The Iowa Cattlemen's Association is holding its annual meeting in conjunction with the annual Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference this year. A lineup of top-notch speakers on a number of topics of interest to cattle producers is being offered. The event is set for Ottumwa in southeast Iowa on Feb. 25 and 26, 2011. You don't have to be a member of ICA to attend this conference.

The ICA's 2011 Annual Convention does have a later date and different location this year because ICA is partnering with the annual Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This anniversary in itself is an interesting story. The Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference is a loosely based group that has worked for 40 years to provide important information to cow-calf producers who are so prevalent in southern Iowa and northern Missouri.

If you're interested in attending this year's combined ICA annual conferences and the Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference, you can find out more information at www.iacattlmen.org or call the ICA office at 515-296-2266. Here's the line-up of speakers and topics, which will be of interest to all cattle producers.

Friday, Feb. 25

10:30 a.m. - Colin Woodall, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs; Woodall will talk about developing issues in Washington, D.C. that Iowa cattle farmers need to watch

Noon – Lunch will be followed by several county awards as well as recognition of the Beef Quality Assurance Award, and information about Iowa's Best Burger contest. A special update on Animal ID will be given by State Veterinarian Dr. David Schmitt, DVM.

2:15-4:00 p.m. – ICA's policy committees will meet and discuss proposals that will go before membership on Saturday, Feb. 26. The policy committees are Beef Product, Business Issues, and Cattle Production. Each committee will also hear from new Iowa DNR Director Roger Lande and Wayne Gieselman, Administrator of DNR's Environmental Services Division.

Throughout the day, 100 vendors will be available in the trade show area to talk about their products and services to Iowa's cattle industry. There will be several live cattle exhibits.

6:30 p.m. – Dinner includes the recognition and celebration of this year's ICA Hall of Fame inductee, the Couser Cattle Company which just won the National Environmental Stewardship Award, the 40^th anniversary of the Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference, and youth scholarship winners.

Saturday, Feb. 26

9 a.m. – Mark Pearson, host of the nationally syndicated public television show 'Market to Market'. Pearson will give his view on 'What's Ahead in Agriculture?

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – The Iowa Cattlemen's Association will hold its annual business meeting. Members will discuss and vote on policies proposed in committee meetings on Friday afternoon.

11:30 a.m.-Noon. – The Iowa Beef Industry Council holds its annual meeting to elect officers and review its financial report.

1 p.m. – Dr. Ron Plain, Ag Economist at the University of Missouri. Plain will review the factors that could lead to or keep cattle farmers from seeing 'Another Year of Record Fed Cattle Prices.'

2:20-3:55 p.m. – Five topics will be discussed over two concurrent breakout sessions. Topics and speakers are:

Finding Links in the Value Chain - Jeff Ryan, Cresco

Managing Intensive Grazing and Costs- Dave Lubben, Monticello

Hay Storage Approaches – Miles Keaton, John Deere

Hot Cow-Calf Health Topics – Dr. Gene Hoy, Richland, and Drs. Grant Dewell, Vickie Cooper & Terry Engelken of ISU

Diverse Cattle Operations – One Common Goal – Tim Kaldenberg, Albia; Bill Couser, Nevada, and Colin Woodall, NCBA