Educational programs that strengthen agriculture production skills are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension Council and Agriculture Council.  In Oldham County, pasture makes up one-third of available farmland and provides grazing for livestock.  Livestock are important to Oldham County’s economy, with cattle and horses representing over 12.5 million dollars in sales in 2017, according to the last Census of Agriculture.  

Pastures play a major role in livestock food and nutrition.  Improving pasture yields helps producers reduce the number of days that hay must be fed and reduces overall stored feed purchases.  Improving pasture was especially important this year, following heavy rainfall and muddy conditions that led to severely damaged pastures.  

Because of these factors, coupled with the economic importance of cattle and equine production in Oldham County, the Oldham County Agriculture Agent teamed with a UK Extension Forage Specialist to offer ‘Pasture Seeding and Management’ in August 2019.  This program was promoted to Louisville area counties.

Twenty-six producers from Oldham, Henry, Trimble, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties participated and learned about:

• Ways to Recover Damaged Pastures
• Pasture Establishment Methods
• Rotational Grazing to Rest Pastures and Boost Yields
• Soil Testing and Fertility

All participants reported learning a new strategy to improve their pastures.  One producer indicated he would use information learned in this program to complete his CAIP cost-share forage project. One participant offers custom seeding work and will use information learned from this program in his business.