A
common concern brought producers from across the Great Plains to the
Management Intensive Grazing seminar May 17-18 in Greeley.
About 75 farmers, ranchers and extension agents gathered at the session
to hear speakers from Colorado State University, University of Nebraska
and the University of Wyoming. The event was sponsored by Colorado
State University Extension program, the Natural Resource
Conservation Service and Barenbrug Seed.
Management
Intensive Grazing (MIG) is the continual monitoring of pasture to
obtain the optimal quality and quantity of livestock feed.
"Focusing on the man in management is the key to success," said Bruce
Anderson, of the University of Nebraska. "It takes knowledge, experience
and work to manage grazing lands."
An
increasing interest in grass and grazing arose from the need to find
a different mode of agricultural production.
"Agriculture is suffering," said Don Hijar, Pawnee Buttes Seed Company
manager. "The commodity prices are low and the cost of inputs is increasing."
"In
Colorado we've got to do things differently," said Sandy Girtler,
Stillroven Ranch owner. "MIG in this area is still new, so we're all
learning. The clinic has grown every year with more people interested
in alternatives."
The
morning seminars covered rangeland and pasture management, including
seed selection, fertilization, irrigation, as well as weed control
and drought management.
Afternoons
allowed participants to visit the Stillroven Ranch and Equus Farms.
The Stillroven field visit offered grass drill demonstrations and
seeding preparation. A tour of Equus Farms range sites gave seminar
participants a look at native and improved ranges.
With
the management intensive grazing, many have had success where other
crops have failed productively or economically.
"We
have had excellent success," said Girtler. "We run more cattle on
less acres of pasture more efficiently."
For more information, contact your county office of Colorado State
University Extension.
-Kristen
Andrews
