The 2009 Forage Performance Trials Report is now available online at
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf/
The report is a summary of performance data collected from forage variety trials in Ohio during 2009. It includes commercial varieties of alfalfa, orchardgrass, tall fescue, annual ryegrass and teff, in tests planted in 2006 to 2009 across three sites in Ohio: South Charleston, Wooster, and North Baltimore.
A pdf file easy for printing is available, as are downloadable spreadsheet files of all the trials.
Links to forage performance trials in other states are included on the Ohio Forage Performance Trials website. One very useful link is interactive website to compare alfalfa varieties across many locations (including Ohio data).
Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 28 and 29, 2010
North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference will be January 28 and 29, 2010 at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, Ohio. This two day program is full of information and opportunity to network with dairy graziers across Ohio and the Midwest. Speakers include Joe Tomandl from Medford, Wisconsin; Tom Weaver, dairy nutritionist and crop advisor from Cuba City, Wisconsin; Dale Neufeld, dairy grazier from Towanda, PA; Dr. David Zartman, retired Ohio State University Animal Scientist; and Ohio dairy producers: Jim Gasser, Eric Grim, Mose Hershberg, Mose V. Hershberger, Amos Nolt and Mike Gessel from Ohio. Both days offer beginner and advance sessions for dairy graziers. The cost for the conference is $45 for the two days. Registrations are due by January 20, 2010. For a brochure or more information, contact Leah Miller at Small Farm Institute, 28850 SR 621, Fresno, Ohio 43812; leah@smallfarminstitute.org or 740.545.6349.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
2010 Heart of America Grazing Conference
A multi-state meeting of grassland farmers, "Heart of America Grazing Conference," is coming to Roberts Centre, Wilmington, Ohio, January 20-21, 2010.
The annual meeting rotates among five states from Ohio to Missouri. The conference combines research information along with talks by producers from the Midwest, said Bob Hendershot, Lancaster, Ohio, NRCS state grassland conservationist, who is helping to coordinate the program along with Jeff McCutcheon, Mt. Gilead, Ohio OSU Extension Educator.
The keynote presentation at the opening banquet on January 20 will be "International Grazing.” The speaker, Ben Bartlett, a Michigan State University Extension Educator, has lead several groups on international trips to observe their grazing operations.
The presentations on the second day, January 21, will feature Dr. Justin Sexten, State Extension Beef Specialist, University of Missouri. Dr. Sexten, an Ohio native, will talk about the eight steps to stretching your pasture. Justin was recently highlighted in Successful Farming magazine. Howard Straub, a pasture based dairy farmer from Michigan, will be sharing the economics of his grazing operation. Howard has three grown children who also are grass based dairy farmers. Howard is vice chairman of the National Grazing Land Coalition Imitative Committee and vice-president of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Ben Bartlett will also be presenting in the morning on “Low Stress Livestock Handling.”
The farmers' favorite parts of grazing conferences are reports from other producers. There will be breakout sessions focusing on beef, sheep and goat, dairy and advanced grazing management. One farmer will be Katherine Harrison of Blystone Farms discussing direct marketing. Katherine has been named a director to the American Goat Federation. Jake Wolfinger , Ohio Young Cattleman of the year, will be discussing his use of oats as late summer and fall forage crop. Curt Cline, sheep producer whose farm was selected for the 2008 American Sheep Industry Environmental Stewardship, will be talking on his grazing operation. There will also be a panel discussion of experienced grazing dairy farmers.
Ohio State University specialists Dr. Steve Loerch and Dr. Dave Barker will each be discussing forage and grazing management. The Ohio Forage and Grassland Council will be having their annual meeting as a breakfast meeting on January 21.
An exhibit of grassland vendors will be available at the conference center. Roberts Centre is located at Exit 50 on Interstate Route 71 and US Route 68. Conference registration fee will be $65, which includes dinner, lunch and breaks. Registration for OFGC members will be $60. For registration send check, before Jan. 13, to Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension, 871 West Marion Road Suite 102, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338-1088, call Jeff at 419-947-1070. One-day registration fee for January 20 is $25 or January 21 for $45. A $10 late fee will be assessed for registrations after January 13, 2010. Rooms are available at the adjoining Holiday Inn at a special rate for the Heart of America Grazing Conference. Call 1-888-465-4329 for hotel reservations before December 28, 2009.
For a registration brochure in pdf format click here
The annual meeting rotates among five states from Ohio to Missouri. The conference combines research information along with talks by producers from the Midwest, said Bob Hendershot, Lancaster, Ohio, NRCS state grassland conservationist, who is helping to coordinate the program along with Jeff McCutcheon, Mt. Gilead, Ohio OSU Extension Educator.
The keynote presentation at the opening banquet on January 20 will be "International Grazing.” The speaker, Ben Bartlett, a Michigan State University Extension Educator, has lead several groups on international trips to observe their grazing operations.
The presentations on the second day, January 21, will feature Dr. Justin Sexten, State Extension Beef Specialist, University of Missouri. Dr. Sexten, an Ohio native, will talk about the eight steps to stretching your pasture. Justin was recently highlighted in Successful Farming magazine. Howard Straub, a pasture based dairy farmer from Michigan, will be sharing the economics of his grazing operation. Howard has three grown children who also are grass based dairy farmers. Howard is vice chairman of the National Grazing Land Coalition Imitative Committee and vice-president of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Ben Bartlett will also be presenting in the morning on “Low Stress Livestock Handling.”
