All rotational grazing systems require fences, water, and forages. This project used hands-on demonstrations to show producers some of the options available for each of these components of a successful grazing system

Boswell, Mark

Peterson, Brian C.

All rotational grazing systems require fences, water, and forages. This project used hands-on demonstrations to show producers some of the options available for each of these components of a successful grazing system.</p

Peterson, Brian

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)

01-02 COMPETITIVELeopold Center GRANT REPORT L E O P O L D C E N T E R FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Principal Investigator: Mark Boswell Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee Corning Co-investigator: Brian C. Peterson Natural Resources Conservation Service Des Moines Budget: $10,086 for year one $9,550 for year two Producers learning about pumping and pipeline alternatives at a a water systems workshop. Demonstration and technology transfer to producers implementing sustainable rotational grazing systems Abstract: All rotational grazing systems require fences, water, and forages. This project used hands-on demonstrations to show producers some of the options available for each of these components of a successful grazing system. Background necessary for the establishment and mainte­nance of the diverse forage system needed toRotational grazing systems can be very ben- support rotational grazing. Construction ofeficial to the environment, provide an eco- stream crossings is another issue that may benomic boost for farmers and the Iowa economy, confusing to producers.and are sustainable with proper management.However, despite past educational efforts, some The project organizers believed that if produc­producers have resisted adopting a total rota- ers had an opportunity to work with some oftional grazing system because of fears or con- these options they would realize that grazingcerns about one or more of the components. systems are not as complicated or expensive asFarmers may think the fencing required in a they had feared. Producers may be more likelygrazing system will cost too much and require to aggressively implement these componentstoo much time and labor to install. Other in their livestock operations if they can haveproducers are not aware of the possibilities for personal experience with installing, construct-easily installing a water distribution system ing, or mapping out plans.that will work for their livestock on their farm.Producers also may lack the management tools Project objectives were to:1.	 Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing New Zealand-style electric fence, 2.	 Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing a water distribution system, 3.	 Incorporate warm-season native grasses into an existing grazing system to diver­sify the forage and lengthen the grazing season, 4.	 Demonstrate, in a multi-county area, the management necessary for establishment and maintenance of legumes into a grassed-based forage system using a no-till drill, 5.	 Incorporate kura clover into a rotational grazing system, and 6.	 Conduct hands-on demonstrations of es­tablishing a stream crossing/access. Volume 12 (2003) 36 Approach and methods 1) Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing New Zealand-style electric fence. Producers located gates, stretched wire, and fastened it to the post. They learned how quickly and easily this type of fence could be installed. Additional area was incorporated into the Adams County Conservation Re­serve Program (CRP) Farm grazing system and more fencing was installed there. 2) Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing a water distribution system. Par­ticipants installed waterlines and attached snap couplers. They learned how to measure water flow to determine if the system is adequate for the livestock using it. An addi­tional distribution link was established at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001. 3) Incorporate warm-season native grasses into an existing grazing system to diversify the forage and lengthen the grazing season. Producers with reservations about establishing and using warm-season grass walked the pas­ture and saw the forage. They learned how the grasses were established and saw the differ­ences between growth patterns in warm- and cool-season varieties during the grazing sea­son. They were advised on how to manage the system to take advantage of the differences. Producers walked through stands of warm- and cool-season grasses at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001 and 2002. 4) Demonstrate, in a multi-county area, the management necessary for establishment and maintenance of legumes into a grassed-based forage using a no-till drill. Producers were taken to local pastures where they could ob­serve how existing grass pastures were man­aged while establishing the legumes. Partici­pants also heard about their neighbors’ experi­ences working with grass pastures and the man­agement they used when interseeding legumes. Farmers ask, “I don’t understand the new fence technology and why and how to take water to my livestock instead of them coming to the water. How does that technology work and am I able to set it up myself? I’d like to have more legumes in my pasture, but how do I get them started without tearing up my whole pasture? How do I manage the legumes so I can keep them in my pasture? The project offered these answers: The biggest change to rotational grazing is a change in management. But to get farmers to the point of changing their management, they have to be more comfortable with the new technology needed. Farmers like to get their hands on the wire, run water into the tank and see the legumes growing in a grass pasture. The opportunity for “hands on” field days coupled with another farmer talking with them makes farmers more ready to implement changes necessary for a sustainable rotational grazing system. Producers see the forage diversity and learn from Jim Ahrens how he manages his pastures to achieve this diversity and make them more sustainable. Leopold Center Progress Reports 37 Dan Morrical, ISU animal scientist, in the field with produc­ers at a winter meeting explaining how to manage stockpiled grazing. 