West Lafayette– Water quality, recreation, livestock, and food security will all be in the spotlight next week with the celebration of National Forage Week June 16-22.
Hoosiers are invited to celebrate with the Indiana Forage Council by participating in forage-related activities and entering to win a $100, $75, or $50 gift card from Rural King.
Each day of National Forage Week, the Indiana Forage Council will post a photo challenge that relates to grasses, legumes, and other plants on its Facebook page. Take a picture of your activity that completes each challenge and upload your photo to the comments by 11:59 p.m. that day, and you’ll be entered to win.
National Forage Week recognizes the vital importance of forage systems in sustaining our environment, economy, and food security.
Forage systems encompass a diverse array of grasses, legumes, and other plants, and connect many aspects of our lives. By managing healthy forages, we contribute to a healthy ecosystem:
- When forages cover a landscape, soil erosion is minimal, and water quality is improved.
- Thriving forages provide nutrition essential for optimal livestock health and performance.
- The end products of meat, milk and fiber provide necessities for a growing population.
- Forages offer a beneficial habitat to wildlife.
- Because legumes produce nitrogen, the addition of nitrogen fertilizer to enhance grass growth is not necessary on a field with legumes and grasses growing together.
- Someday, high-fiber forages could be converted to a fuel resource.
For more information on the contest and to enter to win, visit the Indiana Forage Council Facebook page.
Press Release Writer:
Elise Koning elise.koning@outlook.com
About the Indiana Forage Council:
The Indiana Forage Council promotes forage production, research, management, utilization, and marketing. We host professional events across the state and, along with the American Forage and Grassland Council, provide competitions and professional development opportunities for our members. For more information about the Indiana Forage Council, visit indianaforage.wordpress.com.
Properly grazed pasture provides many benefits to the public. (Photo Credit: Keith Johnson)
