Iowa State University Extension Beef Specialist Beth Doran offers tips to cow-calf producers. Written By: Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach | 12:00 am, Jul. 3, 2021 × ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Most of northwest Iowa is under moderate or severe drought that is beginning to take a toll on pasture carrying capacity, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She reminds producers that changes in management can help extend pasture forage. Adjust pasture stocking rate. In Iowa, 2 to 2.5 acres are required for continuously grazing a cow-calf pair, depending upon forage species, field slope, soil type and moisture. Normally, a cool-season grass pasture takes a minimum of 21-28 days to re-grow early in the grazing season and twice as long in later summer. But 2021 is not a normal year. It will take more acres to carry a pair, paddocks cannot be grazed as long, and forage recovery time will be extended.