LINNEUS – Some things never change. At the state grazing school, the emphasis remains on the management of intensive grazing.
But every year there are new things to teach, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. “This year we’ll talk about managing surplus forage in a year of plentiful rainfall.”
Fast-growing forage can mature before the grazing livestock can clean up the paddocks. That means more hay to harvest at a time when wet weather makes baling difficult. Those problems will be discussed this year.
“Some years, in drought, we have to talk about managing too little forage,” Roberts said.
On Sept. 14-16, the grazing school will be held at the MU Forage Systems Research Center, 10 miles northwest of Brookfield, Mo.
The school is open to grassland farmers but also provides training to instructors for regional grazing schools across the state.
The faculty comes from the University of Missouri and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
There is a mix of classroom discussions and field exercises, Roberts said. Participants get to build fence, allocate forages and turn in cattle to graze. The cattle let the teams know whether they made the correct calculations on a day’s feed intake.
“We start with ‘Introduction to Management-Intensive Grazing’ and work our way into developing a farm plan, converting from conventional grazing to rotational grazing,” Roberts said. “We even cover ‘Grazier’s Arithmetic.’” The farm planning includes economics of a pasture-based livestock system. That will include learning how to allocate forage for different types of livestock.
The lessons include taking soil samples to help establish grass and legumes. John Lory, MU Extension nutrient management specialist, will lead discussions on fertility.
Roberts will cover advantages of various forages available to Missouri producers, including the new novel endophyte varieties coming on the market.
Justin Sexten, MU Extension beef nutritionist, will talk about the need for forage testing and adding feed supplements during the year.
Kevin Bradley, MU Extension weed specialist, will tell of new research on improving pastures by weed control.
When the group goes to the field, all of the instructors help evaluate pastures on the tour.
After supper the first night, a panel of Green Hills area graziers will tell how they use management-intensive grazing.
"The nitty-gritty of building fences and providing water to paddocks is not overlooked,” Roberts said.
A big part of the grazing school is developing “real farm plans,” Roberts said. Those plans will be presented the last afternoon.
The school opens with on-site registration at 7:30 a.m., Sept 14. The school adjourns by 3 p.m., Sept. 16.
The fee is $375 per couple and includes the Missouri Grazing Manual, other handouts, plus three lunches and two suppers. Enrollment is limited to 50, with advance registration required.
For details, contact Joetta Roberts at the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council at 573-499-0886 on weekday mornings or mfgc@mchsi.com.
A copy of the agenda is available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mfgc.
The MU FSRC is at 21262 Genoa Road, Linneus, Mo.
To reach the center, drive west from Brookfield, Mo., on U.S. Highway 36, then north on Highway FF for six miles to Genoa Road. Go west 1.5 miles to the headquarters. Signs are at the intersections. From Linneus, on Missouri Highway 5, go east two miles on Highway P to the Finn Road exit, located on a sharp curve. Go 1 3/4 miles to Genoa Road and turn east to the office.
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LINNEUS – Some things never change. At the state grazing school, the emphasis remains on the management of intensive grazing.
But every year there are new things to teach, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. “This year we’ll talk about managing surplus forage in a year of plentiful rainfall.”
Fast-growing forage can mature before the grazing livestock can clean up the paddocks. That means more hay to harvest at a time when wet weather makes baling difficult. Those problems will be discussed this year.
“Some years, in drought, we have to talk about managing too little forage,” Roberts said.
On Sept. 14-16, the grazing school will be held at the MU Forage Systems Research Center, 10 miles northwest of Brookfield, Mo.
The school is open to grassland farmers but also provides training to instructors for regional grazing schools across the state.
The faculty comes from the University of Missouri and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
There is a mix of classroom discussions and field exercises, Roberts said. Participants get to build fence, allocate forages and turn in cattle to graze. The cattle let the teams know whether they made the correct calculations on a day’s feed intake.
“We start with ‘Introduction to Management-Intensive Grazing’ and work our way into developing a farm plan, converting from conventional grazing to rotational grazing,” Roberts said. “We even cover ‘Grazier’s Arithmetic.’” The farm planning includes economics of a pasture-based livestock system. That will include learning how to allocate forage for different types of livestock.
The lessons include taking soil samples to help establish grass and legumes. John Lory, MU Extension nutrient management specialist, will lead discussions on fertility.
Roberts will cover advantages of various forages available to Missouri producers, including the new novel endophyte varieties coming on the market.
Justin Sexten, MU Extension beef nutritionist, will talk about the need for forage testing and adding feed supplements during the year.
Kevin Bradley, MU Extension weed specialist, will tell of new research on improving pastures by weed control.
When the group goes to the field, all of the instructors help evaluate pastures on the tour.
After supper the first night, a panel of Green Hills area graziers will tell how they use management-intensive grazing.
"The nitty-gritty of building fences and providing water to paddocks is not overlooked,” Roberts said.
A big part of the grazing school is developing “real farm plans,” Roberts said. Those plans will be presented the last afternoon.
The school opens with on-site registration at 7:30 a.m., Sept 14. The school adjourns by 3 p.m., Sept. 16.
The fee is $375 per couple and includes the Missouri Grazing Manual, other handouts, plus three lunches and two suppers. Enrollment is limited to 50, with advance registration required.
For details, contact Joetta Roberts at the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council at 573-499-0886 on weekday mornings or mfgc@mchsi.com.
A copy of the agenda is available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mfgc.
The MU FSRC is at 21262 Genoa Road, Linneus, Mo.
To reach the center, drive west from Brookfield, Mo., on U.S. Highway 36, then north on Highway FF for six miles to Genoa Road. Go west 1.5 miles to the headquarters. Signs are at the intersections. From Linneus, on Missouri Highway 5, go east two miles on Highway P to the Finn Road exit, located on a sharp curve. Go 1 3/4 miles to Genoa Road and turn east to the office.
