For farmers in western Iowa and other parts of the region affected by severe flooding, restoring pastures and hay fields to full productivity could be challenging.

When preparing to restore flooded pastures or hay ground, look for three things: debris, silt on the forage and thinned or dead plants. Debris includes wire, metal and trash that may be injurious to animal health. It can also include parts of trees and cornstalks washed in the flood.

According to Brian Lang, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension field agronomist, silt is a big issue with flooding...