Duration: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2028

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Key Elements of Intensive Management of Irrigated Forage-Livestock Systems

Irrigation

One of the key determinants of successful western region forage-livestock operations is access to irrigation resources. Recent drought conditions in the west confirm the previous indications of Campbell (2012); livestock producers in the western U.S. continue to be impacted by drought that contributes to forage production variability (USDA-NASS, 2016). Recent wildfires further remove other forage resources (Schipani, 2017). This has resulted in reduced stocking rates from public and private grazing lands and increased dependence on irrigated forage supplies. These trends add to these financial pressures experienced by farmers and ranchers, as they often need to reduce their herd size, lease private grazing lands, or buy and feed hay – all options that increase production costs and drive producers to ever-thinner profit margins (Wilson 2017). We anticipate that western livestock producers will continue to experience these and similar hardships as climate change and variability continues (Reeves et al., 2017).

Planning and Sowing Grasslands

Cattle with increased nutritional demands have been shown to alter grazing behavior in a compensatory fashion (Sprinkle, et al., 2021). Species and cultivar selection are critical to animal health and behavior, as well as sector sustainability, which is why developing planning, species and cultivar selection, establishment and renovation, and initial management will also be priorities for program participants.  Applied research trials, journal publications, extension documents, and teaching materials will be part of this program.

Grazing Systems

Although significant strides have been made in both research and outreach activities by members of the committee, the use of intensively-managed irrigated pastures still remains relatively low in the West (Gerrish, 2004b) as well as in other parts of the U.S. (Winsten et al., 2011). In other parts of the world, it is recognized as a low-input, sustainable approach to livestock production and forms the basis for livestock production in New Zealand (Hodgson, 1990). Although adoption has been slow, interest in management-intensive grazing by U.S. producers continues to be strong as evidenced by continued participation in the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy, which is organized and taught each year by members of this committee from Idaho. As further evidence, faculty from Colorado State University implemented an irrigated pasture study in 2017 and host a field day in which attended by about 100 individuals of which half were producers who expressed interest in implementing such practices on their operations.

The potential benefits of management-intensive grazing for beef production are many, including reduced production costs, increased animal output per acre, land use efficiency, environmental sustainability, such as reduced need for fertility inputs, increased carbon sequestration, and reduced runoff and wind erosion, and improved quality of life for farmers and ranchers (Gerrish, 2004a). Collaboration with Lincoln University, New Zealand will provide opportunities for applied research and extension publications.

Organic Production Systems

In addition to traditional forage-livestock systems, project participants will focus on organic production systems in combination with small farms and agencies supporting organic production. While the conventional dairy industry continues to expand, there is also a thriving organic dairy industry in the West. Working in collaboration with Organic Valley dairy producers, WERA-1014 members demonstrated a 20% increase in milk production during mid-summer when cows grazed birdsfoot trefoil pastures compared to grass pastures. Cheese from the milk of birdsfoot trefoil-fed cows contained significantly more omega-3 fatty acids than cheese made from the milk of grass-fed cows; both contained more omega-3 fatty acids than milk from cows fed a conventional TMR (MacAdam et al., 2015). These benefits appeal to many livestock producers as well as others interested in economically and environmentally sustainable livestock production in the western U.S. They will remain a focus of WERA 1014 activities over the next five years.

Significant efforts are made to improve the production of alfalfa and timothy hay in western forage systems. Activities include variety trial results of currently sold seed, determination of molecular markers that influence yield, quality, fall dormancy, and tolerance to salinity and drought. This ongoing research benefits the alfalfa and the forage industry by delivering producers with information on the latest varieties, their responses to environmental variability, and production practices.

Needs Analysis

To better define forage-livestock sector priorities, OSU personnel conducted a needs analysis of key pasture and forage industry stakeholders in Oregon (Nelsen et al., 2022). Challenges described by many interviewees included drought, wildfire, smoke, and heatwaves affecting crop production and livestock, the cost of hay and supplemental feed, and changing insect and weed dynamics, particularly for low-input producers. Producers interviewed requested assistance to identify and select forage species and varieties well-adapted to changing climate conditions and resilient to weather extremes. They sought validated grazing management techniques to protect and maintain perennial swards through shifts in environmental conditions as well as prioritization of soil health practices for use in pasture and forage systems to attenuate fluctuations in forage supply associated with extreme weather events. Weed and insect pest management practices were also requested, particularly by producers using organic, regenerative, and low-input strategies.

