2002 Annual Report for LNC00-164
Technology Transfer of Grazing System Components to Producers Implementing Sustainable Rotational Grazing Systems
Summary
The Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee (SIFLC) has been very successful in giving producers opportunities for "hands on" training of rotational grazing system components. There have been winter field days for crop residue and stockpile forage grazing, and fence field days where producers installed a variety of products used in modern electric fence systems. Producers constructed a tank made from an old combine tire and witnessed a variety of limited access water systems. Summer field days were also held, focusing on utilizing a variety of forages such as warm season grass, kura clover and more traditional legumes, all installed with no-till drills.
Objectives/Performance Targets
- Conduct a "hands-on" demonstration day for installing New Zealand style electric fence.
Conduct a "hands-on" demonstration day for installing a water distribution system.
Incorporate warm season native grasses into an existing grazing system to diversify the forage and lengthen the grazing season.
Demonstrate, in a multi-county area, the management necessary for establishment and maintenance of legumes into grassed-based forage using a no-till drill.
Incorporate Kura Clover into a rotational grazing system.
Conduct "hands-on" demonstrations of establishing a stream crossing/access.
Conduct "county level" meetings to transfer improved grazing technology to producers.
Facilitate grazing clinics designed for producers ready for the next step in management.
Demonstrate the use of a "tree shear" to control "weedy" trees and brush
Accomplishments/Milestones
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. Another field day was held in September, 2001, in cooperation with a private landowner that is in the process of implementing a rotational grazing system. Forty people attended the two events, and the information was well received by all in attendance. Four different fence businesses from private industry also participated in the events.
Field days were conducted for area high school and college agriculture departments in September, 2002, utilizing funds from an EPA Environmental Education Grant. A total of 280 students from ten departments participated. They were given the opportunity to have "hands-on" education of the various fence materials and systems utilized at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm.
2) Conduct a "hands-on" demonstration day for installing a water distribution system.
Three water demonstration days were held during the past year. The first event was held at the Adams County CRP Farm in April, 2001. The other two were hosted by private landowners in July and September. Used combine tires were converted to tanks at all three events. Participants were intrigued with the idea of recycling combine tires at a very reasonable cost. Also demonstrated at the events were siphon gravity flow systems, pressurized systems, and limited access systems into farm ponds.
In March, 2002, a workshop was held in partnership with the Corning High School Vocational Agriculture Department to demonstrate methods for constructing water tanks from used implement tires. A pasture walk in August 2002 showed participants the variety of water systems used at the Adams County CRP Farm. A field day to demonstrate a variety of water systems was held in August, 2002, at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm. Nose pump, over the pond dam siphon, floating electric fence water access and a low cost low volume solar pump were demonstrated. The Iowa Energy Center was a partner in this event. A total of 175 people attended the three events. Field days were conducted for area high school and college agriculture departments in September, 2002, utilizing funds from an EPA Environmental Education Grant. A total of 280 students from ten departments participated. They were given the opportunity to have "hands-on" education of the various water sources and distribution systems utilized at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm.
3) Incorporate warm season native grasses into an existing grazing system to diversify the forage and lengthen the grazing season.
Big Bluestem, Indiangrass and Eastern Gammagrass were incorporated into the grazing system at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001. They had previously been interseeded into existing tall cool season grass and legumes. They provided abundant and high quality forage for stockers in July and August. A field day was held in July for area producers to witness the amount of forage available. The field day was also an opportunity for participants to learn how to manage warm season grasses as part of a total grazing system.
A pasture walk in August, 2002, was an opportunity for 25 people to see how these native grasses can be utilized in a rotational grazing system. Field days were conducted for area high school and college agriculture departments in September, 2002, utilizing funds from an EPA Environmental Education Grant. A total of 280 students from ten departments participated. They were given the opportunity to have "hands-on" education of the use and benefit of warm season grass in a rotational grazing system as utilized at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm.
4) Demonstrate, in a multi-county area, the management necessary for establishment and maintenance of legumes into grassed-based forage using a no-till drill.
Demonstrations were held at the Adams County CRP Farm and on private land in Adair and Harrison Counties. The demonstrations were attended by approximately 65 people. These demonstrations were opportunities for producers to have a better understanding of the benefits legumes provide to cool season grass pastures. In addition, producers gained a more clear understanding of the management steps necessary to not only establish legumes but manage them so they continue to be an integral part of the grazing system.
A pasture walk was held at the Adams County CRP Farm in August, 2002, to demonstrate and emphasize the benefit of legumes to add diversity in predominantly grassed based pastures. One farmer hosting a morning pasture walk in September, 2002, tried a new "wrinkle" by providing breakfast to the participants. The producer talked at length about the establishment and management of forages. Fifty people attended these two events in 2002. Field days were conducted for area high school and college agriculture departments in September, 2002, utilizing funds from an EPA Environmental Education Grant. A total of 280 students from ten departments participated. They were given the opportunity to have "hands-on" education of the establishment, management and benefit of legumes in a predominantly grass-based pasture. The students saw how well legumes are incorporated into the rotational grazing system and utilized at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm.
