Mid-Michigan Graziers:

We had a great meeting last night with about 39 attendees!  Several participants asked for links to sites where they can find or purchase some of the resource material that we had on hand yesterday, so here they are:

The book Modern Corral Design can be purchased at:  http://www.mwps.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=c_Products.viewProduct&catID=736&productID=6372&skunumber=OKE-938

The book Forage Utilization for Pasture-Based Livestock Production can be purchased at: http://www.nraes.org/nra_order.taf?_function=detail&pr_id=161&_UserReference=72CA2C288B5D993A47DAB937  This is the document that has a chapter written by Ben Bartlett (a veterinarian and MSU livestock specialist in the UP).  An outline of the table of contents is available at this site.

You can view the results from the MSU Forage Variety Trials and find timely information on forage-related topics at: http://web1.msue.msu.edu/fis/

The book Watering Systems for Grazing Lands ($3) is only available through Ben Bartlett: [log in to unmask], 906-439-5880
 

At the meeting last night, there was significant interest in the USDA Web Soil Survey website.  This service can help you get started planning for fence installation.  You can outline an area of interest (AOI) and it will tell you how many of acres of which soil types are contained in that area.  A tool is also available to trace out fields to determine perimeter distances.  You can access this free service at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx  If you have trouble using it, please contact me or your local USDA-NRCS office.

For those of you who are in the process of developing your farm from the business side, and could benefit from some guidance, the book Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses is available free online (or a hard copy can be purchased) at: http://www.misa.umn.edu/vd/bizplan.html  I strongly encourage you to peruse this document.  A good business plan can help us all to avoid tragic mistakes and to capitalize on ripe opportunities.

Finally, for those of you who are interested in direct-marketing, Marketing Your Beef can be downloaded (free) or purchased from http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2006/020806/susag32.html.  This publication focuses on marketing beef, but because it talks a lot about the bigger topic of direct-marketing strategies, there is much to be learned no matter what you are selling.

Thanks again to our speakers, all of whom did an excellent job.  Their contact information follows:

Richard Leep: [log in to unmask]

Kevin Gould: [log in to unmask]
Don Nevill*: [log in to unmask] or (989) 386-4522

*Don Nevill is one of several livestock production equipment dealers/installers in Michigan.  Clearly MSU can/does not promote or endorse any particular business.  Thanks for your help, Don!

Thanks also to Dave Robison/Brian Haynes of Cisco Companies for contributing the 50 pounds of Midwestern Grazier seed as a door prize. 

We hope you have a great start to your grazing season!

Dan Hudson

Daniel Hudson
Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
Ingham County MSU Extension
121 E. Maple Street
P.O. Box 319
Mason, MI  48854

Office Phone: 517-676-7207 ext 7291