2026 Three-State Beef Conference: What producers need to know to stay ahead in today’s beef industry

The Three-State Beef Conference provides beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry with a regular update 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 based on prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions. The 2026 event is set for Jan. 13–15, at locations in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, respectively.

“Emerging threats to cow herd health, new technolobeef cattle on corngies 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.”

This marks the 41st anniversary of the Three-State Beef Conference and its track record of providing important timely information to cattle producers. Lundy-Woolfolk said since the conference’s Iowa location was moved to Greenfield in 2019, more than 250 producers have attended annually.

“Program evaluations have listed appreciation of the practicality of meeting topics and the sharing of info related to current and ongoing challenges in the industry,” she said. “Last year’s program was really popular, and participants estimated value of knowledge gained at $20 per cow.”

The Iowa location is the second in the series and will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Warren Cultural Center, at 154 Public Square, Greenfield. The first session of the 2026 conference will be held in Maryville, Missouri, at the Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 U.S. Highway 71, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and the third session is on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Nebraska Cattlemen office, 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska. All locations follow the same schedule, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m.

Topics, speakers and their affiliations are as follows:

• 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 as an additional sponsor for the Iowa location at Greenfield. 

The registration fee is $30 per person, which includes a meal catered by the Chuckwagon Restaurant and copy of the conference proceedings. Preregistration by Thursday, Jan. 8, is requested for all sites to help with meal plans and in keeping costs down. Iowa producers should contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Adair County office at 641-743-8412 or email ag and outreach coordinator Terri Raasch at [email protected] to register.

For the Jan. 13, Maryville, Missouri, location, contact MU extension livestock field specialist Amie Schleicher at 660-744-6231 or [email protected]. For the Jan. 15, Lincoln, Nebraska, location, contact Barry Weber, University of Nebraska–Lincoln livestock systems extension educator, at 402-335-3669 or [email protected].

PHOTO: Cattle on pasture. (Adobe Stock │ #112955460 – Nazzu)