By Blake Jackson
Registration is now open for the 2026 grazing schools hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of Missouri Extension. These three-day programs are designed to help livestock producers improve their grazing management skills through a mix of classroom learning and hands-on farm visits, according to MU Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.
The training focuses on key topics such as grazing economics, soil health, forage growth and quality, animal nutrition, and the development of management-intensive grazing systems. A total of 21 schools will be offered across Missouri this year, led by NRCS staff and Extension specialists.
Missouri’s agriculture sector, valued at $93 billion, depends heavily on efficient forage and grazing practices. Since the program began in 1990, more than 22,000 producers have completed the training, often achieving improved profitability. Participants have reported net returns ranging from $40 to $60 per acre.
In 2025, the program attracted 411 attendees, including many from key cattle-producing regions in southwestern and south-central Missouri. Sessions will run from April through October at multiple locations statewide.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-r-j-seymour
Categories: Missouri, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle