Driftless Beef Conference is set for January

     With nearly 2.5 million cattle in four Midwest states, university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference.

     The 10^th annual event will be held Jan. 27-28, 2022, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is a presenting partner.

     The driftless region in these states contain rolling hills, streams and karst soil topography. Because soil and water conservation is best accomplished when much of this land is seeded for forage, and livestock then consumes those forages, the conference will focus on efficient and economic forage and beef production.

     The conference begins on Jan. 27 at 1 p.m., with keynote speaker Ron Gill, professor and extension livestock specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and associate department head. In a meat fabrication demonstration, Iowa State University meat science specialist Terry Houser, associate professor and Smithfield Foods Chair in Meat Science Extension at Iowa State, will show and explain various value-added cuts.

     The final two afternoon topics include alternative meats and consumer trends. An evening discussion on value-added opportunities will feature a producer panel. Friday morning's session features Matt Ludlow of Rush Creek Ranch in Wisconsin, who recently won the National Stocker Award, followed by eight breakout sessions for feedlot operations and cow-calf producers, and a market outlook.

     Key speakers are Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State, and Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach; Bill Halfman and Mark Renz, University of Wisconsin; Bailey Harsh, University of Illinois; and Mary Drewnoski and Elliott Dennis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

     The early registration fee is $85 per person and must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 14. The price increases to $115 after that date. More information on topics, speakers and lodging is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef/. Online and mail registration forms are available on the conference website.

     The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois Extension and University of Wisconsin Extension. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at 319-472-4739.