The upcoming Driftless Region Beef Conference will spotlight competitive advantages of Midwest beef producers, according to Denise Schwab, beef program specialist with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach. The conference will be hosted Jan. 26-27, 2017, at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.

“We hear a lot of discussion about the challenges of raising cattle on corn ground, yet that is one of our biggest competitive advantages over beef producers in other parts of the country,” Schwab said. “We are really excited to feature two of the leading researchers in the country to talk about the synergies between cattle and corn.”

One of the major concerns is that cattle trampling could negatively affect soil properties and crop yields. However, research at the University of Nebraska has shown that grazing corn residue at the recommended stocking rate does not reduce corn or soybean yields. In fact, a long-term study in Mead, Neb., showed slight improvements (2-3 bushels per acre) in soybean production following grazed corn residue when managed in a corn-soybean rotation. This result was the same regardless of whether cattle were grazed in the fall (November-January) or the spring (February-April).
Adapted from an Iowa Beef Center Release, Iowa State University