Pasture renovation project field days will highlight interseeding sudangrass
7/10/25
Sudangrass interseeding is focus of two project field days.
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University is hosting two field days in August that will highlight innovative strategies for pasture renovation. The events are part of a three-year research project evaluating the benefits of interseeding sudangrass into abused calving paddocks. This project has been made possible through funding from the State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
In this project, two seeding rates of piper sudangrass were interseeded into sacrifice paddock areas in early June. Researchers selected three farms across the state to interseed the annual forage into perennial pasture and are in the third and final year of collecting forage yield, forage quality, and soil data to evaluate the return on investment of this practice.
he first field day is Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Dave Schwarte farm located at 1505 2200th Street, Defiance. This field day will highlight the interseeding sudangrass plots and data collected thus far. In addition to the field demonstration plots, other discussion topics will include selecting the right annual forage, EQUIP/USDA programs, and returning retired CRP to pasture. The Shelby County Cattlemen are grilling a light meal to kick off this program.
The second field day featuring a demonstration plot for this project will be Tuesday, Aug. 12, hosted by Amana Farms, located one-half mile northeast of East Amana on 220th Trail. The program will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and will also dedicate some time to discuss selecting annual forages and timely fall pasture management tasks. Light refreshments will be available.
Both field days are offered at no cost to attendees thanks to generous support from ISU Extension and Outreach, Iowa Beef Center, IDALS State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee, and the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dress for weather and walking. No bathroom facilities are on-site at the demonstration plots.
Registration is not required but encouraged. RSVP or direct any questions to Iowa Beef Center's Beth Reynolds or email or call IBC at 515-294-BEEF (2333).
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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.
Contact:
Beth Reynolds, ISU Extension and Outreach program specialist, 515-294-9881, bethr@iastate.edu
