Driftless Region Beef Conference set for Jan. 22-23 in Dubuque

DUBUQUE, Iowa –The university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference to educate beef producers. The fourteenth annual event will be held Jan. 22-23, 2026, at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa. Past participants in this conference have said the program would increase their economic return by more than $10 per animal managed, testifying to the value of attending the conference.

Cattle prices have been at record highs year after year, but producers still need to focus on the basics to remain profitable. Four keynote speakers will be featured the first afternoon. From the health perspective Dr. Mark Hilton from Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants will discuss the role and value of basic biosecurity, and Dr. Teresa Steckler from the University of Illinois will share information on the movement of ticks into the upper Midwest and their impact on cattle herds. Dr. Matt Spangler from the University of Nebraska Lincoln will discuss genetic selection tips and the role it plays in cow longevity. Dr. Kellie Curry-Raper from Oklahoma State University will share some of her research looking at what practices add value to feeder calves and how to implement them in the cow herd.

The Thursday afternoon and evening schedule includes vendor networking, dinner and the traditional bull pen panel discussion.

Friday morning features four breakout sessions each for cow herd and feedlot topics. Cow room topics include interseeding sudangrass to boost over-grazed pastures, proven profit tips for cow-calf producers, using genetics to your advantage, and a hands-on reproduction session. The feedlot room topics include risk management, tips for silage management, feeding to heavier weights, and mycotoxins. The conference will wrap up with a market outlook from Dr. Brenda Boetel of the University of Wisconsin.

The early registration fee of $120 per person must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 7. After that date, it increases to $145. More information on topics, speakers and lodging is available at https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/beef ↗️.

The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University 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 University 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 ↗️.