Success StoryReorganizing the Kentucky Beginning Grazing School



Reorganizing the Kentucky Beginning Grazing School

Author: Christopher Teutsch

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Forages

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Kentucky Beginning Grazing School was established in 1996.  This two-day workshop provides new livestock producers with critical skills needed for designing and implementing a rotational grazing system. The curriculum has remained much the same for the past 28 years. In 2024, we redesigned the Kentucky Beginning Grazing School to focus on topics that would enable new and beginning graziers to have success. Topics covered included setting sustainable stocking rates, forage identification, pasture condition scoring, watering system design and installation, forage plant growth and grazing management, hay sampling and testing, and soil sampling and fertility, opportunities for financial assistance and using temporary fencing.  Hands on activities and demonstrations include using temporary fencing and water to to subdivide larger pastures, soil sampling pastures and hayfields, hay sampling and testing, and forage plant ID. This year’s program has more than 60 participants.  In a post-school survey, 97% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that one or more of the management practices that they learned would increase the profitability of their operation. Participant comments included “excellent class”, “everything was amazing”, “enjoyed plant ID”, “really enjoyed school and will keep my binder for future use”, “hay sampling, soil sampling and grain drill calibration were nice”, and “enjoyed the real-world application and research based classes together”. 

 






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