Workshops to focus on starting, expanding feedlots
Pre-registration due Feb. 13 for first workshop
Ames, Iowa — A series of workshops aimed at helping producers and agricultural businesses start or expand feedlot operations is slated for February and March.
The “Growing Iowa’s Cattle Industry” workshops include three different sessions, occurring: Feb. 20, Feb. 27 and March 5 in Ruthven, Iowa; and Feb. 28, March 6, and March 13 in Dakota City, Iowa. The three sessions focus on whether cattle feeding fits into one’s operation, how to develop a business plan, and an update on cattle feeding practices and tools.
“The time is right to expand and grow the beef industry in Iowa,” said Dennis DeWitt, a beef specialist with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension.
Growing the state’s beef industry will create jobs and foster economic development in Iowa’s rural communities, said DeWitt, who works with the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University.
This series of workshops will include hands-on exercises and homework, he said. Each workshop lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants may choose one workshop, or they may attend all three in the series. In addition, an educational beef feedlot tour will be scheduled in the spring or summer and is only open to those who attend these workshops. There will be an additional fee for the tour, which will be collected at a later date.
The workshop schedule is as follows.
Ruthven, Iowa -- Ruthven Social Center, 130 Gowrie St.
Feb. 20: Does cattle feeding make sense for your operation? (Workshop 1)
Feb. 27: A business plan development (Workshop 2)
March 5: Cattle feeding practices and tools update (Workshop 3)
Dakota City, Iowa -- Vinny’s BBQ, 507 Main St.
Feb. 28: Does cattle feeding make sense for your operation? (Workshop 1)
March 6: A business plan development (Workshop 2)
March 13: Cattle feeding practices and tools update (Workshop 3)
Pre-registration is required one week before the workshop’s date. Registration fees are $40 for one workshop or $100 for all three. Additional members from each family or farm pay just $15 per workshop. Fees include refreshments, meals and educational materials. To register, contact Dennis DeWitt at 712-336-3488, 712-260-0019 or dewitt@iastate.edu.
The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, was established in 1996. Its goal is to support the growth and vitality of the beef cattle industry in the state. As part of Iowa State University Extension, the Iowa Beef Center serves as a central access point for all ISU programs and research related to the beef industry. For more information about the Iowa Beef Center, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
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Nancy Foster
Communications specialist
Iowa Beef Center
Iowa State University
(515) 294-9124
nfoster@iastate.edu
www.iowabeefcenter.org