The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service will host its annual grazing school on September 21 and 22 in Perry, GA. This two-day workshop will focus on soil fertility, forage crop establishment, plant growth, animal nutrient requirements, and management-intensive grazing.

Training will take place in both classroom and field settings. Multiple classroom lectures addressing plant and grazing management will be combined with local farm visits to nearby grazing operations. Demonstrations of fencing and watering options will highlight valuable management practices for livestock producers.

Cost of the two day program is $150 and includes lunches, breaks, a grazing school handbook, a forage and weed ID handbook, and a copy of Southern Forages 4th Edition textbook. Participants are responsible for lodging. Registration is limited to 35 participants; accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Topics Covered in the Classroom

Forage yield, distribution, and quality

Soil fertility and nutrient cycling

Using organic and alternative fertilizer sources

Weed control and management strategies

Managing surplus forage

Supplementing pasture-based nutrition

Manipulating forage growth and animal behavior

Grazing systems, methods, and design

Fencing, water, and shade system considerations

Pasture condition scoring

Economics of managed grazing systems

Hands-On Learning Experiences

Participants will visit two farms practicing managed grazing in the Perry/Central Georgia area. In addition to learning how these operations are successfully using sound grazing principles, there will be several hands-on learning experiences. Topics addressed in the field will be:

Paddock planning exercise

Electric fence system design

In-pasture cooling systems

Pasture composition and scoring exercise

Estimating available forage

Registration

Registration for the conference is required because of limited space. Click here to visit the web-based registration system (you can pay online or have an invoice sent to you).

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