Central Missouri Forage & Beef Conference is Feb. 28

Jan 23, 2025

The Central Missouri Forage & Beef Conference, presented by University of Missouri Extension specialists, is Friday, Feb. 28, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 206 Sixth St., Vienna.

“Drought has been plaguing producers for two years now, and many pastures have forage stands that are depleted,” said Chrisee Brandl, MU Extension livestock specialist. The conference will present timely information on beef production relevant to central and southern Missouri and offer the chance to network with fellow beef producers.

“One of the most popular topics each year is the cattle market outlook, and I don’t expect that to change this year,” said MU Extension ag business specialist, Rachel Hopkins, who will present the 2025 cattle market outlook.

Speakers will cover many other topics, including financial planning for planting natives, tick diseases in cattle, small ruminants grazing in beef operations and grazing annuals/drought preparation. There will be the popular producer panel with insights from area producers who have found different ways to recover from the impacts of drought. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit with vendors at the trade show.

“I hope the conference will provide farmers with the information they need to weather the ever-changing ag environment,” Brandl said.

There is a $15 charge for the conference, which includes dinner. Preregistration is required by Tuesday, Feb. 20.

To register, contact the Maries County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 573-422-3342 or visit http://muext.us/CMFBC25.

Contact Amy Neier at the Maries County SWCD office at 573-422-3342 if you have questions.

Source : missouri.edu

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.