Wallaces Farmer

Robbins Land & Cattle LLC, Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa, works to enhance pasture and cropland with rotational grazing and cover cropping.

May 4, 2021

3 Min Read
Grazing beef cattles
FREQUENT ROTATIONS: Justin Robbins uses both flat and rolling pasture land for rotational grazing. Grazing rotations occur frequently — roughly once a week on pasture ground in Carroll County, Iowa, and every three weeks on ground along the riverbank — so native grasses remain ankle-high or taller. Tyler Harris

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association recently recognized Justin and Lacie Robbins of Robbins Land & Cattle LLC as the 2021 Iowa Environmental Stewardship Award Program winner.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Environmental Stewardship Award Program recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers who care for the land with as much dedication as they care for their livestock.

Robbins Land & Cattle will compete against nominees from Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. Regional winners for the national award will be announced in late July. Six regional winners will be recognized at the national level, where one will be selected as the winner.

Enhancing pastures, annual cropland

Robbins Land & Cattle is situated along the North Raccoon River in Greene County. The enterprise also has pasture and row crop ground in Carroll County, roughly 15 miles from the Robbins’ farmstead. Their property includes hills, valleys and land along the river, which could use “time to heal.” Robbins uses both flat and rolling pastureland for rotational grazing. Grazing rotations occur frequently — roughly once a week on pasture ground in Carroll County and every three weeks on ground along the riverbank — so native grasses remain ankle-high or taller.

“We’ve heavily incorporated cover crops,” Justin Robbins says.

He first started using cover crops in 2013, primarily seeding them on harvested corn acres, and now he strives to establish cover crops on at least 50% of his farming operation. He sees cover crops as an opportunity to suppress weed pressure, reduce input costs and retain essential nutrients. From rotational grazing to cover crop seeding, Justin’s efforts to improve water quality and soil health on his crop acres go hand in hand with his purebred Angus operation.

Over the past 18 years, Justin has dedicated a lot of time and energy to enhancing his farming operation. From rebuilding and implementing farm ponds on pasture ground to establishing cover crops on a large portion of his row crop acres, Justin strives to leave the land better today than he found it yesterday. Doug Hawn, his mentor and former business partner, always supported Justin in his sustainable endeavors.

“He was extremely open to cover crops. Everywhere we used them was on his ground,” Justin says. He continues to build on the foundation he and Doug established together.

Environmental, economic and resource management

“I want to leave the land better today than how I found it yesterday,” Justin says. He says this is his responsibility as a cattle producer and row crop farmer: “to manage weeds and feed the soil.” Justin plans to achieve this by:

• incorporating cover crops on at least 50% of his row crop acres

• establishing cover crops on 100% of incoming soybean acres

• maximizing the profitability of manure on his farming operation

• cleaning up pasture for more intensive rotational grazing

• turning marginal crop acres into hay or pasture ground

• engaging with local and state agencies on program development

Source: Iowa Cattlemen's Association, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren't responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

 

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