Anyone interested in grazing livestock is invited to register and attend the Iowa Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Conference August 23-24 in West Des Moines. A number of knowledgeable speakers will give presentations at the two-day event. It is sponsored by the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University, Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Leopold Center at Iowa State University, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and others.

The conference will be held at the Iowa Farm Bureau Headquarters in West Des Moines. It will begin Monday morning August 23 at 9 a.m. with presentations from a number of knowledgeable speakers throughout the day. The speakers include researchers, farmers, extension specialists and others.

Topics include: Importance of grazing to Iowa soil and water conservation; pros and cons of various grazing systems; management for diverse pastures; legal issues for direct marketers; fence law and liability issues; extending the grazing season; challenges and rewards from direct marketing; heifer and young cow development; grazing goats; grazing for diversity and wildlife; and what are your real production costs?

Looking at grazing systems that meet your specific needs

At 5 p.m. those attending the meeting will travel to the farm of Ken and Jeanne Henrichsen near Winterset in Madison County. At 6 p.m. a pasture walk will be hosted by the Henrichsens on the farm and several of the meeting speakers who presented during the day will lead the discussion at the farm.

On Tuesday August 24 the general session will convene again at 9 a.m. in the auditorium at the Farm Bureau headquarters in West Des Moines. Speakers include Byron Sleugh covering "Weed and brush management" and Rick Rasby talking about "Competitive beef production systems." Sleugh is a pasture management and weed control specialist with Dow Agrosciences and Rasby is a University of Nebraska beef specialist.

A panel discussion featuring three Iowa cattle producers will conclude the August 24 morning part of the meeting. They will talk about "Which grazing system is best for me?" After the discussion concludes along with questions and answers, the conference will adjourn at noon.

Consider grazing's conservation and environmental aspects too

Presenters, panelists and moderators include Richard Sims, chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa; Andy Larson, ISU Extension small farms specialist; Keith Summerville professor of botany at Drake University; Loren Lown, conservationist for Polk County Conservation Board; Jeff Boyd, a Polk County cattle producer; Bruce Carney, a Polk County cattle producer; Justin Rowe, a Dallas County cattle producer and Denise Schwab, an ISU Extension livestock production specialist.

Featured speakers include Mark Kennedy, an NRCS grasslands specialist; Steve Barnhart, Iowa State University forage production and management specialist; Erin Herbold, staff attorney for ISU's Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation; and Rick Rasby, a University of Nebraska Extension beef specialist.

You should register for this conference as soon as possible

Register before August 16 for lowest cost. Two-day registration includes Monday lunch at the IFBF building and the evening barbeque at the pasture walk. Cost for the 2-day conference is $50; Monday only fee $40; Tuesday only fee $20. If you register at the door, fee is $60 for the 2-day registration; $45 for Monday only and $25 for Tuesday only. Mail completed registration form and payment to Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, 900 Des Moines St., Des Moines, IA 50309. Or, fax to Agribusiness Association of Iowa, attention Joan O'Brien at 515-262-8960.

If you have questions about the conference, or about registration contact Joan O'Brien at 800-0383-1682 or Joe Sellers at 641-203-1270.