5) Incorporate kura clover into a rotational grazing system. This demonstration gave pro­ducers an opportunity to witness the rhizoma­tous characteristics of kura clover and better understand why it has significant potential as a legume in a grass-based forage program. Producers could walk through the seeded area and observe without having to take the risk of trying to establish their own stand. 6) Conduct hands-on demonstrations of estab­lishing a stream crossing/access. While pro­ducers see the benefits of excluding livestock from a stream, they are concerned about the process and cost of putting in a stream cross­ing. Producers at this demonstration helped a neighbor develop a stream crossing. They re­viewed the costs and witnessed the products used and the time involved in this enterprise. Results and discussion 1) Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing New Zealand-style electric fence. A field day was held in September 2000 at the Adams County CRP Farm, and another was held in September 2001 in cooperation with a private landowner who was implementing a rotational grazing system. In September 2002, 280 students from 10 area high school and college agriculture departments participated in these demonstrations, as well as demonstra­tions on water systems and grass establish­ment and management. 2) Conduct a hands-on demonstration day for installing a water distribution system. Three water demonstration days were held, one at the Adams County CRP Farm and two others hosted by private landowners. Farmers were intrigued with the idea of recycling used imple­ment tires as water tanks. Various types of pumps, water siphons, and pressurized sys­tems were displayed and installed. 3) Incorporate warm-season native grasses into an existing grazing system to diversify the forage and lengthen the grazing season. Na­tive grasses (big bluestem, Indian grass, and eastern gamagrass) were incorporated into the grazing system at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001. A July field day allowed area producers to see how much forage was avail­able and what management tactics were effec­tive. Another pasture walk was held in August 2002. 4) Demonstrate, in a multi-county area, the management necessary for establishment and maintenance of legumes into a grassed-based forage using a no-till drill. Events showcasing Volume 12 (2003) 38 legumes were held at the Adams County CRP Farm and on private land in Adair and Harrison Counties. A pasture walk at the Adams County CRP Farm in August 2002 emphasized the benefits of legumes adding diversity in pre­dominately grass-based pastures. 5) Incorporate kura clover into a rotational grazing system. Kura clover can be very productive but calls for different methods of growth management. A paddock of kura clo­ver was incorporated into the grazing system at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001. A July field day acquainted farmers with the forage, and procedures for its establishment and management. A pasture walk was held in the same area in August 2002. 6) Conduct hands-on demonstrations of estab­lishing a stream crossing/access. In 2001, demonstrations were held on three producers’ farms related to limiting access for water in farm ponds. Participants had the opportunity to assist in constructing a “floating” electric fence water access as well as a water access using more conventional gates. Participants saw that limited access helps improve water quality and served as a safety feature for live­stock. A similar event was held in June 2002. Conclusions Each project demonstration event focused on one component of a rotational grazing system. Participants were encouraged to use what they learned and incorporate the appropriate por­tions into their own grazing systems. Produc­ers learned how to install and use fence and water systems. Demonstrations on how to es­tablish and manage forages properly can help producers make their grazing systems more sustainable and profitable. Water system edu­cation showed producers how to create water access areas at a lower cost. Winter meetings and grazing clinics emphasized many of the concepts covered in the summer demonstra­tions. Impact of results Animal livestock will continue to be important to Iowa farmers. The 2002 Farm Bill has heightened interest in rotational grazing. Land­owners and operators are more eager to learn about new technologies and how to implement these ideas into their own systems. The Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Com­mittee (SIFLC) has been active in facilitating meetings on rotational grazing throughout Iowa. This project was one of the funding sources that made it possible for SIFLC and its partners to bring “nuts and bolts” information to producers’ attention and offer hands-on training. It is difficult to measure the impact of these training opportunities in the short term, but reaction from participants at the various events has been very positive. Jim Ahrens explained to producers at his pasture walk how he manages a rotational grazing system. Leopold Center Progress Reports 39 For more information Education and outreach contact Mark D. Boswell, 603 7th Street, Corning, Iowa 50841; SIFLC has worked with other groups to spon-(641) 322-3184 sor numerous educational events in this area. Educational partners include Iowa State Uni­versity Extension, Iowa Energy Center, Natu­ral Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Beef Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Iowa Chapter of the Soil and Water Conserva­tion Society, Iowa Forage and Grassland Coun­cil, and the North Central Regional of Sustain­able Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). A special outreach program was implemented to offer hands-on grazing sys­tem establishment and management training to area high school and college agriculture students. More than 1000 people participated in these educational events in 2002. The Adams County CRP Project annual re­ports published in 2000, 2001, and 2002 in­cluded information about this project. The 2000, 2001, and 2002 progress reports for the Iowa State University Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station each contained two articles about this project. Volume 12 (2003) 40 

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Demonstration and technology transfer to producers implementing sustainable rotational grazing systems

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Demonstration and technology transfer to producers implementing sustainable rotational grazing systems

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