GRAZING MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Extension Education
Mark Landefeld
Extension Educator
Ohio State University Extension
WOODSFIELD
Abstract
Southeastern Ohio has thousands of acres of unglaciated land that can produce high quality forage for grazing livestock. Using rotational grazing principles, a farm manager can increase the amount of forage produced on each acre of pasture land and also increase the stocking rates per acre. This can make a farm operation more profitable and be beneficial for the environment at the same time. A three part Grazing Management Workshop was held and more than 29 people attended each session. Participants of this workshop learn about water and land resources, about fertility and how to reduce the amount of nitrogen that must be purchased for application, learn how forage plants grow and how to extend the grazing season to reduce costs. Weed and plant identification were also discussed along with management options for control. Participants of the workshop manage more than 3500 acres of hay and pasture land in eastern Ohio and own more than 1100 head of livestock. Post program participant evaluations confirmed that knowledge is being gained and the meetings are having impact. Seventy percent believed they would be able to extend their grazing season, 79% said they would be able to increase forage yield per acre as a result of the workshop and 82 percent were going to make production improvements. On average, respondents were able to increase the number of grazing days by 64 days per year, including spring and fall. Conservative estimates would value this savings at $70 per head for these farm managers.
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Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
A poster file has not been provided
Authors: M. Landefeld
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Landefeld, M. Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43793