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Intensive grazing in northeast Iowa

This web site provides local contact information for northeast Iowa producers with interest in improved pasture and grazing management

In recent years, declining net return per animal unit has been a problem for northeast Iowa’s dairy and beef producers. Some have tried to increase their profitability by increasing depreciable capital investments in larger facilities and machinery. Others have adopted a strategy of intensively managing their land in a grass-based animal production system. The USDA Northeast Iowa Demonstration Project (NEIDP) has provided assistance for this latter strategy, because it makes best use of on-farm resources. Meeting more of the herd’s nutritional needs with high quality pastures increases livestock and dairy profitability while also increasing protection of local land and water quality.

Northeast Iowa producers have successfully converted to intensive grazing management both very high corn suitability rating (CSR) and very low CSR land. They are demonstrating and adapting a variety of grazing strategies to reduce the cost of milk and meat production. The NEIDP and U.S. Department of Agriculture agency staff support them by sponsoring annual series of pasture walks that allow graziers to learn from each other’s experience, and to study individual management options over a full season or multi-year period.

The pasture walks have received considerable media coverage, both locally and out of state, due to the news releases and photos prepared by the Northeast Iowa Water Quality Information and Education Specialist. The specialist is funded by the EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Program, through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and is a member of the Iowa State University Extension NEIDP staff.

Local papers picked up the pasture walk articles immediately. So many questions and comments were received by pasture walk hosts as a result of this publicity that sponsors asked to post a "Contacts List" - to encourage more prospective or new graziers seeking management information.

The producers listed below are pasture walk hosts who have agreed to help answer questions on the subjects listed. These individual graziers have expertise with many aspects of grazing, dairy and beef production. In the listings below they are identified by their interest and experience in a specific aspect of grazing.

Technical assistance for intensive grazing management is also available through ISU Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Local contacts in northeast Iowa are: