Thanks to all who could join us in Ames at our annual conference on February 6th! We had some fantastic speakers and great discussions! 

Our first session of the morning focused on an up and coming technology for grazing livestock: virtual fencing! Meghan Filbert with NoFence discussed pros and cons of virtual fencing and shared some data from pilot projects across the country. Check out her article in this newsletter. 

Dr. Mary Drewnoski from University of Nebraska Lincoln engaged the crowd with some recent data for grazing corn residue. Although grazing corn residue is a longtime practice, as corn genetics and farming practices evolve, so has the value of the corn residue as a feed source. The data shared elaborated on some feed value differences of residue left from low or high yielding harvests, some management considerations, and supplementation strategies.

Facing the lingering effects of drought across the state and increased interests in annual forages, ISU Forage Extension specialist, Dr. Shelby Gruss, shared some past research evaluating various traits of forage sorghum and other warm season annuals that perform in drought.

Jeff Mathias, State Grasslands Specialist with Iowa NRCS, continued building on the drought preparation topics, focusing on sharing the importance of water quality and innovative systems for livestock grazing systems. 

Another highlight of the annual conference is voting in new board members. Help us welcome Kayla Creek, SW Area Livestock/Grazing Specialist for NRCS, and Alan Wedemeyer, Seeds and Traits Stewardship Global Auditor for BASF, onto our board! Continuing board members include Russ Brandes, Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, Jeff Matthias, Brian Peterson, Beth Reynolds, Dennis Schrodt, Bert Strayer, Logan Wallace, and Luke Wilson. If you know a board member, reach out and please share your ideas to keep IFGC a valuable resource in helping you meet your operation goals for forage production.

Virtual fencing is emerging as a groundbreaking technology offering a novel approach to livestock management. Unlike traditional fence, virtual fencing utilizes GPS and wireless technology to create invisible boundaries for cattle, sheep, and goats. Producers create and adjust the virtual boundaries from their phone which communicates with the GPS collars. Nofence collars are worn like a cow bell and outfitted with solar panels that charge a lithium-ion battery. As livestock approach the virtual fence, the collar produces audio cues followed by a mild electrical pulse that is given through the chains around the animal’s neck. If an animal escapes, it is allowed to return back through the virtual boundary with no consequences. A producer receives notifications on their phone each time an animal receives a pulse, escapes, and returns. Livestock are trained to the system in three-to-five days. This technology is in its nascency in the USA and comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Virtual Fencing

1. Flexibility in Grazing Management

Virtual fencing offers unprecedented flexibility. Producers can create fences instantaneously and easily adjust boundaries with a few clicks from their phone. This provides opportunities to graze hard-to-fence terrain and adopt managed grazing practices.

2. Reduced Labor and Infrastructure Costs

Livestock can be rotated from pasture to pasture via the phone, therefore dramatically reducing the labor associated with rotational grazing. Virtual fencing provides a replacement for internal cross-fencing and decreases the need for fence building and maintenance.

3. Farmer Peace of Mind

Producers can monitor and locate their livestock anytime, from anywhere they have cell service. This is particularly beneficial during unfavorable weather. Since users are notified via the app if something happens, this allows a producer to have more confidence that all is well when they leave the farm.

4. Animal Welfare

Virtual fencing can lead to improved animal welfare because animals can more easily access prime forage. A producer is able to monitor an individual's activity levels, which helps to identify sick animals more quickly. Also, users receive notifications if a collar has been inactive for four hours.

Cons of Virtual Fencing

1. Cell Phone Signal

The Nofence system works via cellular networks. There are no towers or base stations involved. Nofence is not a good option in areas with limited to no cell service.

2. Initial Costs

The initial investment in the technology is significant. Cattle collars are $329 and sheep/goat collars are $229 plus a monthly subscription fee that varies between $3.00-$4.50/head/month. NRCS will begin offering cost-share for virtual fencing in October 2024.

3. Battery Life

Although Nofence collars are outfitted with solar panels, the batteries still need recharging. Cattle batteries need to be recharged every six-to-twelve months, and sheep/goat batteries need to be recharged every one-to-two months. This means accessible handling facilities are important and producers must account for this extra step when handling animals.

4. Reliance on Functional Technology

Like all electronics, sometimes the collars need a hard restart. This involves taking the battery out and plugging it back into the collar, which likely means the whole herd needs to be run through handling facilities to do so.

Virtual fencing represents a promising step forward in sustainable livestock management. As the technology evolves and becomes more accessible, it will play a pivotal role in ushering in a grazing revolution, and we’ll see more livestock on the land. To learn more or register your interest, please visit https://www.nofence.no/en-us/

1. Provide an appropriately sized and representative sample of your material – Our Dairyland Labs sample bags are conveniently marked to assist you in submitting the appropriately sized sample. Recommended samples size range:

a. from a minimum of 200 grams or pint size plastic bags for dry hays, grains, dried distiller’s grains

b. to a maximum of 500 grams for silages, TMR’s, and other wet forages (i.e. above 30% moisture).

Optimum sample approach for hay: Use a hay probe on multiple bales, combining that in a sample bag. 

