Research program focuses on grassland ecology, management, utilization, ruminant nutrition, and environmental issues associated with cattle production and utilization of animal wastes in pasture systems. Recent investigations include grazing management of cool-season annual grasses, the potential for alternative cool-season perennial grasses in the southern USA, production and persistence of alternative crops and legumes for pasture systems, and effects of diverse cool-season forage mixtures on soil health and ecosystem service benefits. Also, current agronomic studies are evaluating a range of crops for bioenergy uses and assessing crop growth and morphological responses to fertilizer application and alternatives to commercial fertilizer as nutrient sources in the production of these crops.