5) Incorporate Kura Clover into a rotational grazing system.
Kura clover is a legume that most producers are not familiar with, but it has shown potential to be very productive in a grazing system. However, it requires special management for establishment. A paddock of kura clover was incorporated into the grazing system at the Adams County CRP Farm in 2001. A field day was held at the farm in July to acquaint producers with the forage. Participants left the field day with a better understanding of how to establish and manage kura clover. The field day also gave participants a better understanding of how legumes can make a more sustainable grazing system.
A pasture walk was held at the Adams County CRP Farm in August, 2002, to demonstrate and emphasize the opportunities kura clover provides to add diversity in predominantly grassed based pastures. Twenty-five people attended the event. Field days were conducted for area high school and college agriculture departments in September 2002 utilizing funds from an EPA Environmental Education Grant. A total of 280 students from ten departments participated. They were given the opportunity to have "hands-on" education of the use and benefit of kura clover in a rotational grazing system as it is utilized at the Adams County CRP Demonstration Farm.
6) Conduct 'Hands-on" demonstrations of establishing a stream crossing/access.
Demonstrations on limited access into farm ponds for water were held on three producer farms in 2001. Participants had the opportunity to assist in constructing a "floating" electric fence water access. Also demonstrated was a water access utilizing more conventional gates. All of the demonstrations showed producers that the limited accesses are very beneficial to water quality, and they are a safety feature, which can keep livestock from getting "stuck in the mud".
A stream crossing was constructed and a field day held in June, 2002. Forty people attended the field day. A demonstratoin of floating electric fence access into a farm pond was held at the Water Systems Field day at the Adams CRP Farm in August, attended by 80 people.
7) Conduct "county level" meetings to transfer improved grazing technology to producers.
Field days were held during the winter of 2000-2001 for producers to witness the management of grazing crop residues and stockpiled forage. Many producers could improve their management of grazing these resources, which could help producers reduce their costs. Forty people attended the two field days.
A winter meeting was held in Montgomery County to raise producer's level of awareness of the benefits of rotational grazing. Producers learned how to progressively implement improvements to their grazing systems. Winter meetings were held in three locations in 2002 (Villisca, Afton and Chariton) attracting participants from eight counties. Ninety producers attended the events.
8) Facilitate grazing clinics designed for producers ready for the next step in management.
Grazing Clinics were held in Adams, Harrison and Lucas counties, with 80 participants in the three clinics. Agendas were specific to each site but all addressed forage management. Participants learned about forage growth and the management of the growth in a grazing system. Utilization and management of cool season grass, legumes and warm season grasses were addressed at the clinics.
Grazing Clinics were held in Harrison, Adams and Appanoose counties in the summer of 2002. One hundred and twenty people attended the sessions. Participants learned about forage choices and management, water systems, and limited access to streams and water impoundments.
9) Demonstrate the use of a "tree shear" to control "weedy" trees and brush.
There were no special field days held to demonstrate the use of a "tree shear". However, the practice was demonstrated in conjunction with two other events held during the summer of 2001.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
This project has consisted of demonstration events. Each event focused on a component of rotational grazing systems. Participants were encouraged to use the information from these demonstrations and incorporate them, as appropriate, into their own grazing system. Progress for the implementation of these components will be dependent upon the participants. Each component when applied has the potential to benefit producers through the establishment of a more sustainable rotational grazing system.
Fence and water systems demonstrations provided producers the opportunity to better understand and become familiar with two key grazing system components. Producers learned how to install these systems and how to use these components to better manage their grazing system. This can improve the opportunities for profit and protect the environment through better grazing management.
Forage improvement through the use of legumes and/or warm season grass can help producers make their grazing systems more sustainable and profitable. The demonstrations gave producers the opportunity to learn how to introduce other forages into a grazing system. Producers also gained a better understanding of how to manage the forages so they would continue to be a viable part of the grazing system. Improved forage management will help improve production and reduce runoff that may be harmful to the environment.
Through the use of water system demonstrations producers learned how they could install water access areas into farm ponds. They learned the accesses can be inexpensive but will provide improved water quality. The concept of a rocked access area was also presented from the standpoint of safety to the livestock. Producers learned that in most situations the loss of one cow, because she was "stuck in the mud" getting water, will more than pay for a limited access area.
The winter meetings and grazing clinics tied many of these concepts together. Producers who incorporate their livestock, pasture and cropland into their total farming operation instead of separate entities will have more opportunities to realize increased profits and benefits to the environment.
During the year 2002 the Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee has been very active with educational activities. The committee has partnered with other groups and organizations to facilitate many of the educational opportunities. Groups with whom we have partnered include Iowa State University, Iowa Energy Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Beef Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Iowa Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council. A special outreach program was implemented to provide "hands-on" grazing system establishment and management training to area high school and college agriculture students. These partnerships have allowed us to reach more people and to make limited funds "stretch" farther. More than 1,000 people have participated in the educational events in the year 2002.