2. Get to know your postage and shipment options. Shipping times vary by carrier. The Dairyland customer service team can provide you with the best options for carriers that service your local laboratory. The primary shipping carriers are USPS and UPS. 

a. Water samples that are tested for coliform bacteria need to arrive at the lab within 48hrs from when the samples are taken. 

3. Take a photo of the tracking number for all mailing services. When sending samples, snap a picture of the tracking number before shipping. This tracking number can assist in locating a package or seeing where it may be held up.

4. UPS label options. Dairyland UPS shipping bags and labels are designed to have a “minimum” of three samples/bag using a 5 lb. labels and can hold up to 5 or 6 samples if the samples are the appropriate size. Shipping bags that exceed the weight on the label may be delayed. Please pay close attention to the weight on the UPS shipping label. 

5. Lab locations. Dairyland has locations across the country. You can send samples to any location and your results will be sent back consistently. Choosing a closer lab will help reduce your shipping times.

6. Utilize technology to receive your reports on the web. If you utilize our customer portal with web reporting, you will receive your sample results electronically as well as have a library of all your results. This is especially handy if you are comparing how a silage changes over the season, or from year to year.  

By implementing a few of these tips, your samples should arrive smoothly, and your results will be back to you in a timely manner, with accurate results. As always, Dairyland is here to answer any questions and help you meet your goals. Call us to talk over your needs.  

Maintaining a neutral pH of around 6.6, ensuring high fertility—especially potassium levels--in well drained soils, and allowing six weeks from fall cutting to the first hard frost are all strategies to reduce the likelihood of winter injury. Snow cover also acts as a natural insulator for alfalfa plants; fortunately, many areas of Iowa experienced sufficient snowfall this winter, providing insulation during the extreme temperatures we faced in January, with lows of -30°F. However, as temperatures rise and fields begin to green up, the risk of further winter injury persists, especially if we experience another hard frost.

Symptoms of winter injury include slow and uneven greening up. Comparing your fields to neighboring ones can serve as an initial indicator; if neighboring fields are greening up while yours is not, it's time to assess your stand's health. Uneven green up, characterized by some buds on the crowns being killed while others survive, leads to stands with inconsistent height and distribution. Additionally, root damage is a good indicator of winter injury. Assessing root health by digging up roots and inspecting the taproot can reveal important clues. Healthy taproots are white and firm, while winter-injured taproots may appear grayish, water-soaked, or even blackened, indicating potential plant/root death.

Once winter injury is identified, it's essential to evaluate the field's productivity for the upcoming year. Fields with winter injury should be assessed for potential yield to determine if they warrant continued production and, if so, managed differently to optimize survival chances. Assessing yield potential involves counting the number of living stems per square foot. Over 55 stems suggest no limitation on yield potential, and good stand. While fewer than 40 stems may necessitate stand replacement. You can assess your stand health by plant number per square foot as well, with the goal of 4-5 plants per square foot in established stands, but the University of Wisconsin has demonstrated that stem count is a more accurate predictor of yield potential.



Adjusting cutting schedules for winter-injured stands involves extending cutting periods to allow plants more time to restore carbohydrates to the roots, thus enhancing survival prospects. Whether extending maturity for each cut or just the initial one depends on the severity of the winter injury observed. The more severe the injury, the more extended cutting periods for each cut become more beneficial. Additionally, increasing cutting height when extending maturity is crucial to accommodate new growth that may be occurring in the stands during the extended cutting period into flowering. Adequate fertility and weed control are also essential to minimize competition and support the injured stand's recovery.

ISU Extension Dairy Team Monthly Dairy Webinar to Focus on Forage Considerations and Field Conditions

The dairy extension team at Iowa State are hosting their monthly webinar series on Wednesday, March 13th from 12 noon to 1 pm. This session features Dr. Shelby Gruss, extension forage specialist, discussing techniques to predict the optimum first cutting window using predictive techniques such as PEAQ (Predictive Equations for Alfalfa Quality) and GDDs (Growing Degree Days). Producers, dairy consultants, and industry representatives can attend the webinar by registering at: https://go.iastate.edu/FORAGE24

Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association Annual Meeting is March 14

Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for the annual Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association meeting and conference on March 14 in Welton, Iowa. Topics on the agenda include alfalfa cutting height and longevity, a 2024 growing season weather outlook, and tips for stretching hay supplies. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/news/EasternIowaHayMeeting2024.html

Pasture Preparation & Renovation Webinar March 27

The Iowa Beef Center is hosting a pasture webinar at noon, on March 27th. Regional beef specialist Chris Clark will kick off the discussion before the southeast agronomist, Clarabell Probasco tackles best management practices for improving the conditions of drought-stressed pastures. Iowa State forage specialist, Shelby Gruss will round out the hour with options to utilize summer annuals to provide a supplemental forage crop in the summer months. Register for the webinar at https://go.iastate.edu/TFXGFI

Planning a forage-related meeting? 

Let us help you promote it! IFGC members can submit a request to Ben Gleason at bgleason@agribiz.org to have their meeting promoted in the next newsletter. 

Education Funds Available - New Rates for 2024!

The Iowa Forage & Grassland Council provides Education Grants which are designed to assist with funding forage education activities in Iowa. IFGC members are encouraged to submit an application for up to $250 in grant funding to help offset costs for forage field days, informational meetings, and pasture walks. Learn more about the grant on the IFGC website.