2015-2016 master grazer annual report final[3] · graze 300 – master grazer educational program...

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.