Pasture Walk Series #1: Graze Longer, Spend Less: Winter Strategies at Ironwood Ranch

Join us for the first pasture walk of the season at Ironwood Ranch, just outside of Brainerd! Justin Smude and his family run a 350-acre operation where they raise cow/calf pairs and sheep, grow hay and oats, and integrate annual forages into a diverse grazing system.

Justin Smude, Kent Solberg, and Jonathan Kilpatrick will lead this walk. We’ll explore out-wintering and bale grazing strategies and learn how Justin was able to graze long into January on stockpiled perennial pastures, which resulted in a 50% savings in winter feed costs over previous years! We’ll also learn how Justin has been using cover crops in his produce operation, and then integrating cattle after the season to graze those covers and produce residue. Finally, he’ll share how working with Kent and Jonathan through SFA’s On-Farm Consulting program has accelerated positive change in his operation. Don’t miss it!

This event is part of SFA’s free pasture walk series. Join us on the fourth Thursday of the month April-October for in-field conversation and networking.

Registration: It is free to attend. Registration requested, walkups welcome.

Address: Ironwood Ranch, 14930 Ironwood Lane Brainerd, MN 56401

Info: Jonathan Kilpatrick, jonathan@sfa-mn.org

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2004.25.085287 “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.

SFA staff and volunteers occasionally take photos during our workshops, cafe chats and field days for promotional purposes and to use as documentation of events to share with our funders.  If you do not wish to be photographed, please let our event host know — we’ll make every effort to make sure you are not photographed.