Livestock producers and land managers looking to improve pasture productivity and grazing management practices will have an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and hands-on experience through the Iowa Grazing Academy this summer.
The Iowa Grazing Academy will be held in July and August and will feature a series of online educational sessions followed by in-person field days across the state. The program is designed to provide practical skills and strategies that can help participants enhance grazing systems and pasture management.
Online sessions will take place from July 13 through July 22, running from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants may attend all sessions or select individual topics that fit their interests and schedules. All sessions will be recorded and made available for later viewing.
Topics covered during the online sessions include forage growth and species selection, animal nutrition and health, rotational stocking, alternative forages, pasture infrastructure, enterprise budgets, weed management, and grazing technology.
Following the online portion, participants are encouraged to attend one of three beef-focused field days that will provide hands-on learning opportunities related to rotational stocking, summer annual forage integration, and grazing management of cool-season pastures.
Field day locations and dates include:
- East Central Iowa: Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids on July 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Southeast Iowa: K7 Hereford in Lockridge on July 28 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Central Iowa: 2XL Cattle Company in Boone on Aug. 4 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Participation in the online sessions is free. Registration for in-person field days is $20 per person. While online participation is optional, organizers strongly recommend attending the virtual sessions before participating in a field day.
Individuals planning to attend online sessions should register at least two days in advance. A link to join the sessions will be sent the day before each event. Participants only need to register once for the online series. Pre-registration is encouraged for field days to assist with meal planning, although walk-in registrations will also be accepted.
The Iowa Grazing Academy is funded through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.
For additional information, contact Shelby Gruss, forage extension specialist, at sgruss@iastate.edu or 515-294-3832.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
