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MSU Grazing School Coming to the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State University Extension will offer a grazing school for dairy, livestock and small ruminant producers at the Kellogg Farm Sept. 9-10. The two-day school will begin at 9 a.m. the first day
and conclude at 4 p.m. the following day. With the high price of grains such as corn and soybeans, farms are increasingly utilizing pasture forage crops to provide a large portion of dairy and meat animal diets. The goal of the school is to blend classroom
instruction with hands-on education and the latest animal/forage research to give participants an in-depth introduction to grazing management.
“We are bringing this popular school back to southern Michigan, and the Pasture Dairy
Center at KBS is a great venue with all the grazing research being done there,” said MSU Extension grazing educator Jerry Lindquist. “Participants can go from the classroom, learning from the leading experts in pasture-based
dairy and livestock production, to actually seeing the cutting-edge research that Michigan State University is conducting across the pasture lands at KBS.”
The topics covered at the school will include:
· Introduction to managed grazing.
· Pasture management and decision making.
· Livestock nutrition and requirements on pasture.
· Forage yield determination and pasture allocation.
· Grass and legume species identification.
· Pasture soil fertility and management.
· Grazing systems, layout and design.
· Water systems and requirements.
· Building and using fence for grazing.
· Pasture establishment and improvement.
Maximum enrollment is 35 people. Registration is $125 per person; a second participant from the same farm may attend for $85. Attendees from the same farm share one set of printed materials. The early registration deadline
is Sept 2. Late registration runs Sept. 3-7, and the late registration fee is $150 per person. Fee covers workshop notes, Forage Field Guide, and all meals and refreshments. To register, visit http://events.anr.msu.edu/Grazing14/.
For any questions, including lodging, contact Misty Klotz,
KBS pasture dairy outreach coordinator, at 269-671-2402.
Detroit-Wayne County Seasonal High Tunnel Educational Initiative:
This event offers a full-day tour of some of the most successful seasonal high tunnels in Michigan. Don’t miss this chance to learn about hoophouse production at Ten Hens Farm and the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Ten Hens Farm is located in Bath, MI, and has been owned and operated by Adam and Dru Montri since 2008. They practice year-round production in the farm's six hoophouses and have a strong base of customers
in local restaurants and farmers' markets. Adam Montri also acts as a Hoophouse Outreach Specialist with Michigan State University. Dru Montri is also the Director of the Michigan Farmers' Market Association. The Michigan State University Student Organic Farm
is a 15-acre, certified organic, teaching and production farm that sells products through CSAs, a campus farm stand, and MSU dining halls. They operate hoophouses for year-round production and operate an Organic Farmer Training Program. In addition to offering
courses for MSU students, the farm has outreach and extension programming that works with private and public farms and organizations in both rural and urban areas to help them develop year round local food production systems.
WHEN: Sunday - August 10, 2014: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
MEETING/PARKING LOCATION: Keep Growing Detroit Office - 76 E. Forest, Detroit Keep Growing Detroit is located in a small, brick building near the corner of Forest and John R. Parking is available next to and behind the office.
AGENDA: 9:00 a.m. Bus departs Detroit (KGD Office) 10:30 a.m. Tour Ten Hens Farm 12:00 p.m. Depart for MSU 12:30 p.m. Lunch (provided) 1:30 p.m. Tour MSU Student Organic Farm 3:30 p.m. Depart MSU Farm 5:00 p.m. Bus returns
to Detroit (KGD Office)
COST: FREE, with registration. Advance registration is REQUIRED for this event to ensure that we have adequate transportation and food. Seats and lunches are limited to the first
50 registrants. Effort will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions noted during registration.
THREE WAYS TO REGISTER: Visit: http://goo.gl/hTLuad Call:
517-851-2372 Email: [log in to unmask]
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Sunday, August 3, 2014. We hope to see you there! For questions, please contact: Jessica Simons - 517-851-2372 / [log in to unmask].
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Exchange Manager,
Neal Valley | 517.999.3923 | [log in to unmask]
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