Berkshire Agricultural Ventures has coordinated two grazing workshops in October as part of our role in the New England Grazing Network that I thought might be of interest to this network.
On October 13th, Join BAV and the team at Sky High Farm to learn more about water infrastructure for year-round grazing operations. Featuring a tour of Sky High Farm’s frost-free water infrastructure accompanied by in depth presentations from Russ Wilson of Wilson Land & Cattle Company who consulted on the project. This workshop is best suited for graziers who are looking for affordable ways to improve access to water in conjunction with intensive rotational management, especially those looking to extend their grazing season into the colder months or bale graze through the winter.
On October 18th, BAV will host national expert Woody Lane to present on pasture management and nutrition for graziers at Kinderhook Farm. For more than 20 years Woody has taught dozens of practical courses on forage management and livestock nutrition across North America, and will join us in the Berkshire-Taconic region for a deep dive on managing animal nutrition in grazing systems. This workshop is great for graziers that want to better understand managing feed quality for animals in grazing systems, and how nutrition contributes to animal performance on grass. Topics include;
-
Forage nutritional value - differences in 1st, 2nd, 3rd cuttings
-
Grazing principles for high quality feed
-
Matching pasture nutritional value with livestock production level
-
Pasture walks and what to look for
-
Reading a forage test report and feed tag
-
Nutritional health issues on pasture
-
Ways to reduce the need for stored feed
We’re also working with Sky High Farm and The Stissing Center in Pine Plains to host a Farmer Gathering on the night of October 13th, from 5 to 7pm! Any and all farmers are invited to join with other local farmers to catch up and connect as another busy growing season comes to a close. This event is FREE to attend - Free appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be available to all, and The Stissing Center will have their cash bar open for those who would like to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Feel free to follow up with me directly if you have any questions: [email protected]