Four-state beef cattle conference to cover herd expansion, cattle markets

By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK – Extension specialists from Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas are partnering for the 2025 KOMA Beef Cattle Conference.

MARKET UPDATE – Derrell Peel, Professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University will provide the keynote address at the 2025 KOMA Conference, covering herd expansion and market impacts.

The conference, co-hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Missouri, is a one-day conference providing research updates from extension specialists, professors and graduate students from all four states. There are two opportunities to attend – Feb. 18 in Parsons, Kansas, and Feb. 19 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Each will have identical programs.

“We have an exciting lineup this year of expert-led presentations and discussions,” said Maggie Justice, beef production specialist for the Division of Agriculture. “We’ll get the latest update on cutting-edge research in cattle feeding, supplementation, reproduction and more.”

Justice said attendees can expect valuable takeaways on optimizing nutrition, enhancing reproductive efficiency and improving grazing practices.

“With the thin profit margins our producers have been seeing, cattle markets are on everyone’s mind,” Justice said. “A key highlight of the event will be the keynote address from Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University who will share his expertise on herd expansion and the impact it will have on the market.”

Cost to attend is $20 with lunch included. Those interested in attending in Arkansas can register online. An agenda will be coming soon.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.