Recent Reports

Research and Extension outputs through the last cycle were many and provided valuable information to producers interested in implementing management-intensive grazing on irrigated pastures. For example,

• Researchers at Utah State University, in conjunction with others on this project, demonstrated the potential of birdsfoot trefoil as pasture in the western U.S. (Curtis et al., 2012; MacAdam and Griggs, 2013A; MacAdam and Griggs, 2013b; MacAdam et al., 2013; Grabber et al., 2014; Hunt et al., 2014; Hunt et al., 2015; Brummer et al., 2016; Hunt et al., 2016).
• Researchers at the University of Wyoming have been evaluating the potential of various grasses and grass-legume mixtures to provide high quality forage for hay and/or grazing (Adjesiwor et al., 2017; Dhakal and Islam, 2013; Islam et al., 2013; Wehmeyer et al., 2013; Dhakal and Islam, 2014; Horn et al., 2014).
• Researchers at Colorado State University have been investigating the potential of various annual forages to be stockpiled to extend the grazing season into the fall and early winter as a cost saving practice as an alternative to perennial forages (Villalobos, 2015; Villalobos and Brummer, 2015a,b; Villalobos and Brummer, 2016).
• Researchers at Oregon State University have studied novel pasture systems such as agrivoltaics and dual-purpose pollinator-friendly pasture management strategies. These findings have been published by members of the forage livestock systems lab led by Ates (Andrew et al., 2021, Gultekin et al., 2020). The focus of grazing studies at OSU has been sustainability in pasture-based dairy production systems (Wilson et al., 2020; Carmona-Flores et al., 2020). Diverse crop-livestock farming systems exist in Oregon, into which livestock are fully integrated into arable agriculture using forages or plant byproducts. Oregon is among the leading producers of hemp for the extraction of cannabidiol. This process generates large amounts (>25,000 US ton/y) of spent byproduct that could be fed to livestock. Thus, alternative forage sources such as industrial hemp and its byproducts have been studied at OSU as well (Parker et al., 2022).
• Researchers at Washington State University produce an annual Washington State Hay Growers Association and Washington State University Alfalfa Variety Trials Report. For 2020 and 2021, this dissemination effort was led by O.S. Norberg and S. Sherriff of WSU.

Further, WSU researchers have contributed to advances in the understanding of the genetics of alfalfa that have been published:

• Medina, S. Lin, G. Wang, D. Combs, G. Shewmaker, S. Fransen, D. Llewellyn, S. Norberg, L. Yu. 2022. Identification of Genetic Loci Associated with Five Agronomic Traits in Alfalfa Using Multi-Environment Trials. Plant, Cell & Environment. Submitted Oct. 25, 2022.
• Lin, S., C.A. Medina, S. Norberg, D. Combs, G.Wang, G. Shewmaker, S. Fransen, D.Llewellyn, Long-Xi Yu. 2021. Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifying Multiple Loci Associated with Alfalfa Forage Quality. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.648192
• Lin, S., C. Medina, C., Boge, B., Hu, J., Fransen, S., Norberg, S., Yu, L. 2020. Identification of Genetic Loci associated with Forage Quality in Response to Water Deficit in Autotetraploid Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Biomed Central (BMC) Plant Biology. 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02520-2.
• Lin, S., O.S. Norberg, D. Combs. 2021. Genomics of Forage Quality in Alfalfa, Chapter 7 In The Alfalfa Genome. Springer Nature L. Yu and C. Kole editors. (5, 6).
• Parajuli, A.; Yu, L.; Peel, M.; See, D.; Wagner, S.; Norberg, S.; Zhang, Z. 2021. Chapter 15. Self-Incompatibility, Inbreeding Depression, and Potential to Develop Inbred Lines in Alfalfa: A Review. In The Alfalfa Genome. Springer Nature L. Yu and C. Kole editors. Preprints 2020, 2020110390 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202011.0390.v1). (6)

The above references cover only a small proportion of the information gained and disseminated over the last 5 years by members of this project. Numerous other projects conducted by researchers throughout the western states have also yielded beneficial information including the potential health benefits of finishing beef on legume pastures (Chail et al., 2016), the preference of sheep for different cultivars of barley and oats (Staudenmeyer et al., 2016), dry matter production of 39 grass entries over nine years (Wichman and Glunk, 2016), the preference of cattle for four clover species (Solomon and Scaglia, 2015), and the potential to use fenugreek as a forage crop in the western U.S. (Islam, 2013), to highlight a few.

