2026 Three-State Beef Conference: What Producers Need to Know to Stay Ahead in Today's Beef Industry

When your school board votes, Decorah News is there to report. Chip in to keep your voice in the room. The Three-State Beef Conference provides beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry with regular updates on current cow-calf and stocker topics. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialists Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark are Iowa organizers of the annual event and say each year's content is shaped by prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions. The 2026 conference is scheduled for Jan. 13–15 at locations in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. "Emerging threats to cow herd health, new technologies like virtual fencing and herd surveillance systems that are hitting the market, and pressing questions from an economic perspective are at the forefront of cattlemen's minds," Lundy-Woolfolk said. "These topics and more will be addressed at this year's program with the goal of helping producers stay ahead in today's beef industry." The upcoming conference marks the 41st anniversary of the Three-State Beef Conference and its long-standing role in providing timely information to cattle producers. Lundy-Woolfolk said that since the conference's Iowa location moved to Greenfield in 2019, more than 250 producers have attended annually. "Program evaluations consistently show appreciation for the practicality of the topics and the sharing of information related to current and ongoing industry challenges," she said. "Last year's program was especially popular, with participants estimating the value of the knowledge gained at $20 per cow." The Iowa session, the second in the series, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Warren Cultural Center, 154 Public Square, in Greenfield. The first session will take place Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 U.S. Highway 71, in Maryville, Missouri. The final session is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Nebraska Cattlemen office, 4611 Cattle Drive, in Lincoln, Nebraska. All three locations will follow the same schedule, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the program starting at 6 p.m. Topics, speakers and affiliations include: "Emerging Parasitic Threats to the Cow Herd," Dr. Craig Payne, extension veterinarian, University of Missouri "Livestock Technology Trends: Tools or Troubles?" Yijie Xiong, precision livestock technology extension specialist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln "How Global Meat Markets Shape the U.S. Cattle Supply," Elliott Dennis, extension livestock economist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln The three-state meeting series is sponsored by Livestock Risk Partners Wyatt Mohr and Medgene, with the Adair County Cattlemen serving as an additional sponsor for the Greenfield location. The registration fee is $30 per person and includes a meal catered by the Chuckwagon Restaurant and a copy of the conference proceedings. Preregistration by Thursday, Jan. 8, is requested for all locations to assist with meal planning and keep costs down. Iowa producers may register by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach Adair County office at 641-743-8412 or by emailing agriculture and outreach coordinator Terri Raasch at tlraasch@iastate.edu. For the Jan. 13 Maryville location, contact MU Extension livestock field specialist Amie Schleicher at 660-744-6231 or schleichera@missouri.edu. For the Jan. 15 Lincoln location, contact Barry Weber, University of Nebraska–Lincoln livestock systems extension educator, at 402-335-3669 or s-bweber12@unl.edu. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.