Business : Pasture Walk Focuses on Managing Timber Pastures

Managing timbered pastures is a challenge to balance between forage production and lumber production.

A pasture walk will be held at the Dave Schulte farm near Dorchester on Wednesday, July 31, from 10 am to noon.  Schulte has a 30 ac. pasture with scattered trees and runs 21 cow/calf pairs.  Former NRCS grazing specialist Jim Ranum and DNR forester Dave Asche will discuss management strategies to pasture timbered areas.  Denise Schwab, ISUEO Beef specialist, will discuss pasture improvement.  Michelle Elliott, Waterloo Creek Watershed Coordinator will discuss cost share opportunities. 

To get to the pasture walk take Hwy 76 north from Waukon towards Dorchester, turn left on Dorchester Dr (county rd A16).  Just before Dorchester turn left continuing on Dorchester Dr ( A16) west, go 3 1/2 miles. Turn right (north) onto Bee Rd, and the farm is approximately 1/2 mile north.  It is the first driveway on the left.

The Northeast Iowa Graziers plan pasture walks to local farms to help producers learn how to better pasture management can result in both healthier profits and a healthier environment.  The walks are organized by area graziers and supported by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. 

Pasture walks are informal educational programs designed to demonstrate one or two key areas of pasture management, as well as answer any questions you might have.  Each has a slightly different focus and all producers who are dependent on forage production are invited to attend to improve their own pasture management.

This event is co-sponsored by the Allamakee County Soil & Water Conservation District, NRCS, ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Center.  For more information, please contact Denise Schwab at 319-472-4739 or email at dschwab@iastate.edu .