Events and Activities : Livestock and Crop Options during Drought

Livestock and Crop Options during Drought

Eastern Iowa crop and livestock producers dealing with drought–related issues are invited to attend an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach program Thursday, August 2nd to learn more about options available to them. Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan and Tama County extension will be hosting the 1- 3 p.m. program at Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Plant Conference Room in Dysart. There is no charge to attend the webinar.

Livestock
Livestock issues covered during the program will include options to help producers manage immediate needs related to stressed pastures and reduced hay supplies.  Denise Schwab, extension beef specialist, will discuss early weaning to reduce cow requirements, supplemental feeding on pasture, feeding value of drought stressed corn silage, proper ensiling and potential for nitrate toxicity for corn harvested as silage or green chop.

Crops
Members of the extension crops team will cover the topics of crop growth and development under drought conditions and feeding drought damaged crops. “We will look at current conditions, short-range and long range forecasts, impacts of drought on forages and crops, and impacts on disease and insect development,” said Jim Fawcett, extension agronomist.

For more information on the program, contact the Benton County extension office at 319-472-4739.  Additional drought related materials can be found at the ISU Extension & Outreach drought disaster web site  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters