Native Perennials: Warm-Season Pasture Potential in Iowa
By Practical Farmers of Iowa
TL;DR: Converting row crops to native perennial pastures enhances farm resilience and productivity through improved soil health and diverse forage options for livestock grazing.
- Native perennials boost soil health and wildlife habitat.
- Warm-season varieties thrive when cool-season grasses falter.
- Rotational grazing maximizes forage and soil benefits.
- Site-specific plans are crucial for successful perennial integration.
- Diversity in forage mixes supports varied livestock needs.
Why it matters: Integrating native warm-season perennials into grazing systems offers a sustainable approach to agriculture, improving ecological balance and economic viability for livestock operations.
Do this next: Explore local resources like Practical Farmers of Iowa for guidance on transitioning to native perennial pastures.
Recommended for: Farmers and graziers interested in regenerative agricultural practices and enhancing pasture productivity and ecological resilience.
This video features Steve Riggins of Riggins Family Farm in Cambridge, Iowa, and Amos Johnson, livestock education coordinator at Practical Farmers of Iowa, discussing the transition from row crops to perennial pasture and native prairie for livestock grazing. Filmed in November 2024, it provides practical insights into integrating native warm-season perennials into regenerative systems to enhance farm diversity and resilience. Key facts include the rationale for converting cropland to perennials: improving soil health, supporting wildlife like birds, and ensuring sustainable forage. Methods covered involve selecting and managing native grasses such as big bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, and little bluestem, which are drought-resistant and productive in summer when cool-season grasses decline. The discussion highlights establishment techniques, including sowing into sod or after winter cereals, waiting for ideal soil temperatures around 10°C to avoid frost and boost yield, feed quality, and drought tolerance. Grazing management emphasizes rotational stocking to control timing and intensity, allowing rest and regrowth periods that deepen roots, increase water infiltration, and reduce erosion from heavy rains—critical in the Northeast US with rising summer temperatures and downpours. Practical details include harvest options like grazing, swath grazing, silage, or hay, with full biomass in 50-60 days post-germination. Insights stress avoiding overgrazing during spring transitions, maintaining taller stubble for carbohydrate reserves, and using diverse mixes to match precipitation patterns and livestock nutrition needs. Benefits include higher forage yields, better animal productivity per acre, uniform distribution, and regrowth promotion. The video draws on NRCS-supported projects, noting 85% of studies favor rotational over continuous stocking for persistence. Concrete takeaways for practitioners: develop site-specific plans with drought triggers, integrate legumes like red clover for nitrogen fixation, and monitor for weeds post-early grazing damage. This case exemplifies regenerative livestock integration, fostering self-sufficiency and environmental schemes.