Bringing Cattle Back
Bringing Cattle Back to Crops, and Other Pasture Ideas
Supported by ADM re:generations
Wednesday, June 25
2-5 p.m.
Location
15998 County Road 26
Altura, MN 55910
Hosts
Eric & Michelle Heins, Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Over the last 50 years, livestock have left many farms. Eric Heins is doing the reverse: bringing cattle – and their poop, pee and hooves – back to his land. Come see how Eric is using his Normande-shorthorn crosses in a variety of grazing situations. You’ll view permanent pasture, where Eric (like everyone) is battling the cool-season grass takeover. You’ll also learn how Eric is using his cattle in cover crop mixes, prairie and woodlands.
Since purchasing the farm in 2020, Eric has converted the cropland to pasture. He also custom-farms a diverse rotation of crops, covers and small grains on neighboring farms, including an established prairie on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources land. A possible bonus: Eric is hoping to have virtual fence collars by the time of the field day, but no guarantees!
Meal
A meal featuring Hoosier Ridge Ranch burgers will follow the field day.
See & Discuss
- Cash-flowing the conversion to pasture on owned versus rented cropland
- Stockpiling pasture for winter grazing
- Mechanical buckthorn clearing for silvopasture
- Grazing agreements on DNR prairie and neighboring cropland
- A sudangrass mix after a canning pea crop
- An extended rotation with oats, barley and Kernza
Speaker
- Christine Johnson – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Location Notes
There’s also a County Road 26 in Winona County, Minnesota. The correct address is in Wabasha County, northwest of Plainview, Minnesota.
Farm Info
Sponsor
- Land Stewardship Project