Plantersville Field Day 2016

Silvopasture and Goat-Herd Management Field Day

September 10, 2016

472 Pecan Road, Plantersville, AL

 

Silvopasture is a sustainable agroforestry system that involves an intentional integration and management of trees, forages, and livestock in a single management unit. This system offers more economical, environmental, and social benefits compared to the sole operation of its components. Well-managed silvopasture systems provide economic viability through regular, short-term incomes from forages and livestock components, and long-term incomes from trees. Most of the Southeastern forest consists of pine trees, which require 20 to 30 years to mature. Landowners with sole pine plantations have to manage the tree stands (thinning, pruning, and burning) several times before trees are harvested and also pay property tax annually; similar scenario is true with non-pine woodland. However, they cannot get much regular incomes from the woodland to support these costs unless silvopasture practices are adopted, which is possible after the first thinning and pruning that open up more ground surface and allow more sunlight penetration to the ground for understory forage growth. Livestock farmers can get more forages/grazing if a silvopasture system is practiced and grazing animals may have a more comfortable environment while in the sivlvopasture compared to where there are no trees.

The objective of this program is to educate forest landowners, farmers, and agricultural professionals, and eventually make them able to implement sustainable silvopasture practices to efficiently utilize their resources in order to benefit current as well as future generations. Experts from Tuskegee University, and Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be speaking at the event. Moreover, the host farmers will be sharing his experience on silvopasture-goat management system. Funding support for this program is provided by Southern USDA/NIFA. More information about the event is presented in the Program Flyer  and Agenda.

 

Participation to this event is free; however, preregistration is required for management purpose by August 19, 2016. Please reserve your place by August 19 registering online, or filling and mailing the registration form to Mr. Yubaraj Karki, 201 Morrison-Mayberry Hall, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program, Tuskegee, AL 36088; or email to ykarki@mytu.tuskegee.edu, or fax to 334-724-4344. Light breakfast, working lunch, and afternoon snacks and drinks (hot and cold) will be provided.

Please register quickly and secure your seat on time. Light breakfast, working lunch, and afternoon snacks and drinks (hot and cold) will be provided to the first 40 registrants.