Converting Continuous Grazing to Management Intensive Grazing: Loess Hills Restoration

Converting Continuous Grazing to Management Intensive Grazing: Loess Hills Restoration

Summary

Management intensive grazing can play a vital role in controlling erosion and restoring native vegetation in the Loess Hills of western Iowa.

Objectives: Implement rotational grazing system by: 1) Subdividing pastures; 2) Installing watering systems in paddocks; 3) Frostseeding legumes in cool-season pastures; and 4) Utilizing prescribed burning and cutting to control eastern red ceder and enhance native vegetation.

Results: Utilizing management intensive grazing and implementing cedar control practices, the grazing season was extended 30 days and native warm-season grasses and forbs began to flourish. Species such as big bluestem, Indiangrass and numerous native forbs, which had not been observed for years, began to recur.