U.S. to Host International Grassland Congress

By: Mike Rankin, ACN Member, and Managing Editor, Hay & Forage Grower

In 1948, the 892-page “Yearbook of Agriculture” was simply titled “Grass.” In the book’s foreword, then-Secretary of Agriculture Clinton Anderson wrote to a nation recovering from war:

“Many of the people with whom I have talked look upon grassland as the foundation of security in agriculture. They believe in grass, and so do I, in the way we believe in the practice of conservation, or in good farming, or prosperity, or cooperation. For grass is all those things; it is not just a crop. Grassland agriculture is a good way to farm and to live, the best way I know of to use and improve soil, the thing on which our life and civilization rest.”

We tend to take notice of corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton as they develop and paint the rural landscape, but it’s grass and other forage acres that cover over one-quarter of the land area in the U.S. and the world. Privately owned grasslands account for 528 million of our nation’s acres. Grass and other forage lands are as important today as they were in 1948 and before – maybe, even more so.

In 2023, and for the first time in over 40 years, the American Forage and Grassland Council will host the International Grassland Congress (IGC). It will be held in Covington, Ky., from May 14 to 19 and offer media professionals a unique opportunity to listen and talk to grassland scientists, farmers, ranchers, and industry enthusiasts from around the world. The theme of the conference is “Grassland for Soil, Animal, and Human Health.”

The planned IGC program is packed with academic presentations on the production, storage, and utilization of forages and will offer discussions of grassland policies, social issues, and ecosystem services. There will also be a trade show marketplace, which will be the hub of the event, where over 1,000 attendees will gather to visit with sponsors and exhibitors, network at evening receptions, and view scientific posters.

One day during the congress is reserved for area tours (included with registration) in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. There will also be optional pre-congress tours in the Southern Plains, Southeast, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest regions of the U.S.

For additional information or to register for the IGC, visit the website here. or follow on Instagram here.