Beef producers are in a new era of marketing with more changes rapidly coming. This new era will be the focus of Feedlot Forum 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center in northwest Iowa.

Tom Brink, CEO of the Red Angus Association of America and founder of Top Dollar Angus Inc., is a morning keynote speaker. He will discuss feeder calf verification and the importance of traceability to the beef industry.

Restaurant and culinary trends are changing the menus offered to patrons. Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, will share how changes in patron palates dictate the types of foods prepared and sold in fast-food, family and upscale restaurants.

Tariffs and commodity prices
Chad Hart, Iowa State University Extension economist, will lead off the afternoon with a discussion on the trade tariffs' impact on ag commodity prices, including beef. Hart and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development recently completed an analysis of the impact of tariffs on soybean prices. Hart is also versed in the effect of tariffs on meats and beef byproducts.

Rounding out the afternoon is Andrew Gottschalk, senior vice president for R.J. O’Brien and Associates. Currently, U.S. livestock producers have record meat supplies. Gottschalk will project how these supplies and export demand will affect cattle outlook and potential prices for beef.

Other short presentations include the roles of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, and an update on Beef Quality Assurance and Beef Quality Assurance Transportation. This year’s forum also features 25 agribusiness sponsors displaying the latest products, technology and services available to beef producers.

Preregister by Jan. 10
Feedlot Forum 2019 is a collaborative effort of ISU Extension, the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and three county cattlemen’s associations: Lyon, Plymouth and Sioux.

“Previous Feedlot Forums have reached producers from 25 counties and seven states. Participants value the information presented by national speakers,” says Beth Doran, ISU Extension beef specialist who covers northwest Iowa.

Registration for Feedlot Forum 2019 is $25 per person, with a discounted price of $10 for students. All registrations are due Jan. 10 to the Sioux County Extension, 400 Central Ave. NW, Suite 700, Orange City, IA 51041.

For more information, a flyer is available online. You also can contact Doran at 712-737-4230 or [email protected].

Source: Iowa State University