Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
10/23/00
Contacts:
Dan Loy, Iowa Beef Center, (515) 294-1038, dloy@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
As Iowa Beef Producers Change, Tough Questions Arise
AMES, Iowa -- Today more than ever, consumers dictate what farmers produce. Because of high demand for beef that's not only tender and tasty, but safe, Iowa beef producers are beginning to adopt an entirely new outlook on their industry.
Additionally, producers are finding it increasingly important to expand their operations and procure more animals. Conversely, however, state and national regulations are becoming more and more stringent on water quality standards.
"As packer buying programs trend toward value-based systems, incorporating greater incentives for consumer desired traits, producers often find themselves stuck in the middle with very difficult choices," said Dan Loy, extension beef specialist with Iowa State University's Iowa Beef Center. "The Iowa Beef Center can help. Through this cutting edge seminar, university and industry experts will examine new methods for designing feedlot operations and marketing cattle that may answer many of the questions Iowa's cattle producers face."
"Cattle Feeding in Iowa for the 21st Century -- Facilities and Marketing," will be held Nov. 1 and 2 in the Scheman Building at Iowa Sate University and will focus on current and pending regulations and procurement programs that will affect producers' operations today and well into the future.
Carcass measurement systems, open feedlot design and controlling and treating nutrients and runoff are just a few of the topics that will be address by several beef industry experts.
Held in America's heartland, the conference will showcase Iowa's ever-increasing role in the national beef industry. All Iowa feedlot operators should make plans to attend this innovative two-day conference.
An agenda and preregistration information for "Cattle Feeding in Iowa for the 21st Century - Facilities and Marketing" can be found at the Iowa Beef Center's Web site at www.iowabeefcenter.org. To register, please call ISU Extended and Continuing Education at (515) 294-6222.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.