A Green Lands Blue Waters goal is to increase acreage of perennial grasses and forbs and crops used to support livestock production – principally beef, dairy, hogs, chickens and turkeys.

We support and promote a transition that increases livestock production based on forage and fodder from perennial pastures and forestlands, and on feed from perennial crops.

beef cattle grazing intermediate wheatgrass
Beef cattle grazing on intermediate wheatgrass.
Photo courtesy of The Land Institute

Changes will be achieved through innovative livestock production systems, including improved regimes for grazing permanent pastures (e.g., mob grazing), increased hay production and pasture use on lands marginal for crop production, and production of feed from perennial grains. These innovative livestock production systems can be targeted to fragile soils and bordering sensitive habitats where the environmental benefits of perennial pastures and crops are most advantageous.

More information

Iowa Grass-Based Livestock Working Group

Book on Grasslands

To understand the importance of grasslands in U.S. agriculture, read:

Grasslands: Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture.


Forage – grasses and broadleaf plants grown for the production of hay, haylage, or greenchop -- is the 2nd or 3rd most important crop by acreage in most states in the Upper Midwest, Great Plains, and Corn Belt regions. Add pasture acreage to that of forage lands, and it is apparent that continuous living cover to support livestock production is a very significant land use in our region.

Map of forage production ranking among states and within states.
Forage is the first, second or third most extensive crop by acreage in most states. PDF version of this Forage Production Acreage Map (392 kb), courtesy of National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance.

The Iowa Grass-Based Livestock Working Group was established in 2008 by the Leopold Center, Iowa State University to promote innovation and conservation through grass-based grazing and to create a support network for grass-based farmers, ranchers and other business people. Based on this Iowa model, Green Lands Blue Waters is building a regional support network of researchers, livestock producers and business leaders who use and support perennial pastures for forage and hay, as well as feed from perennial crops.