In addition to research activities, members of WERA 1014 continue to actively share research results through many individual and collaborative outreach programs. The overarching goal of these outreach programs is to assist livestock producers in the adoption of environmentally and economically sustainable forage and grassland management resulting in reduced feeding costs, improved production, and greater environmental sustainability. To assist with this goal, members of WERA 1014 have authored several joint outreach publications (MacAdam et al., 2013; Downing et al., 2014; Brummer et al., 2016). In addition, a series of highly successful Pasture Management Professional Development Workshops, funded by Western SARE, were held from 2012 through 2015. These workshops, held regionally in five states, were for professionals such as Extension Educators, Natural Resources Conservation Service field personnel, and agricultural consultants to be better enable them to advise landowners on pasture related issues. Many members of this project served as instructors. Project members compiled an overview of pasture and grazing management Extension programming in the Northwestern U.S., which was published in the Proceedings of the 10^th International Rangeland Congress (Shewmaker et al., 2016).

Collaboration with other Regional Projects

Many of the activities of WERA 1014 are complimentary to the ongoing W2012 Project Enhancing management, production, and sustainability of grazing ruminants in extensive landscapes. This latter project addresses the management of the extensive rangeland production systems in the western U.S. It is common for ranches in the western U.S. to include private irrigated acreage used for hay and/or grazing as part of their overall production system, making aspects of our WERA 1014 work relevant to systems that depend primarily on rangeland. We make ongoing efforts to coordinate with members of W2012. Other collaborations include linkage with NCCC31: Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management and a USDA-NIFA-SAS grant Fostering Resilience and Ecosystem and Ecosystem Services in Landscapes by Integrating Diverse Perennial Circular Systems developed in part by WERA 1014 members.

Summary

The continuing focus of WERA 1014 will be on the management of cultivated, irrigated forages for the production of hay and pasture, with emphasis on improved pasture management. This focus provides western livestock producers the greatest potential to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of this agronomic activity.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

The annual meetings of WERA 1014 are held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Pacific Northwest Forage Workers (PNWFW) group; hosting responsibilities rotate among project participant states. These shared meetings have increased attendance at WERA 1014 to those not officially listed as WERA 1014 members and fostered the exchange of information among forage research, extension, and teaching faculty, NRCS field and administrative personnel, and forage-livestock industry representatives interested in systems throughout the western U.S. Typical organization of the meeting includes an evening social activity prior to the meeting and sharing of recent activities on day one, with field visits arranged by the host organization on day two.

Objective 1 – Prior to each annual meeting, participants will be asked to submit a list of current activities from their state, for distribution to meeting participants, and dissemination of information regarding state-level irrigated forages production and use. This will facilitate discussion and avoid duplication of efforts. Examples include the sharing of PowerPoint presentations, ideas for effective field day activities, and sharing key publications, Extension fact sheets, and teaching strategies. These resources will help to identify knowledge gaps in production and use of irrigated forages. From this list, and other client assessment, research, extension, and teaching priorities will be more dynamically integrated.

Objective 2 – Based on the list of research, extension, and teaching priorities developed in objective 1, regional and national grant proposals will be developed. Examples include NIFA programs, Western SARE, NRCS, and state programs. Several successful examples of grant funding have resulted by collaboration of project participants working both on WERA 1014 and NCCC 31, including the $10M Sustainable Agricultural Systems project. Other more localized regional projects include Western SARE grazing systems work, integrating many clover species and birdsfoot trefoil. Several fact sheets have been developed for Extension audiences.  Professional development programs have been conducted in various states. Other grants funded or submitted include:

