Contract Grazing Factsheet Series Now Available
Click here to view the original press release.
Contacts:
- Joe Sellers, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist, 641-203-1270, sellers@iastate.edu
- Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Beef Center, 515-294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu
AMES, Iowa — A new four-part series of fact sheets on contract grazing for cattle is now available on the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) website. Two Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists are Iowa representatives to the specialized working group within the Green Lands, Blue Water project that developed the new resource. Iowa State Extension beef program specialist Joe Sellers said he and small farms specialist Andy Larson worked with project members from Wisconsin and Minnesota to identify needs and information for those who graze cattle.
“Our group has been working on these fact sheets as a source of assistance to graziers and cattle owners who use custom grazing in their management schemes,” Sellers said. “As cow numbers increase and available pasture acres decrease, we want people to recognize and learn more about options for their operations.”
One such option is the development of working partnerships with other producers to access pasture through contract grazing. Each of the four new fact sheets focuses on one topic related to contract grazing: contract grazing basics, evaluating land suitability, rental and lease agreements, and contract grazing rates.
The fact sheets can be viewed, download and printed at no cost from these links:
- The Basics of Contract Grazing (http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/information/ContractGrazing1Basics.pdf)
- Evaluating Land Suitability for Grazing Cattle (http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/information/ContractGrazing2LandEval.pdf)
- Pasture Rental and Lease Agreements (http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/information/ContractGrazing3Leases.pdf)
- Rates Charged for Contract Grazing Arrangements (http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/information/ContractGrazing4Rates.pdf)
These fact sheets can be used to supplement existing grazing-related information on the IBC website, specifically under “Cattle Grazing Survey 2007” http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/research_projects.html
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
2012 Iowa Forage and Grassland Conference Attendee Registration Open
The 2012 Iowa Forage and Grassland Conference will be held on November 19 & 20, 2012 at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn.
The Iowa Forage and Grassland Council strives to provide timely information to Iowa’s forage and grassland producers. This year’s conference will address the use of grazing management to control risks of nonpoint source pollution of pasture streams, agronomic and conservation implications of the corn stover harvest, hay production, economic considerations of corn stover and Farm Bill programs for assistance on forage and grassland.
The IFGC annual meeting will be held and awards will be presented to the 2012 IFGC Hay Producer and the 2012 IFGC Livestock/Grazing Producer following a banquet lunch.
Monday evening arrivals are invited to join speakers, vendors, and board members for some Monday Night Football and social time at the hotel.
Conference registration and additional details can be downloaded here. Please invite anyone interested in forage and grassland issues to attend.
Hotel reservations may be made at 515-287-2400. We look forward to seeing you in November.
2012 Fall Newsletter
The 2012 Fall edition of The Forager newsletter has been mailed; however, you can click on the link below to view it electronically.
2012 Iowa Forage and Grassland Council Conference
This year’s Iowa Forage and Grassland Council Conference will be held on November 19-20 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines.
We want to have a display at the conference and will begin setting up at 6 p.m. on Monday the 19th. The trade show will be open to tradeshow attendees through the entire event.
For a registration form, please click here and be aware that the registration deadline is November 12, 2012.
2012 IFGC Forage Awards
Forages are very important for Iowa. They are important to Iowa’s economy, protect the soil from erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. Forages are used for grazing animals and for hay production. But, most of these producers “fly under the radar” when it comes to being recognized for their contributions to Iowa Agriculture. The Iowa Forage and Grassland Council (IFGC) will recognize these producers at their annual meeting in November. At least one award is presented to a producer that does an outstanding job of hay production and another to at least one producer that does an excellent job of rotational grazing their pasture.
IFGC needs you to nominate a friend or neighbor that can fit into one of these two categories. Click here to download the nomination form. Eight or ten digital pictures will be needed from you to help describe their system and to be used in a power point presentation at the awards ceremony. Nominations need to be returned to Bert Strayer by September 28, 2012.
For more information, contact:
IFGC President
Bert Strayer
DSM Forage & Turf Seed
2302 SE Creekview Dr-Ste 6
Ankeny, Iowa 50021
Phone: 515-965-4425
Director
Brian Peterson
bckapeterson@gmail.com
Phone: 641-344-1026
Register for the 2012 Greenhorn Grazing Series
The 2012 Greenhorn Grazing Series is beginning at the end of this month and it is time to register!
The workshops are scheduled for May 24, June 14, Aug. 23, Sept. 13 and Nov. 15. All sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning with morning classroom discussions at the Adair County Extension office in Greenfield. Following each class will be a working lunch and the afternoon portions will feature activities at local farms.
Download 2012 Greenhorn Grazing Series flyer here.
To view more information about the series please go to: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/greenhorn-grazing-series-begins-2012-season
2012 Pasture Walks for Dairy & Beef Production Announced
Scheduled Pasture Walks
Wednesday, May 23: Giard, IA from 1 to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6: Jesup, IA at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25: West Union, IA from 1 to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, August 1: New Hampton, IA from 1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, August 4: Waukon, IA from 1 – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, August 15: Garnavillo, IA from 1 – 3 p.m.
Wednesday, August 29: Guttenberg, IA at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, September 18: Waukon, IA at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, December 4: Canton, MN at 1 p.m.
Pasture Walk Contacts
Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension Dairy, 563-382-2949
Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef, 319-472-4739
2012 Spring Newsletter
The 2012 Spring edition of The Forager newsletter has been mailed; however, you can click on the link below to view it electronically.
2011 Iowa Forage & Grassland Council Conference
The 2011 Iowa Forage & Grassland Council Conference is right around the corner on November 21-22, 2011. It will be hosted at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, IA. Some of the speakers include Helga Offenburger (Iowa DNR), Randy Welch (Land O’Lakes), Joe Sellers (Beef Program Specialist, ISU Extension) and Tim Eggers (Field Agricultural Economist, ISU Extension).
To download a brochure for the event, which includes a list of speakers, registration form, and agenda, please click here. We hope to see you there.