Iowa Beef Center

06/18/2026

The Precision Beef Technology Field Day is 1️⃣ week away! Join us near Sanborn on June 25 to see several emerging technologies in action.

📲 Virtual fencing collars including seeing NoFence collars in action at Tallgrass Cattle Company
📈 Animal health monitoring systems
💧 Water monitoring software
🛰 Drones
💻 And much more!

Addition sessions will focus on:
🔐 Cyber security
💲 Applications of technology in the beef business
🐮 Current research with technologies

The event is provided at no cost to attendees thanks to sponsorship from IA Beef Checkoff, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Nofence USA, and SDSU Extension beef team! The O’brien County Cattleman will also be grilling for the field day 🍔

RSVPs requested by calling the ISU Extension and Outreach O'Brien County at 712-957-5045 or sign up online at https://go.iastate.edu/OBFAWQ.

06/16/2026

Screwworm, ticks, and livestock - oh my! 🐛🐜🐮

If you tuned into the May 12 podcast with Dr. Matt Brewer from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine - you were ahead of the game.

In the episode, Matt discussed the history and some science of New World Screwworm. Two weeks ago, the first U.S. case was confirmed and has grown to 12 confirmed cases to date.

If you missed it - tune in today! Available on all your favorite platforms. Podcast links below 🔗🎙

06/15/2026

Calling bovine veterinarians 🐮

The 2026 Update for Veterinarians program will take place on June 24 at the McNay Research Farm near Chariton. The annual Iowa State Extension program offers timely information and education for large and mixed animal veterinarians with a focus on beef cattle production.

▫️5.5 hours of CE credits available

▫️$70 registration fee

▫️RSVP to Lucas County Extension by June 19th

▫️More information: https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/news/VetUpdate2026.html

Topics include:

👉 Implant Strategies
👉 Pinkeye
👉 BVDV
👉 Parasite control and in-house diagnostic parasitology techniques

Iowa Veterinarians – take advantage of this opportunity for some last minute continuing education hours before license renewal.

06/12/2026

Alright cattlemen - how well did you - and your fences handle that gullywasher this AM ⛈

Watergap construction takes some skill and creativity to withstand high rainfall events.

We want to see your most challenging, most creative, and most effective watergap solutions - so drop some photos in the comments!

06/09/2026

For 50+ years, the beef industry has been in chase mode, and we're 'largely' pretty good at pursuing a goal.

Dr. Matt Spangler from UNL Beef Extension Team and Iowa Beef Collective podcast host Patrick Wall discuss how to dial it back a bit, change focus to profit rather than revenue, and the columns on paper most effective at getting you there.

Tune in on your favorite platform. Links below! 🔗

06/08/2026

June 1️⃣8️⃣

Plus a livestream option. If you produce and/or use any type of silage - this conference will be time well spent 👏

Reserve your spot today for the upcoming Silage for Beef Cattle Conference on June 18th!

This free conference will provide practical, research-based insights to help producers navigate today's economic pressures while maximizing silage quality and cattle performance.

The conference will be held at the UNL Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center and is presented in partnership with the Iowa Beef Center and Lallemand Animal Nutrition, North America.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and connect with fellow producers!

Programs details can be found here: https://beef.unl.edu/silage-beef-cattle-conference/

Link to register: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScTix6pP.../viewform

06/08/2026

Have you been considering a Virtual Fencing system? This tour was designed with you in mind!

Stop 2️⃣ Mud Ridge Ranch, Red Oak, IA

This southwest Iowa farm grazes Highland cattle and hair sheep with a Nofence system on row crop acres they are transitioning into grazing land. Multiple annual forages are utilized in various capacities to achieve production goals.

Stop 3️⃣ Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, Mead, NE

There are multiple forage management research trials underway in Mead, including trials utilizing both eShepherd and Halter virtual fence systems. Intensive grazing systems and new technologies collect a lot of data. Sorting through that data is something the team at UNL has plenty of experience with.

‼ Registration deadline: JUNE 9 ‼

See full schedule and register at: https://go.unl.edu/vf_bustour

06/05/2026

Audrey Tarochione was recognized for the Baker/Cundiff Essay Award at this year’s Beef Improvement Federation! The contest for graduate students recognizes outstanding student research and writing in honor of Frank Baker and Larry Cundiff. Congratulations, Audrey!

Award Announcement!

Congratulations to the 2026 Baker/Cundiff Scholarship awardees. Read more: https://bit.ly/43aBYZi

06/05/2026

‼ The June 9 field day in Ames has been canceled ‼

Light registration numbers combined with enough rain to make digging a soil pit a challenge drove this decision.

Look for this program to be rescheduled later in the growing season.

06/05/2026

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