Tuskegee University Annual Goat Day 2018

Tuskegee University 2018 Annual Goat Day is Scheduled on April 21. More information is available at this link: https://www.tuskegee.edu/programs-courses/colleges-schools/caens/conferences-workshops/annual-goat-day

Silvopasture Field Day @ Plantersville

Silvopasture for Multiple Incomes

May 19, 2018

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. 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 silvopasture compared to where there are no trees.

The objective of this event 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 event is provided by USDA/NIFA. More information about the event is presented in the Event Flyer  and Agenda.

Participation to this event is free; however, preregistration is required for management purpose by May 4, 2018. Please reserve your place by May 4 registering online. If you have any questions or concerns, email the event contact person at - ukarki@tuskegee.edu.  Working lunch will be provided to the first 30 pre-registrants.

Agroforestry for Resilient Agriculture

A publication of USDA Forest Service - Agroforestry: Enhancing Resiliency in U.S. Agricultural Landscapes Under Changing Conditions, available at this link: https://doi.org/10.2737/WO-GTR-96.

A very useful publication for all involved in agroforestry operation, education, research, or any other aspects. 

Healthy Soil for Healthy Pastures Training @ Tuskegee

Sustainable Year-Round Forage Production and Grazing/Browsing Management Series: Healthy Soil for Healthy Pastures 

March 28, 2018

7:45 AM - 4:30 PM

102 Mary Starke Harper Hall, Tuskegee University, 1200 West Montgomery Road, Tuskegee, AL 36088

The objective of this program is to educate livestock producers and agricultural professionals on taking care of soils in pastures and other grazing lands (silvopastures, woodlands) for the sustainable production of forages and browse, and support low-cost animal production. Experts from Tuskegee University and Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service will be speaking at the event. Funding support for this program is provided by USDA/NIFA, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grant. More information about the event is presented in the Program Flyer and Agenda.

Participation to this event is free; however, preregistration is required by March 13, 2018 for management purpose. Register quickly and secure your seat on time (NO - or () while writing phone# on the online registration form). Working lunch and morning and afternoon snacks will be provided to pre-registrants.

Improve Pastures, Save Money

Looking for information to learn about improving pastures, man
aging them sustainably, and increase profits? Find out for free: https://drkarkiu.blogspot.com/search?q=sustainable   

Learn Agroforestry

Agroforester Newsletter: Find out what is happening around: http://www.aftaweb.org/latest-newsletter/current-newsletter.html

Farmer's Conference @ Tuskegee

Tuskegee University Annual Farmers Conference coming up soon: https://www.tuskegee.edu/programs-courses/colleges-schools/caens/conferences-workshops/farmers-conference

College Experience for High-School Students @ Tuskegee University

AgriTREK/SciTREK/FNR-TREK and AgDiscovery summer 2018 programs for high school students @ Tuskegee University - Application now open: http://www.tuskegee.edu/agritrek.aspx

Agroforestry Training in Tuskegee

Training on Sustainable Agroforestry Practices

September 22, 2017

102 Mary Starke Harper Hall & the Agroforestry Research and Demonstration Site

Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 

Agroforestry is a sustainable land-use system that involves the intentional integration and management of trees, crops, and/or 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 agroforestry systems provide economic viability through regular, short-term incomes from crop and/or 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 agroforestry 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 vegetation 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. Similarly, different types of vegetables, fruits, and many other crops can be grown in the well-managed agroforestry systems and get benefits from regular short-term incomes. Moreover, under a thick hardwood forest canopy, different medicinal plants can be grown and additional, regular incomes can be obtained.

The objective of this program is to educate forest landowners, farmers, and agricultural professionals, and eventually make them able to implement sustainable agroforestry practices to efficiently utilize their resources in order to benefit current as well as future generations. Experts from Tuskegee University, Alabama A&M University, and North Carolina A&T State University will be speaking at the event. Funding support for this event is provided by 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 September 8, 2017. Please reserve your place by September 8 registering online, or filling and mailing the registration form (click on "Upcoming Events" tab, and click the "registration form" to download the form) to Ms. Yvonne Wright, 201 Morrison-Mayberry Hall, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program, Tuskegee, AL 36088; or email to wright@mytu.tuskegee.edu, or fax to 334-727-8812. Light breakfast, working lunch, and afternoon snacks and drinks (hot and cold) will be provided to the first 30 registrants. 

Any question about the program must be directed to Dr. Uma Karki, Phone: 334-727-8336, Email: karkiu@mytu.tuskegee.edu

Integrated Approach for Managing Diseases and Parasites in Small Ruminants

Hands-on Training for Farmers and Professionals

8 AM to 4:30 PM, July 26, 2017

102 Mary Starke Harper Hall & CAENS Research and Demonstration Facility, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088

The purpose of this training session is to educate small-ruminant producers and Extension professionals on the prevalent disease and parasite challenges that jeopardize small ruminant health and performance as well as human health, and an integrated approach to prevent these problems. Moreover, various treatment strategies will be discussed and demonstrated.  Hands-on activities will include general health inspection, use of FAMACHA card, measuring body condition score, inspecting and trimming overgrown hooves, taking body temperature, administering medication (injections, drenching, topical), and collecting and examining fecal samples for determining parasite load and need for treatment. More information about the event is presented in the Program Flyer and Agenda.

Preregistration by July 14 is required to participate in this event with the required payment ($25.00 if pre-registered by July 14; $30.00 after July 14, 2017) for management purpose. Registration can be made by visiting this link and filling the registration form online,   and check should be sent to the designated address, or both completed Registration Form (Go to "upcoming events" and download the registration form available on this page) and check can be sent to the address given in the registration form. Please register quickly and secure your seat on time. Working lunch and a package of educational materials including the FAMACHA card ($13.00 value) will be provided. If you are unable to pay the registration fee, but need to participate in the event, please email the event coordinator at: karkiu@mytu.tuskegee.edu for possible scholarship.