Coordinating agronomist: Alyssa Krawchuk
Organization: Lakeland Agricultural Research Association
Practice: Rotational grazing
Trial started: Spring 2026
Barrier: Pasture rejuvenation in remote locations where mechanical equipment cannot be used can be difficult, leading to reduced forage stand and quality (particularly for legume species), as well as fewer grazing days. While drones offer a new opportunity, the lack of incorporation (to maximize seed to soil contact) with this seeding method is thought to cause low establishment rates. As cattle hoof traffic is an easy incorporation method which eliminates the need for mechanical equipment, this project investigates the effectiveness of hoof traffic when rejuvenating remote perennial pastures in a rotational grazing system.
Description: A randomized strip trial with four replications will compare four treatments: 1) non-improved control, 2) drone seeded, no incorporation, 3) drone-seeded, harrowed, and 4) drone seeded, hoof traffic (stock density of initial graze will be 150,000 lbs/acre). A pre-inoculated legume blend, including creeping red fescue, tap rooted alfalfa, branch rooted alfalfa, falcata alfalfa, sainfoin, cicer milkvetch, red clover, chicory, birdsfoot trefoil, and sweet clover will be seeded at 10 lbs/acre. Following emergence, the trial will be grazed for proper forage establishment. Emergence, establishment, grazing events, and biomass will be measured/recorded and quality and economic analyses will be conducted.