The International Grassland Congress has been held every 3-4 years since 1927. These congresses have been the major forage related event in the world during the last 100 years. The University of Kentucky hosted the Congresses in 1981 and again in May of 2023. At these Congresses presenters submit a manuscript that go into a Proceeding volume or pdf that is then distributed at the meeting. These volumes have been valued by delegates returning from the Congresses, but until recently it was difficult for others to access the papers. 

A collaboration was initiated between the UK Forage and Grassland program and the University of Kentucky library's UKnowledge program about 5 years ago. This collaboration has uploaded and published these papers so that they are available for researchers and extension personnel in the present and for perpetuity. Not only are the papers available, but they are formatted and uploaded in a way that they are available through any search engine worldwide.

We currently have all the papers uploaded from the 2023, 2021, 2016, 2013, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1997, 1993 and 1989 Congresses. As of July 2025 over 490,000 papers have currently been downloaded from this repository from over 218 countries and close to 8500 institutions. This does not include the number of views of the abstracts of these papers. 

Now forage and grassland researchers, industry and practitioners from around the world have access to current and historic research findings. 

UK Forage Specialists Involved: S. Ray Smith and Chris Teutsch