Gerrish Grazing Series Review
9/4/14
The recent Grazing Series organized by Iowa Beef Center staff featured grazing consultant Jim Gerrish and Iowa producers at five workshops and eight pasture walks held across Iowa.
More than 330 people attended at least one of the events. Many local partners including the Leopold Center, PFI, SARE, IFGC, and SIFLC helped support this program and helped keep the cost to producers very reasonable.
Many important take-home messages came from the presentations and interaction at the pasture walks. Here are a few:
Do not fear wasting grass. Grass truly makes more grass, damage is done to season long production by grazing one day too long.
Grazing management should be about balancing ecosystem processes, not manipulating inputs. Jim stated these processes include the following.
Step 1: Build a better solar panel
Step 2: Manage for a healthy water cycle
Step 3: Create a dynamic mineral cycle
Step 4: Increase biodiversity
Management-intensive grazing is the key. It is your management, not the grazing that is intensified.
Reducing winter feed costs with extended grazing pays. Quit making your own hay, buy or trade for what is needed, and work towards eliminating hay feeding all together.
Learn more about Jim Gerrish and his management-intensive grazing approach on his American Grazing Lands Services LLC website.
Jim allowed us to post these handouts in pdf format from the meetings.
Check back for links to YouTube videos from the grazing workshops and pasture walks in this series. If you're interested in more information on grazing management, contact your local ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist.
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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