Success StoryPasture Health



Pasture Health

Author: Clay Stamm

Planning Unit: Rowan County CES

Major Program: Forages

Plan of Work: Horticulture, Livestock, Forages, Agriculture

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Soil sampling is one of our most fundamental, basic, building blocks for proper agricultural practices. However, many producers still choose not to soil test, even when the test are offered for free through the local extension office. During the spring of 2018, I was approached by a Hispanic farm manager that wanted to increase the quality of the farms soil and forages in order to extend grazing seasons. Through an initial office visit I explain the process of soil sampling to the client and he went on to collect numerous soil samples over the hundreds of pasture acres he manages. Although the client speaks English, when the soil sample results came back they were difficult for him to interpret. We sat down to together in the office, went over each sample result, labeled fields on a map to the proper sample number, and made a fertilization plan for the year. We also discussed forage seeding methods that would favor the farms grazing goals. Once the manager was ready to begin seeding, he called me for a visit to the farm. Once there, I assisted with the equipment’s seeding chart interpretation and the calibration of the seeder so the manager could sow hundreds of acres for warm season legumes over their predominantly fescue pastures. Not only did we lay the building blocks for a great forage plan on the farm in 2018, but we set the stage for a long lasting client-agent relationship with an undeserved ethnic group.






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