This year marked the first year of the Kentucky Master Grazer Program, which was modeled after the Master Cattlemen’s Program. This program focused on maximizing the production and use of forages as a grazing resource.
The first session ever held in the state was held in Boyd County, but included attendees from 9 counties and two states, and had a signed attendance of 48 participants. Over the six sessions, attendance averaged about 45.
The effects of this program are already being seen and felt locally. One example is a local farm store has had to re-order one variety of improved red clover seed 3 times due to the demand for it from Master Grazer participants, and other producers they have told. This represents over 4 times the amount of the same seed this store sold last year.
Other changes are already being seen also, such as more acres being planted into novel endophyte fescue and producers starting to plan rotational grazing as opposed to traditional ‘let ’em have it all’ grazing .