Cooperative Extension conducts grazing workshop

A workshop on managed intensive grazing systems is being conducted by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension July 23 in Gardnerville.

“Managed intensive grazing systems, or planned livestock grazing of forage crops rather than machine harvesting, can significantly increase production of livestock per acre,” officials said. “Grazing by livestock can be as effective as harvesting hay with equipment and can lead to timely, uniform and planned harvest of pasture plants. Successful plans incorporate both plant and livestock concepts to achieve desired personal, economic and environmental goals.”

Workshop topics will include managed intensive grazing principles, goals and evaluation, resource allocation, soil fertilization, forage plant growth and selection, fencing design and materials and the use of grazing for weed control.

Extension Educators Jay Davison, Steve Foster and Seth Urbanowitz will be presenting. Participants will also observe a grazing stick demonstration and tour a field where local producers will share their grazing management approaches.

The workshop will be 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and costs $20, including materials, a field tour and lunch at the J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room.

To register for the Gardnerville workshop, visit http://grazingminden.eventbrite.com. Class will be at the Douglas County Cooperative Extension Office, 1325 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville. For more information, contact Jennifer Kintz at 775-945-3444, ext. 12 or kintzj@unce.unr.edu. People in need of special assistance should call at least three days prior to the event.

The workshop is part of Cooperative Extension’s Herds and Harvest Program, which helps farmers and ranchers develop agricultural entrepreneurship, implement sustainable agricultural marketing strategies and improve profitability. Since 2011, the program has reached several hundred farmers and ranchers across the state. Two-thirds of the participants report they would make changes in their business practices because of what they learned through the program. The program is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the United States Department of Agriculture.