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Graze300–MasterGrazerEducationalProgram2015-2016Bi-annualReport
(January1,2015–December31,2016)GrazingNewsNewsletterandotherresources• KYGrazingNewsletter:published13issuesofthemonthlynewsletter(anadditionalissue
overbenchmarkandanissuepublishedinearlyJanuary2017)whichweresentelectronicallytoallKYAgricultureandNaturalResourceextensionagentsaswellas383electronicsubscribers.Hardcopiesweremailedouttoanadditional205householdswhohaverequestedprintedcopies.Overthepasttwoyears,ouraudiencereceivingthesenewslettershasincreasedby29%.
• DevelopedGrazingforCashPocketGuide:AnotebookwasdevelopedbytheMasterGrazerprogramtorecordkeyinformationregardingaproducer’sgrazingprogram.ThisnotebookisnowdistributedtoproducersatalleventsrelatedtotheMasterGrazerProgram.
MasterGrazerWebsite(www2.ca.uky.edu/grazer)• Website:NewmaterialwasaddedregularlytotheUKMasterGrazerWebsite.Thehome
pagecontainslinkstocurrentandpreviousarticlespublishedthroughtheUKGrazingNewsnewsletter,electronicsubscriptiontoournewsletter,informationalvideoclips,listingsofupcomingeventsandprograms,reportsandaccomplishments,linkstootherusefulwebsites,andimportantcontacts.
• MasterGrazerInformationalBooths:TheMasterGrazerProgramsetupinformationalboothsatseveralStateandRegionalconferencesoverthepasttwoyears.Theseincluded,butwerenotlimitedtoKentuckyCattlemen’sAssociationConventions,KentuckyDairyPartnersAnnualMeetings,UKBeefBash,KYForageandGrasslandCouncilAnnualMeetings,andtheMid-SouthStockerConferences.TheboothhighlightedcurrentprojectsandeducationalprogramsoftheMasterGrazerprogram.Additionally,attendeesateachmeetingcouldsignupforfutureissuesoftheUKGrazingNewsnewsletterandreceiveprintedcopiesofthemostrecentnewsletters,researchpublications,orpromotionalflyersforupcomingevents.
• ProgramPromotiontoUKExtensionAgents:TheMasterGrazerprogramaccomplishmentsandupcomingprogramswereexplainedtoUKAgriculturalandNaturalResourceagents(2016)duringtheirin-servicetraining.
KentuckyGrazingSchool-• Atwoday,intensiveandhands-on
educationalprogram(oneeachyear-2015,2016-meetsbenchmarks)heldattheWoodfordCountyExtension
Cattlegrazingalfalfa/orchardgrassmixatOranC.littleresearchfacility.
OfficeandtheC.OranLittleResearchCenter.Thesesessionsconsistedofclassroomdiscussionsofgrazingpracticesandcomponentsnecessaryfordesigningagrazingsystemwithadditionalhands-ongrazingactivities.Participantsgotexperiencewithtemporaryfencingandwatersystemsduringthegrazingschool’shandsonportionoftheprogram.Forexample,beefheiferswereallowedtograzetheseplotsfor18hoursandtheparticipantswereabletoseefirsthandgrazingpatternsofthesecattle.
• 2015KYGrazingSchoolwasheldonMay20-21andwasattendedby35farmersrepresentingover8374acresoffarmlandand1759animals.Anadditional5participantsattendedwhorepresentedagriculturalindustriesimpactingover900thousandlivestockanimalsinKY.Participantsrepresented25KYcountiesand3participantsfromTennessee.Allparticipantsplannedtomakechangestotheirgrazingsystemsasaresultofattendingthegrazingschool.70%ormoreparticipantsplantomakethefollowingchanges:userotationalgrazinginsteadofcontinuousgrazing,decreasehayfeedingbyextendingthegrazingseasonusingcornorstockpiledfescue,seedsomewarmseasongrassesforsummergrazing,designawateringsystemtoprovidereadyaccesstoanygrazingpaddock,anddevelopmorewatersitesforgrazingcattle.
• 2016KYGrazingSchoolwasheldonMay17-18andwasattendedby47farmers,countyagents,andindustryrepresentatives.Over50%oftheparticipantsindicatedthattheyplannedonmakingchangesinspecificgrazingpracticesrelatedtoforageproduction,animalmanagement,andincreasinguseoffencingandadditionalwaterers.Over80%oftheparticipantsplannedtoincreaseaccesstowaterwherewaterwasreadilyavailableineachpaddock,increasetheuseoftemporaryfencingtoincreasethenumberofseparatepaddocksgrazed,renovatepastureswithlegumes,andsoiltestpasturefieldsandapplytheamountoflimeandfertilizerneeded.
