2014 Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference Focuses on Profitable Expansion
Source: Iowa State University Extension
The premier Iowa educational event for cow-calf producers is offering a comprehensive package of information to attendees. The popular Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference has provided timely, accurate and important information to the state’s beef cattle industry for more than 40 years. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Patrick Wall said this year’s conference, set for Jan. 18 at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, Iowa will continue that successful tradition.
"The Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference has been, and will continue to be, successful because it provides information on current topics relevant to cow-calf producers in Iowa," Wall said. "The steering committee has put together a program of industry experts that can help producers grow the Iowa beef herd responsibly and profitably."
The 2014 program targets topics designed to help producers of all ages and production goals. From genetic selection for profit to cover crop options and heifer development, professionals from universities and private industry as well as cow-calf producers in the Midwest will lead these sessions and offer attendees valuable information to put into practice on their farms.
"We have three keynote speakers -- internationally recognized speaker and author Dave Robison of Indiana; Lee Leachman, manager of Leachman Cattle of Colorado; and Brian Heudepohl of Williamsburg Veterinary Clinic," Wall said. "Robison will talk about profit potential of cover crops. Leachman will share expertise on blending composite breeds and explain his $Profit index. And Heudepohl will explain his heifer development program and successful health protocols to help producers expand their operations."
Afternoon break-out sessions include a panel discussion with individual focus on baleage harvesting, storage and cow economics, featuring Jeremy Erdmann, senior design engineer for John Deere’s Hay and Forage Platform, Dave Robison of Legacy Seeds, Inc., and Patrick Gunn, ISU Extension cow-calf specialist. A risk management discussion includes Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension farm management specialist, and Tony Latcham of Son Risk Management. Wall will target cow-share agreements for beginning or young farmers, and Iowa Angus breeder Jim Werner also will be an afternoon producer speaker.
The 2014 conference at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa begins with registration at 8 a.m. The official welcome is at 9:30 a.m., followed by two general session speakers, lunch and exhibit viewing. The afternoon begins with a general session speaker in the auditorium, followed by two break-out sessions with four choices. Admission is $15, which includes lunch and a copy of the conference proceedings. No preregistration is necessary.
The Iowa Beef Center was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
