The 2023 Fall Kentucky Beginning Grazing School’s goal is to help livestock producers improve profitability with hands-on and classroom learning. The school is Sept. 27-28 at the Woodford County Extension office in Versailles, KY and at the UK C. Oran Little Research Farm.

“While this school targets beginning graziers, the topics and discussion will benefit producers along all segments of their grazing journey” says Chris Teutsch, UK Forage Specialist. This year’s school has been updated to put greater emphasis on soils.
The school will begin each morning at 7:30 a.m. EDT with refreshments and ends by 5:00pm. Topics on Sept 27 include introduction to soils, rotational grazing, meeting nutritional needs on pasture, grazing math concepts, travel to a local grazing operation, portable/seasonal water systems, methods to access pasture production and determine stocking rate, hands-on small paddock set-up demonstrations. After lunch at the farm, more topics include electric fencing to control grazing, offsets, soil and hay sampling, forage plant grown and grazing management and choosing forage species for a comprehensive grazing system.

Topics for April 28 include fence types and costs, a grazing system design case study and exercise, grazing myths that impact profitability and a discussion on how to reinvigorate a rundown farm. A local producer will discuss how they made grazing work on their farm. The day culminates with a trip back to the research farm to observe and discuss the hands-on grazing exercise from the previous day. Students will also have the opportunity to calibrate a grain drill and try a simple GPS unit that improves the accuracy of frost seeding with an ATV.
Registration is $60 per participant and ends September 22. Register soon since spots are limited.

To register and pay online go to the UK Forage Website and click under events or the direct registration link is:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-kentucky-beginning-grazing-school-fall-tickets-666511101647?aff=oddtdtcreator

To register by mail, send a check for $60 to Christi Forsythe, UK Research and Education Center, 348 University Drive, Princeton, KY 42445. Specify “2023 Fall Grazing School” on your check.

The Woodford County Extension office is at 184 Beasley Drive, Versailles, KY 40383. Sponsors include the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, KY Forage and Grassland Council, KY Beef Network, and KY Agricultural Development Fund.