EasternKYUniversity-BereaGrazingSchool• This2-dayprogramisdesignedtoteach
undergraduatestudentshowtodesignandimplementarotationalgrazingsystem,andintroducethemtovariousmethodsofextendingthegrazingseason.
• TheseprogramswereheldonApril7-8,2015andNovember1-2,2016attheEKUMeadowbrookfarminRichmond,KY.Thiseventwasattendedbyatotalof43undergraduatestudentsrepresentingEKUandBereaCollege.Eachyearallstudents
Studentsatthe2016EKUgrazingschoollearninghowtoset-uptemporaryfencing.
Producerslearningaboutforagevarietiesduringgrazingschool.
foundtheprogramtobeveryeducational,andthosewhoownedcattlesaidtheywouldtakewhattheylearnedandimplementintheirpersonaloperation.Severalstudentsindicatedtheywouldlikecareersindisciplinesrelatedtoforagemanagement.
AdvancedKYGrazingSchool• Thisone-daycoursewasdesignedforthosewhohad
participatedinapreviousgrazingprogramsandwasmeanttobeusedasarefreshercourseandtogomorein-depthonimportantforageandanimaltopics.Onesessionwasoffered(meetsbenchmarks)eachgrazingyear.
• The2015AdvancedGrazingSchoolwasheldonAugust17,2015attheUniversityofKentuckySpindletopFarmandtheVeterinaryDiagnosticLab.Thisprogramwasattendedby43farmersrepresentingover3850acresoffarmlandandover3000animalsand3industryprofessionals.Attendeeslearnedhowtocalibratebothano-tilldrillandasprayer.Participantsalsohadtheopportunitytopracticehowtoproperlysampleandtestforagesfornitrateandcyanidepoisoning.Allparticipantsplannedtomakechangestotheirgrazingsystemsasaresultofattendingtheadvancedgrazingschool.
• The2016AdvancedGrazingSchoolwasheldonApril12,2016attheUniversityofKentuckyC.OranLittle“WoodfordCo”ResearchFarm.Thisprogramwasattendedby42farmersrepresentingover8070acresoffarmlandandover2950animals.Topics,tours,anddemonstrationsincludedestablishingnewstandsofalfalfa,animalmanagementprogramswhilegrazingalfalfa,springgrazingofwinterannuals,andkeysforsuccessfullyharvestingforagesasbaleage.
LengtheningtheGrazingSeason-MiniGrazingSchools(NewProgram2015-2016,benchmarkof3regionalprogramsperyear).ThisprogramisdesignedtoreachproducerswhocannotattendourKYGrazingSchoolorotherstatewideprograms.Onedayoreveningshortcourseswereheldindifferentregionsofthestatetoallowproducersaccesstotheseprogramsclosetohome.Theyconsistedofmultipletopicsrelatedtomanaged,rotationalgrazingtoextendthegrazingseason.2015--ClintonCountyFieldDay:HeldonSeptember19th,2015inClintonCountyontheJimDelkFarmoutsideofAlbany.Thisfielddaywasattendedby63producersrepresentingover4300acresandfrom8differentcounties.Participantstookpartinseveralseminarsandhands-ondemonstrationscoveringavarietyoftopicsincluding:PastureRenovation,No-tillDrillCalibration,BenefitsofRotationalGrazing,StockpilingEconomics,IntroductiontoTemporaryFencingandWatering,andAssessingPastureProduction.Allparticipantsindicatedthattheirknowledgelevelofeachtopicincreasedafterattendingthegrazingschool.
Advancegrazingschoolparticipantstestingfornitrateandcyanidelevels.
2015-2,3-hoursessions--MasonCountyFieldDay:HeldontheeveningsofOctober13thand22nd,2015inMasonCountyontheRichardHardyFarmoutsideofMaysville.ProducersfromBracken,Fleming,Lewis,MasonandRobertsonCountiesattendedbothsessions.• October13thsession:34Producers
attendedthissessionthatfocusedonforageproductionandmanagement.Dr.RaySmithpresentedontopicsrelatedtomeasuringforageavailabilityusingavarietyofmethods,renovatingpasturesbyinter-seedinglegumes,andpasturefertilitymanagement.MasterGrazerCoordinatorAustinSextenledthegroupinadiscussionanddemonstrationofhowtoproperlycalibrateano-tilldrillforseedingforages.
