University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is collaborating with USDA and two other land-grant universities to sponsor a day-long informational conference on beef barns on Nov. 21.

Beef barns of all types are becoming more common in the upper Midwest, but there's still a lot to learn about them, says Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension beef program specialist.

South Dakota State University, USDA's Agricultural Research Service and agency's National Institute of Food and Agriculture are other conference sponsors.

The Beef Facilities Conference will be held at the Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Styles, Economics and Performance of Beef Barns is Topic of Nov. 21 Conference

"The purpose of the conference is two-fold," says Doran. "Morning sessions feature environmental research with these facilities; afternoon sessions focus on building management and cattle performance."

The morning session will include results of a two-year air emissions study in mono-slope barns, air quality regulations and how to capture, manage and use nutrients produced in beef barns. The two-year air emissions study looked at the emissions of gases and dust and is one of the first studies looking at air quality in these barns. Morning presenters are Erin Cortus, assistant professor at SDSU; Mindy Spiehs, research animal scientist at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; Rick Stowell, associate professor at UNL; Kris Kohl, ISU Extension and Outreach ag engineering program specialist; and Angie Rieck-Hinz, Extension program specialist at ISU.

Afternoon sessions will feature two panels--a producer panel discussing building management in different style barns and a university panel discussing cattle performance. 

Four styles of facilities will be featured--mono-slopes, hoops, slatted floor deep-pit barns and open lots. The university panel includes Robbi Pritchard, distinguished professor at SDSU; Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center at ISU; Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension and Outreach ag engineering program specialist; and Russ Euken, ISU Extension livestock program specialist.

The conference is tailored to feedlot producers, beef consultants, building contractors, engineers and consultants, state and federal agency staff and extension and university professionals. 

Conference information, registration materials and potential sponsorships are available on-line at www.aep.iastate.edu/facility/.  Registration is $40 if registered by Nov. 14.  Students receive a $15 discount. Fees will increase $20 after Nov. 14 for all participants.