Kentucky Grazing Conference   Is Nov. 25 In Lexington

Attending the grazing conference can help provide producers with the knowledge necessary to improve the grazing systems on their farms. Garry Lacefield, UK Extension forage specialist

By Laura Skillman PRINCETON, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2003) – This year’s Kentucky Grazing Conference offers information for producers of all types of forage grazing animals. The fourth annual event is Nov. 25 at the Fayette County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Grazing systems for goats, dairy and beef cattle will be topics of discussion during the conference. Additional topics include efficient grazing systems, environmental benefits with improved grazing, optimize grazing – minimize stored feed, economics of improved grazing and opportunities with warm season grasses. Attending the grazing conference can help provide producers with the knowledge necessary to improve the grazing systems on their farms, said Garry Lacefield, Extension forage specialist and conference chair. Improved grazing can help Kentucky farmers directly affect net profit by increasing animals per acre; reducing the costs of machinery, fuel and facilities; reducing supplemental feeding; reducing wasted pasture; improving monthly distribution and yield of pasture; improving distribution and use of animal waste and fertilizer; improving botanical composition of pasture; minimizing daily fluctuations in intake and quality of feed; and more efficiently allocating pasture to animals based on quality needs, he said. Presenters include specialists from the UK College of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Effingham and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the program getting underway at 8:45 a.m.   Conference exhibits at are educational or business and supply oriented. During lunch four awards will be presented for service: two for people in the public sector, one for someone in industry and one for a producer. A silent auction also will be held to help offset expenses. Additionally, there is a $15 registration fee. The price includes proceedings from the presenters, other educational materials, refreshments and lunch.                                    -30- Writer: Laura Skillman  270-365-7541 ext. 278 Source: Garry Lacefield 270-365-7541 ext. 202 Return to Main News page.