By Blake Jackson
Efficient forage management and utilization play a crucial role in the profitability of livestock operations. According to Patrick Davis, a livestock field specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, incorporating management-intensive grazing practices is the best way to enhance forage management.
To assist livestock producers in adopting these practices, a management-intensive grazing school will be held from September 10-12.
The event, organized by MU Extension in collaboration with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council, and the Barton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), will take place at the First Baptist Church Family Life and Outreach Center, located at 1301 E. Sixth Street, Lamar. Sessions will run daily from 9 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m.
“This school is applicable to and will provide education in livestock and forage management for all grazing species, though cattle will be emphasized,” says Davis. The curriculum includes a range of topics such as:
- The “Art and Science” of Grazing
- Soils, Soil Management, and Fertility
- Plant Growth, Forage Quality, and Persistence
- Fencing and Water Systems
- Matching Livestock and Forage Resources
- Meeting Nutritional Needs of Livestock from Pasture
- Layout and Design of Grazing Systems
- Economics of Management-Intensive Grazing
- Outdoor Field Exercises and a Tour of Producers’ Farms
The program is essential for those seeking Missouri SWCD cost share funding and may assist in obtaining NRCS cost share funding for grazing system development. Registration and payment are required by September 5.
The cost is $200 per person, with a $100 fee for additional participants from the same farm who do not require materials. The fee covers materials, lunches, and refreshments.
For more information, contact the MU Extension Center in Barton County at 417-682-3579. Register at https://extension.missouri.edu/events/2024-regional-grazing-school-lamar-mo
Photo Credit: gettyimages-imaginegolf
Categories: Missouri, Livestock