Rotational Grazing Under Center Pivot Irrigation

Signature Farms hosted a field day to showcase an innovative rotational grazing system under pivot irrigation. Working with NRCS agents, the farm designed a collapsible fencing structure that allowed a center pivot irrigation system to move through rotational grazing pastures previously used for vegetable production.

The system supported rotational grazing of cow-calf pairs from their registered Black Angus herd. Despite record drought conditions, continuous irrigation helped the forage mix thrive. Attendees were impressed by the thick forage growth and the smart design of the fencing system. Presentations by UW-Extension and NRCS highlighted the potential for integrating livestock into crop systems, even in sandy soils.