• Assessing Sulfur Fertilization as a Means to Improve Statewide Forage Quality and Value by Reducing Nitrate Accumulations in Cereal Forages. PIs: Hayes Goosey Clain Jones, Jamie Sherman, Kent McVay, Patrick Carr, Clint Beiermann, Perry Miller, Jessica Torrion. Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee: Year 1 Award: $19,242; Years 2&3 ~ $50,000. An MSU graduate student started on this project Fall Semester 2022.  The objectives are to investigate soil nitrogen and sulfur levels and their interactions on plant nitrate content, total plant nitrogen, yield, sulfur, N:S ratio, and forage quality. 
• Nitrogen Requirement for Sustained Yield and Optimal Quality of Cool-Season Perennial Forages. PIs: Jessica A. Torrion, Hayes Goosey, Peggy Lamb. Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee: Year 1 Award: $48,117. A collaborative project to determine nitrogen needs of perennial grass forages during the first year of establishment. Stakeholders require research-based information to base economically sound decisions at the farm/ranch level regarding costly fertilizer use. This project will provide stakeholders with critical nitrogen levels for optimal and sustained cool-season forages yield and quality. We seek to elucidate cool-season forage nitrogen uptake and economic performance under a wide range of Montana environments, increase outreach and visibility of performance across Montana.
• Relationship Between Fertility Management, Production and Quality of Advanced Spring Forage, Feed and Malt Barley Lines. PIs: Jamie Sherman, Kent McVay, Hayes Goosey and Clint Beiermann. Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee: Year 1 Award: $44,400. This multifaceted project focuses on barley production. My focus is on the emerging forage barley lines the MSU barley breeding program and their critical nutrient needs. We are developing advance lines with the ‘Stay-Green’ gene as a metric of drought tolerance, higher yields and stable quality under the volatile dryland conditions. Determining nutrient needs for these advanced lines and will allow us to provide better breeder and producer recommendations. 
• Legacy Effects on Soil and Perennial Forage Productivity following 18 yr. of Nitrogen Management in Alternative Crop Rotations. PIs Perry Miller, Hayes, Goosey, Manbir Rakkar, Clain Jones, Samuel Koeshall. Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee: Year 1 Award: $21,692. Legacy effects of annual cropping systems and their influence on soil pH is a focus because of the impacts of acidic soils on crop health and production. This project evaluates forage quality and quantity based on the effects of nine annual crop rotations managed at high and low N rates for 18 years. Experiment station based, and we have overlain treatments of grass-only, alfalfa only, mixed alfalfa-grass, and hay barley on existing and varying levels of soil pH to determine whether low pH results in N deficiency in alfalfa and to measure soil pH change after four years of perennial forage management.
• Nutrient Needs and Stand Longevity of Aging Alfalfa Delivered from Two Sources of Phosphorus. PIs: Hayes Goosey and Sam Wyffels. An aged alfalfa stand receives phosphorus from one of two sources: P₂O₅ fertilizer (MAP) or a rock-phosphate based PhoSul fertilizer. We will compare MAP and Phosul fertilizer on growth rate, yield, alfalfa quality and estimate of increase in stand longevity associated with the treatments.
• Sustainability of beef production systems: The effects of alternative spring forage and delayed turnout on rangeland soil moisture, temperature, microbial community and vegetation production. PIs: Sam Wyffels, Hayes Goosey, Tim DelCurto, Jeb Eberly. National Cattleman’s Beef Association: $150,000. Investigating the effects on sustainable beef production systems of alternative spring forage and delayed turnout on rangeland soil moisture, temperature, microbial community and vegetation production. Submitted.
• Controlling Adult Alfalfa Weevils: A Multi-State University/Industry Collaboration. PIs: Kevin Wanner, Hayes Goosey, Michael Rethwisch, Kelly Seuhs. National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance: $100,000. Researching the biology and control of adult stage alfalfa weevils in four distinct production areas: Desert Southwest (CA), Northern Great Plains (MT), Southern Plains (OK) and the Pacific Northwest (OR/WA).

Objective 3 – Collaboration with forage and livestock professionals who are not members of WERA 1014 has been extensive and an important aspect of the project. This has included formal presentation by seed industry, NRCS personnel, irrigation systems, fertilization companies, pest control, and education specialists. Identifying individuals willing to share their experience in research, extension, and teaching projects leads to more extensive collaborations.

Mentoring of early-career colleagues develops them into forage and livestock faculty with broad experience and high potential for promotion and tenure. It is also important to the discipline, due to the current and future retirement of many greatly experienced forage faculty.  

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Participants are conducting extension and undergraduate and graduate educational programs that distribute forage and forage-livestock management information to producers, extension agents, consultants, and governmental agencies such as the NRCS. These programs are enhanced by the sharing of teaching methods, curricula, and research/demonstration data among participants from various western states.

Organization/Governance

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a NIFA Representative.

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Wilson, R.L., Bionaz, M., MacAdam, J.W., Beauchemin, K.A., Naumann, H.D. and Ates, S. (2020) Milk production, nitrogen utilization, and methane emission of dairy cows grazing grass, forb, and legume-based pastures. Journal of Animal Science 98(7) https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa220

Winsten, J.R., A. Richardson, C.D. Kerchner, A. Lichau, and J.M. Hyman. 2011. Barriers to the adoption of management-intensive grazing among dairy farmers in the Northeastern United States. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 26(02):104 – 113.

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