The annual Orr Beef Research Center Field Day will take place at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The meeting will be held at the new Ag Sciences Complex and Fred Bradshaw Learning Center at the John Wood Community College Ag Center located west of Perry, IL. Speakers from the University of Illinois will lead discussions that will address research, current topics, and situations producers are facing on-farm.
The program includes Dr. Dan Shike and Dr. Josh McCann, University of Illinois professors, who will update attendees on the newest research at the U of I. Topics include drylot housed cow/calf pairs, heifer development, and structural correctness in feedlot cattle.
Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension Beef Specialist, will discuss using cover crops for forage production. Dr. Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois Beef Specialist, will talk about managing increasing tick pressures and give an update on the Asian longhorned tick that was recently discovered in Illinois. Christian Lovell, Director of the IL Grazing Lands Coalition, will discuss improving soil health with unrolling hay and bale grazing. Dr. Brittney Goodrich, University of Illinois FarmDoc, will discuss cattle market dynamics and give a cattle market outlook.
Those wanting to participate must RSVP. The event will be held indoor in a friendly climate, no matter the weather.
For more information or special accommodations contact Travis Meteer at wmeteer2@illinois.edu.