AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, August 26 at noon about a current research project that assesses forage quality and potential yield of various annual crops.
Incorporating annual forages into Iowa’s cropping system provides flexibility for land use, alternative forage availability at times of limited perennial forage for cattle, as well as other conservation practices. In an effort to benchmark utilization of winter and summer annuals as a forage resource for beef cattle, forage test plots at three outlying Iowa State University Research Farms have been established to evaluate nutrient quality and potential yield. Erika Lundy, Extension Beef Specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will share the current results of this research project, which aims to provide research-based information that will help establish reasonable expectations in terms of forage quality and yield of various cover crop and summer annuals.
“In addition to the alternative forage resource annuals bring to farming enterprises, forages are valuable additions for preserving Iowa farmland’s soil and water quality,” said Lundy, whose current extension and research programs are focused on beef cattle nutrition and forage management to improve profitability on the farm level.
To participate in the live webinar, shortly before 12:00 pm CDT on August 26:
Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172
Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172
Or, join from a dial-in phone line:
Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 364 284 172
The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK, Inc.
— Iowa Learning Farms
For more news from Iowa, click here.