40th Annual Beef Cattle Conference & Trade Show – February 12

By Doug Mayo

Cattle ranchers, family members, and their employees are invited to attend the 40th annual, Northwest Florida Beef Conference and Trade Show, to be held Wednesday, February 12, 2025. This educational event will be held at the Jackson County Extension Office Auditorium, located at 2741 Penn Ave, Marianna, Florida.  Registration and the Trade Show will open at 7:30 AM central time, and the educational program will start at 8:15 AM and conclude with a grilled steak lunch.

Since 1985, the University of Florida has provided an educational conference and trade show of industry professionals for cattle ranchers in the Florida Panhandle, Southeast Alabama, and Southwest Georgia.  One of the core principles of this annual event is practical recommendations for cow-calf producers based on research-based information.  This year, the planning team has invited a veteran team of cattle and forage specialists to focus on a core area of ranching, managing the cow herd.  The focus of the 2025 Beef Cattle Conference is “Profitable Cow Herd Management.”

The cattle market is expected to very strong in 2025, but input costs have also risen to levels that require calculated investment.  The program will start with a 2025 Cattle Market Outlook, provided by Hannah Baker, UF/IFAS Cattle and Forage Economist.  Dr. Rick Rasby, Nebraska Cow-Calf Extension Specialist, will be the keynote speaker.  He will discuss the best tools he has observed for managing a cow herd profitability over his 39-year career.  Dr. Joe Vendramini, UF/IFAS Forage Specialist, has been working on managing a range of forages for cattle production for the past 20 years.  He will focus on forage management for the cow herd.  Dr. Todd Thift, UF/IFAS Cow-Calf Specialist, will share from his 27 years of experience on culling strategies for the mature cow herd.  Not just selling open cows, but other parameters to consider.  Kalyn Waters, UF/IFAS Holmes County, a 13-year veteran extension professional, will provide the final presentation that will focus on cull cow marketing and timing to optimize income. These five presentations will certainly not provide all the answers to the challenges faced in 2025, but they will help producers develop a strategic plan for their operation.

Schedule of Events (Central Time)

 7:30 – Trade Show opens & Registration

 8:15 – Welcome & Program Introduction

 8:30 – 2025 Cattle Market Outlook – Hanah Baker, UF/IFAS Beef Cattle & Forage Economics Specialized Agent

 9:00 – Key Management Strategies for the Beef Cow Herd – Dr. Rick Rasby, Nebraska Cow/Calf Extension Specialist

 9:45 – Trade Show & Snack Break

10:30 –Forage Management for the Cow Herd – Dr. Joao Vendramini, UF/IFAS Forage Specialsit

11:00 – Culling Strategies for the Mature Cow Herd – Dr. Todd Thrift, UF/IFAS Cow-Calf Specialist

11:30 – Cull Cow Marketing – Kalyn Waters, UF/IFAS Extension Holmes County

12:00 – Grilled Steak Lunch

12:45 – 1:30 Trade Show Open

This educational event is provided for only $10 per person, and includes snacks, a grilled steak lunch, and a surprise collectors item to celebrate the 40th year of this event..  Online pre-registration is required to assist with food preparation and to minimize registration time at the door.  To reserve your seats, go to:

 https://2025BeefCattleConf.eventbrite.com

In addition to the educational program, the conference will also feature a Trade Show of businesses and agencies that offer goods and services to cattle producers in the region. The representatives in attendance are trained professionals in specific areas of cattle, forage, and farm management. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact with so many resource people in one place.

If you are interested in representing your organization as part of the Trade Show, use the following link for more information:

2025 Beef Cattle Conference Trade Show Exhibitor Invitation

For more information, contact Doug Mayo, at 850-482-9620, or demayo@ufl.edu.