Farms.com Home   News

SDSU, NDSU Extension Hosting Beef Cattle Feeding Programs

SDSU Extension is partnering with North Dakota State University Extension to host informational programs for beef cattle producers. 

The Dakota Alternative Beef Cow Systems Symposium is designed to help farmers and ranchers navigate the rising costs of the pastures and forages used to feed beef cattle. There will be two in-person events – one in each host state – and one virtual event via Zoom.

As feed costs rise, it puts additional cost pressures on cattle producers. Experts from SDSU Extension, NDSU Extension and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will provide up-to-date research, information and strategies to producers.  

There will be presentations on strategies to replace forages, creep-feeding calves in confinement systems, grazing strategies that increase adaptability, and comparing the tradeoffs of alternative cow-calf systems with pasture-based systems. 

“It is no secret that pasture and forage costs have increased substantially in recent years,” said Warren Rusche, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Feedlot Specialist. “The Dakota Alternative Beef Cow Systems Symposium is part of a multi-state research and outreach effort to help beef producers make more informed decisions regarding management options to provide feed resources to their cowherd.”

South Dakota’s in-person event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2024, at the Huron Event Center in Huron. North Dakota’s is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Jamestown Civic Center in Jamestown, North Dakota. The virtual option will also be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 7 via Zoom. 

Registration is required by Feb. 5 and is $25 per person. Participants will also receive a link to a recording of the symposium. To register, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “symposium”. 

Source : sdstate.edu

Trending Video

CEO’s of the Industry with Patrick Joyce from Passel Farms

Video: CEO’s of the Industry with Patrick Joyce from Passel Farms

CEOs of the Industry, Jim Eadie sits down with Patrick Joyce of to discuss the rapid growth and evolution of one of the pork industry’s emerging large-scale operations.

The conversation explores the integration of Cactus Family Farms, the operational challenges of managing a multi-state farrow-to-finish system, and how Passel Farms is balancing scale with culture, leadership, and community impact through initiatives like Passel Provides.

Patrick also shares insights on Prop 12 repopulation projects, innovation in swine production, sustainability, animal welfare, and the future direction of the pork industry over the next decade.