Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Ideas sought for grass–based livestock projects

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November 9, 2009

AMES, Iowa -- The Grass-Based Livestock Working Group (GBLWG) is seeking ideas for research and demonstration projects that will boost the viability of the grass-based livestock industry in Iowa. The group hopes to award three to five grants totaling $21,000 with funds from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

“Our strength is in diversity, and our producer members raise various species of grazing livestock in highly-varied production systems all over Iowa; our non-producer members represent both public and private organizations dedicated to Iowa’s grasslands and graziers,” said ISU Extension small farm specialist Andy Larson, who coordinates the group. “These R&D grants are a great way to create new collaborations and for the working group to meet multiple educational and outreach objectives.”

Larson said GBLWG members have selected four focus areas for projects: profitable grazing management; grazing, wildlife and the environment; grass-based branding and supply chains; and grazing policy and education. This year’s grantees have been doing an economic comparison of continuous vs. rotational grazing, teaching graziers about marketing strategies, creating case studies about managed grazing on natural lands, and pulling together a bibliography of grazing tools and resources.

Proposals for 2010 research and development projects are due December 3. Details and forms are on the group’s Web site.

For more info contact:

Andy Larson, ISU Extension Small Farms, (515) 294-5875, allarso1@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, Leopold Center communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu

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