Pasture preparation and renovation meetings scheduled this month
Cow-calf pairs grazing in pasture.
3/4/24
AMES, Iowa – Have drought conditions and overgrazing left your pastures in rough shape? Join Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark at one of two in-person workshops, or join Clark and other ISU extension specialists at a webinar to talk about the topic, all scheduled for this month. Each session will focus on discussion of strategies to meet your herd’s nutritional needs and optimize pasture productivity going into the 2024 growing season. All are free to attend, with registration requested.
After another year of dry growing conditions, many central Iowa pastures are likely somewhat stressed and overgrazed. Although there is only so much we can do, it is important to be thoughtful and proactive in terms of pasture management to get as much as we can out of our grazing acres. With this in mind, Clark said the Iowa Beef Center team has prepared some thoughts about strategies that might be helpful this summer.
"Thoughtful pasture management is really important for profitability and productivity. And it becomes even more critical during prolonged drought," he said. "We will discuss several strategies to help with preparation and renovation of pastures for this growing season.”
Potential topics of discussion include delaying pasture turnout, fertilization, weed control, rotational grazing, and incorporation of summer annuals. The meeting schedule is as follows:
- March 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Marshall County Extension Office, 2608 S 2nd St., Marshalltown. Please RSVP to Chelsea Llewellyn by email at chelsea@iastate.edu or phone at 641-752-1551 or text at 515-344-3756.
- March 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clarke County Fairgrounds and Events Center, 2070 W. Mclane St. Osceola. Please RSVP to Carolyn White by email at white2@iastate.edu or phone at 641-342-3316.
- March 27, from noon to approximately 1 p.m. via webinar. Please use the following link to register: https://go.iastate.edu/TFXGFI This webinar will feature three speakers:
- Clark will set the stage and discuss some basics about pasture conditions and nutritional needs of lactating cows.
- Clarabell Probasco, ISU extension crop specialist, will discuss interseeding, pasture renovation, weed control and soil fertility.
- Shelby Gruss, ISU extension forage specialist, will discuss using summer annuals as alternative/supplemental forage crops.
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The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University was established in 1996 with the goal of supporting the growth and vitality of the state’s beef cattle industry. It comprises faculty and staff from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, and works to develop and deliver the latest research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
Contact:
Chris Clark, Iowa State University Extension beef specialist, 712-250-0070, caclark@iastate.edu
