Business : Advance Grazing Skills Offered at Workshop for New Livestock Farmers

Experience grassroots strip grazing and common watering lanes used for beef cattle

Farmers can improve their grazing management through the Grassroots Grazing program, a new grazing systems education and networking program intended for young and beginning farmers and hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The second session of the eastern Iowa grazing program will be held Wednesday, July 8, starting at 6 p.m., at the Dave Lubben farm, two miles north of Monticello, on State Hwy. 38. Lubben uses a controlled strip grazing system to increase forage utilization for his beef cattle. By using planned lanes or alleys to common watering systems, he can then restrict livestock access to streams and use protected crossings.

“Lubben uses estrus synchronization for the breeding cycle and artificial insemination on most of the cows in his farm operation,” said Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Coordinating pasture management with the breeding management can be done easily with advanced planning.” Other topics addressed on the tour will include managing grass height, impact of adequate rest, fencing and watering systems.

The Grassroots Grazing series is sponsored by the Beginning and Young Livestock Producers Network (BLYPN) initiative of ISU Extension and Outreach and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and sessions will be led by local ISU Extension beef specialists with assistance from county extension staff.

“There is no fee to attend, but we strongly encourage preregistration to ensure adequate materials for everyone,” Sellers said. “Participants will receive an in-depth grazing resource guide and join discussions with other producers from their region and with extension specialists.”

For more information or details contact Denise Schwab, 319-472-4739, dschwab@iastate.edu. To register, contact the Jones County ISU Extension Office, at 319-465-3224.