• October22ndsessionfocusedonlivestockmanagementandwasattendedby31producers.Dr.DonnaAmaral-Phillipsledadiscussiononestablishingamineralprogramforlivestock,aswellashowrotationalgrazingallowsproperrestandrecoverytimeforforages.Dr.JeffLehmkuhlerprovidedahands-ondiscussionforattendeesondifferentmethodsofrotationalgrazingalongwithadiscussionofdifferentcomponentsusedintemporaryfencingandwateringsystems.MasterGrazerCoordinator,AustinSextendiscussedtheimportanceofrecordkeepinginasuccessfulgrazingoperation.
2015--CentralKY-WinterAnnualPastureWalk:OnDecember16th,2015apasturewalkwasheldatthefarmofMikeWilsoninAndersonCountytohighlightandinformproducersaboututilizingwinterannualstoextendgrazingintothecolderpartsoftheyearwhentraditionalforagesarenotavailable.TheWilsonfarmisthesightofoneoftheMasterGrazerprogram’s“GrazingforCash”demonstrations.Earlierinthefallfourdifferentseedcombinationswereplantedonthefarmtoestablishlateseasongrazing.Atotalof15producersfromAnderson,Mercer,andFranklincountieswerepresentatthepasturewalk.2016-2sessions--EasternKYProgram:• Session1-A4-hour,intensiveand
hands-oneducationalprogramfocusingonusingalfalfaandwinterannualsinagrazingsystemwasheldonSeptember15,2016ontheUniversityofKentucky’sRobinsonCenterforAppalachianResourceSustainabilityFarm.Thisprogramwasattendedby20farmers,countyagents,andindustrypersonnel.Attendeeslearnedaboutestablishingtemporaryand
Dr.LehmkuhlerdiscussingfencingsystemswithEasternKYproducers.
Dr.Amaral-Phillipsspeakstoproducersaboutproperforagerestandrecoveryandhowitaffectsforageproduction.
permanentfencing,selectingforagevarietiesforuseintheirgrazingsystems,andhowtocalibrateano-tilldrill.
• Session2-anadditionalprogramheldonOctober4thatSebastianFarmsinBreathittCounty.Thisprogramwasattendedby14farmers,countyagents,andextensionspecialist.Attendeeslearnedtheresponsetofallappliednitrogen,howtomanagefallpastures,andhowtoproperlydesignholdingfacilitiesforcattle.
2016--Cumberland/ClintonCoWinterAnnualsFieldDay:Thisfieldday(September20th,2016)wasattendedby70producersandwascenteredontheuseofwinterannualsinforageprogramsandthebenefitsoftestinghayandbalancingdietstoimproveanimalperformance.2016-2sessions--PrincetonGrazingCoverCropsFieldDay:Thisfieldday(November10th,2016)wasattendedby21producers,countyagentsandstatespecialist.Theprogramfocusedontheuseofcovercropsinaforageprogram,andtheeffectivenessofplantingwintercovercropstoextendthegrazingseason.Session2willbeheldinMarchof2017.“GrazingforCash”DemonstrationsandEducationalProgramThegoalofthesedemonstrationsistoillustratetoproducershowtoreducetheirrelianceonstoredforages,improvemanagementofforagesgrazedorharvested,andincreasetheprofitabilityoflivestockenterprises.Forthis2-yeargrantcycle,demonstrationsincluded:(1)incorporatingwinterandspringannualforages,(2)incorporatingsummerannualforages,(3)improvingpastureswithclover,(4)minimizinghayloss,and(5)managed/rotationalgrazing.WinterAnnualDemonstrationsinAndersonCo:Winterannualforagescanbeusedtoprovideforagesinthespringandearlysummerwhenpastureswillbeseededinthefalltoperennialgrassesorsummerseedingsofwarmseasonperennials,suchaseasterngammagrass.ResultsweresharedwithfellowproducersduringafielddayonOctober13thand22ndof2015.
• Farm#1(DavidBurge):Intheearlyspringof2015,Mr.Burgeplantedhalfofa5-acrefieldintriticaleandtheremaininghalfinspringoats.OnJune20th,Mr.Burgeharvestedashay5.5tonsoftriticaleandanadditional5.5tonsofspringoats.Thisfallthisfieldwillbeplantedinapermanentgrassmixtureoforchardgrassandredclover.Useofthewinterannualsimprovedforageproductiononthisfieldasthisfieldwouldhavenotcontributedforageproductionduringthespring/earlysummertimeframe.
• Farm#2(MikeWilson):Mr.Wilsonplantedtriticale,crimsonclover,annualryegrass,andforagecollardsin10acresandwasabletograze24cowswithcalvesfor20days.InlateMay2015,thisfieldwassprayedwithherbicidebeforeplantingwithEasternGammaGrass.
