There is no doubt the beef industry is changing, yet the bigger question is how feedlot producers can adapt and move forward. Beth Doran, Iowa State University extension beef specialist for northwest Iowa, said Feedlot Forum 2024 is designed to help producers transition through a variety of big changes.

"For example, the supply of feeder cattle includes more beef-dairy cross cattle, and implants are regulated for specific production phases," she said. "Market transparency continues to be cloudy, and a dramatically reduced cow herd has increased prices for animals throughout the whole supply chain."

This popular annual program is a grassroots collaboration of ISU Extension; the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association; and the Lyon County, Plymouth County, and Sioux County Cattlemen’s Associations. Feedlot Forum 2024 will be held for January 16, 2024, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.

Keynote speaker will be Mike Murphy, chief operating officer for CattleFax. He has been involved with all facets of CattleFax – feedlot , stocker, and cow-calf – as well as preparing feed grain analysis. His focus is risk management for the beef, cattle, and grain sectors, and the focus of his presentation is "When will the Cattle Industry Expand?"

Other perks at Feedlot Forum 2024 include brief updates on industry leadership, a trade show featuring 19 industry-leading businesses, and a New York steak dinner.