The farmers' favorite parts of grazing conferences are reports from other producers. There will be breakout sessions focusing on beef, sheep and goat, dairy and advanced grazing management. One farmer will be Katherine Harrison of Blystone Farms discussing direct marketing. Katherine has been named a director to the American Goat Federation. Jake Wolfinger , Ohio Young Cattleman of the year, will be discussing his use of oats as late summer and fall forage crop. Curt Cline, sheep producer whose farm was selected for the 2008 American Sheep Industry Environmental Stewardship, will be talking on his grazing operation. There will also be a panel discussion of experienced grazing dairy farmers.
Ohio State University specialists Dr. Steve Loerch and Dr. Dave Barker will each be discussing forage and grazing management. The Ohio Forage and Grassland Council will be having their annual meeting as a breakfast meeting on January 21.
An exhibit of grassland vendors will be available at the conference center. Roberts Centre is located at Exit 50 on Interstate Route 71 and US Route 68. Conference registration fee will be $65, which includes dinner, lunch and breaks. Registration for OFGC members will be $60. For registration send check, before Jan. 13, to Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension, 871 West Marion Road Suite 102, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338-1088, call Jeff at 419-947-1070. One-day registration fee for January 20 is $25 or January 21 for $45. A $10 late fee will be assessed for registrations after January 13, 2010. Rooms are available at the adjoining Holiday Inn at a special rate for the Heart of America Grazing Conference. Call 1-888-465-4329 for hotel reservations before December 28, 2009.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Grazing Field Day October 3, 2009
Do you have an existing grazing operation that you are thinking about making some changes to? Or are you ready to start a grazing operation and need some guidance or ideas?
If so, come to the Newcomerstown area on October 3, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. for a Field Day. This will be an informative field day discussing grazing system planning, fencing, water distribution, and pasture health. There will be a fencing demonstration along with presentations, and a pasture walk.
Join us at the farm of Don and Ann Carruthers located at:
3656 SR 258
Newcomerstown, Ohio 43832
This event is free!!! Registration is recommended, however, because lunch will be provided, courtesy of the numerous event sponsors.
The registration deadline is September 30, 2009. Please send your name, phone number, address, and number attending to:
Guernsey SWCD
9711 East Pike
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
OR call to register at (740) 432-5624
This event is sponsored by Guernsey Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA-NRCS, The OSU Extension Service, and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
Hope to see you there!
If so, come to the Newcomerstown area on October 3, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. for a Field Day. This will be an informative field day discussing grazing system planning, fencing, water distribution, and pasture health. There will be a fencing demonstration along with presentations, and a pasture walk.
Join us at the farm of Don and Ann Carruthers located at:
3656 SR 258
Newcomerstown, Ohio 43832
This event is free!!! Registration is recommended, however, because lunch will be provided, courtesy of the numerous event sponsors.
The registration deadline is September 30, 2009. Please send your name, phone number, address, and number attending to:
Guernsey SWCD
9711 East Pike
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
OR call to register at (740) 432-5624
This event is sponsored by Guernsey Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA-NRCS, The OSU Extension Service, and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
Hope to see you there!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Shelby County Pasture Walk to be held September 17
The final Western Ohio pasture walk for 2009 will be held Thursday September 17 at Leroy and Rose Meyer's Organic Valley Farms. Organic Valley Farms is located at 9859 Brandewie Road, outside of Fort Loramie, Ohio.
Organic Valley Farms has been producing certified organic milk for three years, and presently milks 55 cows raised on six acres of alfalfa and grass pastures. Bob Hendershot, NRCS State Grazing specialist will be on hand to discuss managing cool season grasses, pasture renovation, stocking rates, and other topics that participants are interested in learning about.
There is no set agenda for the pasture walk so participants are encouraged to bring questions, thoughts, and ideas with them to help guide the session. No registration is required but for more information, contact the Shelby County Extension Office.
Organic Valley Farms has been producing certified organic milk for three years, and presently milks 55 cows raised on six acres of alfalfa and grass pastures. Bob Hendershot, NRCS State Grazing specialist will be on hand to discuss managing cool season grasses, pasture renovation, stocking rates, and other topics that participants are interested in learning about.
There is no set agenda for the pasture walk so participants are encouraged to bring questions, thoughts, and ideas with them to help guide the session. No registration is required but for more information, contact the Shelby County Extension Office.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
2009 Mid-Atlantic Grass-Finished Livestock Conference
Virginia will be hosting an excellent conference on grass finished livestock, to be held October 23-24, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Staunton, VA.
Nationally and internationally recognized experts will deliver science-based information about producing and marketing a consistently high-quality grass-finished product. It will cover forage systems for grass finishing, alternative marketing outlets, small-scale processing facilities, healthy grazing systems, supplementation for pasture finishing, factors affecting meat quality, and genetics for grass finishing. It will also feature a meat cutting and cooking demonstration.
For more information, just click on the title of this posting.
For a news release about it click here.
Nationally and internationally recognized experts will deliver science-based information about producing and marketing a consistently high-quality grass-finished product. It will cover forage systems for grass finishing, alternative marketing outlets, small-scale processing facilities, healthy grazing systems, supplementation for pasture finishing, factors affecting meat quality, and genetics for grass finishing. It will also feature a meat cutting and cooking demonstration.
For more information, just click on the title of this posting.
For a news release about it click here.
Purdue Forage Day
The Purdue Forage Day will be held September 17 in east central Indiana.
This will be a great educational event for forage producers and anyone interested in seeing new hay making equipment perform side-by-side.
For more information, see www.agry.purdue.edu/forageday
This will be a great educational event for forage producers and anyone interested in seeing new hay making equipment perform side-by-side.
For more information, see www.agry.purdue.edu/forageday
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