• Farm#3(BuddySmith):Ina12-acrefield,Mr.Smithplantedtriticaleandforageturnips.Heharvested95roll-balesoftriticalebaleage(approx.24tonsofdrymatter)andgrazed18beefcow-calfpairsanadditional20daysaftertheforageturnipsgrewback.Inanother13-acrefield,Mr.Smithplantedspringoatsandwasabletoharvest92roll-balesofbaleage(approx.23tonsofdrymatter).Inthisfield,Sudangrassforagereappearedasavolunteercropfromthepreviousyear’splanting.Thisvolunteercrop
allowedhimtograze25cow-calfpairsforanadditional10days.Duringthefallof2015,thisfieldwasseededtoanovelendophytefescue,TexomaMaxQII.
MinimizingHayLossDemonstrations:• SinceJanuary2016,2MadisonCountyFarms(YoderandReynolds)havebeenconducting
aside-by-sidecomparisonusing2differenthayfeederstoevaluatethebenefitsofdifferenthayfeederdesignsonminimizinghaylossesduringfeeding.Producersarerecordingtheamountofhayfedthrougheachoneasawaytodeterminehaywasteoverthefeedingperiod.Datacollectedwillbesharedwithotherproducersacrossthestateillustratingonewaytoextendfeedresources.
• AtameetinginJanuary,2016oftheMadisonCountyBeefCattleAssociation,MasterGrazerCoordinator,AustinSexten,talkedaboutdifferenthayfeedingmethodsandtheireffectsonhaylossandanimalperformancetothe50attendees.Thoseinattendancealsogottohearafirst-handaccountofthebenefitsofhay-savingfeedersfromthe2demonstration-cooperatingproducers,Mr.ErvinYoderandMr.RogerReynolds.
• Theirinitialimpressionsofthehay-savingfeederswereallpositiveandeventhoughthedemonstrationwasnotcompletedMr.Yoderlikedthefeedersomuchhewentoutandpurchasedanadditionalhay-savingfeedertouse.
ImprovingPastureswithClover-Demonstration:• AdemonstrationplotwasplantedonproducerfarmsineachofBourbon,Henry,Mason,
andNicholasCountiesduringthemonthofMarch2016todemonstrateproperestablishmenttechniquesforinterseedingredcloverintopasturesusingano-tilldrill.
• Ateachofthe4locations,4treatmentswithinastripwereapplied.Thesetreatmentsincluded:(1)grasscontrol-noredcloverplanted,(2)redcloverdrilledafterforagewasmowedwithoutremovingforageresidue,(3)redcloverdrilledafterforagewasmowedandforageresidueremoved,and(4)redcloverdrilledintothestandingforage.ThefirstcuttingwasharvestedandinAugustandlateSeptemberbotanicalcompositionandyieldsweredetermined.
Left:Thetraditionalhayringusedinthefeedingdemonstrations.Right:Thehaysavingfeederusedinthehayfeedingdemonstration.
• Unfortunately,theMasonandBourbonCountysiteshadastandfailureandwereremovedfromtheon-goingcollectionofdata.
• Resultsattheremaining2locationsareinconclusive.HenryColocationdidshowasubstantialamountofvolunteerredcloverinthecontrolstripsandimprovementsintheamountofredcloverpresentwhereitwasdrilledintoestablishedgrassstands.BecauseofinconclusiveresultsandchangingofMasterGrazerCoordinators,wedidnothaveafielddayattheselocations.
Managed/RotationalGrazingDemonstration:• InMarchof2016,ademonstrationplotillustratingtheeffectsofrotationalgrazingand
pasturefertilizationwassetupinMadisonCounty.Thisplotwillshowthebenefitsofallowingpasturestorestwhileusingrotationalgrazingcomparedtocontinuousgrazing.Datafromthisdemonstrationplotwillbeusedtoshowproducershowthegrazingseasoncanbeextendedthroughmanagedgrazing.
• InFebruary2016,MasterGrazerProgramCoordinatorAustinSextengaveapresentationtotheHarrisonCountyYoungFarmer’sAssociationregardingthetopicofmanagedgrazingandimplementingvariousgrazingmethods.AlsoincludedinthepresentationwasinformationonupcomingMasterGrazereventsanddemonstrations.
Left:NicholasCountyProducerRichStormandMasterGrazerCoordinatorAustinSextenchecktheno-tilldrillsettingspriortointerseedingcloverintothedemonstrationplot.Right:DavidMcGuireinterseedingredcloverintohispastureinHenryCounty.