cost of production, feed usage and management, forage quality, soil samples, and land use. The workshop will show production cost comparisons, feed quality results, feed usage and rations fed, health concerns and ways to add value to the operation. An example budget tool will also be presented.

     This project was originally funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and transitioned to the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. Attendance is free thanks to sponsorship of Iowa Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of American and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

     For more questions on the project or workshop, contact your local Extension Beef Specialist. Preregistrations for all locations are due Feb. 15. To preregister, call the Iowa Beef Center at 515-294-BEEF (2333) and leave your name, phone number and email address, along with the location you plan to attend. You also can email beefcenter@iastate.edu and provide the same information.  

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