Producers are invited to Grazing 102 course offered by Purdue Extension

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Producers can get first-hand tips from experts on how to incorporate management-intensive grazing techniques during a two-day seminar hosted by Purdue Extension. Grazing 102, which will take place June 23-24, will cover numerous topics on best management practices, including plant growth and development, soil fertility, forage identification, fencing and watering systems.

Grazing 102, a course which is designed to help producers successfully run their own operations, will be held at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center, 11371 East Purdue Farm Road, located near Dubois, Ind. The program is 1-6 p.m. (EDT) June 23, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT) June 24. The fee is $50, which covers materials, management tools and refreshments.

“This is geared toward producers wanting to improve their management methods. Anyone can come, especially those who have no experience or are just getting started,” said Jason Tower, superintendent of the Southern Indiana-Purdue Ag Center.

Grazing 102, which is held every other year, will give attendees the opportunity to look at many different forages that might be used in a grazing system, said Keith Johnson, Extension forage specialist and agronomy professor at Purdue University. “We’ll discuss rotational grazing as well as how to implement fencing and water components, which is one of the highlights of the program.”

The event also will include pasture walks and field tours to provide more hands-on opportunities.

“We’ll go out in the field and identify forage and weeds,” Tower said. “We’ll also get to see some livestock moved, just to demonstrate rotational grazing.”

Rotational grazing is one of the management strategies that Johnson and Tower would like more livestock farmers to implement.

“It’s critically important to have forages in a pasture that yield well and have the quality necessary for the particular type of livestock being fed,” Johnson said. “Producers also need to understand that the proper stocking rate is critical to avoid overgrazing that can cause deterioration of a pasture very quickly.”

Grazing 102 provides an invaluable opportunity to have direct contact with expert speakers and their peers. “Small groups are typically better,” Tower said. “This keeps up good interaction between speakers and attendees.”

Registration forms are due by June 15. The event will be held rain or shine. Additional individuals from the same operation are permitted at a cost of $25, but materials and management tools will not be included.

Make checks payable to the Purdue CES Education Fund, Purdue Extension, Dubois County, 1482 Executive Blvd., Jasper, Ind. 47546. The event will be held rain or shine. 

For more information, contact Jason Tower at towerj@purdue.edu or at 812-678-4427. 

Contact: Jason Tower, 812-678-4427, towerj@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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