Focus of 2025 Three-State Beef Conference Is Improving Efficiencies in the Cow Herd

By Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark

The Three-State Beef Conference provides beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry with a regular update on current cow-calf and stocker topics. Iowa State University extension beef specialists Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark are Iowa organizers of the annual event, and say the content is based on prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions. The 2025 event is set for Jan. 14-16, at locations in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska.

“With tight margins and reduced national inventory, this year’s program is focused on helping cattlemen improve efficiencies within the cow herd,” Lundy-Woolfolk said. "This is reflected in this year's theme, 'A systems approach to address common issues in beef cow-calf production for longer-term success.'"

This marks the 40th anniversary of the Three-State Beef Conference and its track record of providing important timely information to cattle producers. Lundy-Woolfolk said the Iowa location has averaged about 35 attendees over the past several years.

“Program evaluations have listed appreciation of the practicality of meeting topics and the sharing of info related to current and ongoing challenges in the industry,” she said. “Also, participants have noted estimated economic return per cow in their operations as a result of attending.”

The Iowa location is the second in the series and will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. The first session of the 2025 conference will be held in Maryville, Missouri, at the Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 U.S. Highway 71, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and the third session is on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Nebraska Cattlemen office, 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska. All locations follow the same schedule, with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the program beginning at 6 p.m. Lundy-Woolfolk said attendees at the Iowa location are invited to an optional Beef Quality Assurance training ahead of the program, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Topics, speakers, and their affiliations are as follows:

• The genetics of calving, Randie Culbertson, assistant professor and extension cow-calf specialist, Iowa State University
• Yearling bull development and management, Kacie McCarthy, beef cow-calf specialist, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
• An update on recent bovine pinkeye research and implications for management in beef cattle, Dr. Matt Hille, DVM, diagnostic pathologist and extension specialist, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

The conference brochure has agenda information and a registration form.

Preregistration will help with meal plans and in keeping costs down. Please call or email with your registration information by Friday, Jan. 10. Iowa producers should contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Adair County office at 641-743-8412 or email tlraasch@iastate.edu to register. The registration fee is $30 per person and includes a meal and copy of the conference proceedings. Also, please indicate if you will attend the BQA certification.

If you need accommodations because of a disability, have emergency medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform us as soon as possible.  For more information, contact your local county university extension office.