Utilizing Planned Grazing to Increase Forage Production with Pam Iwanchysko

Pam Iwanchysko has been a Livestock Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture in Dauphin, Manitoba for more than 25 years. She was raised on a mixed farm north of Dauphin. She attended the University of Manitoba where she received her BSc. Degree and then proceeded to attend the University of Saskatchewan to complete her Master’s degree in Ruminant Nutrition.  She is passionate about agriculture and improving grazing systems and is continuing her efforts by playing a key role in reinstating the grazing mentorship program back into Manitoba through the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association.  Pam was recently inducted into Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association’s Agricultural Hall of Fame. She and her husband have three children and raise grass fed chickens on a small acreage outside of Dauphin.

Pam is the lead on the Planned Grazing Project at MBFI.  This project spanned 6 years, ending in 2021 and has provided huge amounts of data on the benefits of planned grazing from both an environmental and ecological standpoint.  Pam is very passionate about this project and the impacts of planned grazing on soil and forage health and production.  Throughout this project, careful management of forages through the use of planned, or rotational grazing, has allowed MBFI to graze cattle for a month longer per season than the comparison continuous grazing herd.  This additional grazing keeps money in producer pockets as additional feed sources don’t need to be brought in for that month, and calves can be sold later in the season, at a higher weight, which also increases cow-calf program profits.  

In this episode, Pam shares some of her research history and background, as well as information about her role as a Livestock Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.  

We discuss what Planned Grazing is, how this kind of system works during the grazing season, the many benefits of planned grazing and how to set up a planned grazing system on your operation.

We talk about the outcomes of the planned grazing project at MBFI, and the differences noticed in grazing days and forage production between the planned and continuous grazing cattle herds.  We also discuss trends in animal performance and calf weaning weights.

The project includes an economic comparison between continuous and planned grazing systems for the cattle.  Pam gives us an overview of the difference in profit during the years of this program.

We wrap up the conversation by chatting about how all of this information is relevant to producers and the very positive impacts it can have in their operations, as well as why more producers may not be using a planned grazing system.  Pam expresses the first steps you can implement towards moving to a planned grazing system on your farm.

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Follow this link to view snapshots, videos and annual reports for the Planned Grazing Project:  Forage & Grassland Productivity 

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Upcoming Grazing Workshop Series Dates:

• August 3rd - Diversify your grazing 
• Register at www.mbfi.ca/registration 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA).