Tuskegee University - Year-round Pasture Field Days

Sustainable Livestock Production through Year-round Pasture

 



Summer pasture in June 2011, Selma, AL

Ruminant-livestock production in Alabama is based on pasture. Highly productive and quality pasture persisting throughout a year or most of the year is important for sustainable livestock enterprises. Most of the livestock producers in Alabama have warm-season perennial pasture that produce from April to October and have negligible or no production from November to March, when farmers need to invest much on supplementary feedstuffs like hay, commercial feed, and agricultural byproducts to sustain their livestock. Feeding purchased feed for 5-6 months each year is not cost-effective. Therefore, every producers who are seriously involved in livestock farming must develop year-round pasture and implement appropriate grazing practice. Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program (TUCEP) has been providing education and technical support to livestock producers who are interested in improving their pastures and grazing practice. Following are imminent two field days on ‘Year-round pasture production and grazing/browsing management’ that livestock producers can benefit from.

 Winter pastures in January 2012, Phenix City, AL

March 24, 2012 (Saturday, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.) - The Central Ala. Farmers Co-Op. 2519 U.S. highway 80 west Selma, Al 36701



April 7, 2012 (Saturday, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Central time) - 508 14th Street, Phenix City, Alabama (Russell County Extension Office Auditorium)

  

Major topics of the field day

•  Soil test, lime and fertilizer application, land preparation
• Forage selection and plantation
• Grazing management
• Supplementation of the grazing animals
• Listen to the lead farmer
• Group discussion - share your ideas
• Demonstration and hands-on in the afternoon session

 Demonstration and hands-on topics

Visit Mr. Gregory Scott’s Farm, Selma, AL on March 24 field day, and perform the following activities:

• Soil sample collection and make a composite sample for lab test
• Measuring the forage height
• Identification of different forages
• Observation of the planting equipment
• Take a tour of the pastures

 2. On April 7 field day, we will visit Mr. Nimrod Stephens’s farm and perform similar activities as listed for the Selma field day.

How can you participate in the field days?

Fill the Registration Form and submit it by March 10, 2012 as indicated in the form.

For more information, contact Dr. Uma Karki at karkiu@mytu.tuskegee.edu; Phone:(334) 727-8336