(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa livestock producers are still struggling with the lingering effects of drought. Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Beth Doran says they’ll be holding seminars this week and next week that are designed to help producers manage through tight feed supplies and depleted pastures. “I’ve got our crop specialist coming in to talk about repairing pastures and establishing cover crops,” Doran says. “Realize that some of those pastures are very tired, very worn out, and even if we get them repaired, it’s going to be maybe a year before they’ll come back into their own in terms of growth and yield.”

Doran says they’ll also share information on federal disaster assistance that’s available to cattle producers.  “I have Farm Service Agency directors coming in to talk about what financial assistance is out there for cow-calf producers, this is from USDA,” Doran says. “I know there’s a filing deadline on two of those programs on January 30th and 31st, so we want to do these meetings ahead of that.”

The seminars are planned for Thursday in Emmetsburg, Monday in Estherville, and next Tuesday in the Clay County town of Royal. All of them run from 1-to-3 P-M. For more information or to register, visit the Iowa State University Extensions website.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/