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Forage & Grassland Management

Rapid response to Hurricane Helene, a USDA-funded grant

Landscape and Livestock Management Strategies in Response to Helene’s Damage in Western North Carolina

Following the impact of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, numerous agricultural resources—including livestock handling facilities, row crop fields, tree-planted areas, pastures, hay storage infrastructure, and beekeeping operations—suffered severe damage or complete destruction. Bottomlands became alluvial soils while uplands suffered erosion. In response, we worked together to lead an integrated extension-research project to: a) demonstrate and evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for frost-seeding and timely seeding of forages and cover crops, b) evaluate the effects of bale grazing on frost-seeding, and c) provide training on the use of electric fence and bale grazing.  This approach will target cropland, tree-planted areas, and pastures, with the dual objectives of providing forage for grazing livestock and floral resources in the landscape while stabilizing soils in the affected region. We anticipate operating several UAV units for over a 15- to 20-day period. This schedule is projected to support frost-seeding efforts across several hundred acres during February and March 2025 while providing training opportunities for extension agents, producers, and land and livestock managers across the region.

Producer Enrollment Form (access here)

 

Project description video (watch here)

Upcoming Extension Events:

  • Bridging the Gap: Technologies to improve winter feeding and pasture management
    • 30 January 2025, Butner Beef Field Laboratory (Registration link; limited to 80 participants)
    • 4 February 2025, WNC Regional Livestock Center (Registration link coming soon)