Grazing is the most cost effective way for producers to feed their ruminant animals. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will host the Kentucky Grazing School Sept. 11-12 at the Woodford County extension office in Versailles.

 The program begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m. EDT each day.

The grazing school is open to anyone. Past participants have included everyone from new farmers to those with years of grazing experience, and all have received new information and practical skills to implement in their operations.

This program covers regional-specific grazing information. Participants will visit field sites, participate in field exercises and tour demonstration plots.Hands-on activities include assessing pasture yield and designing and building a paddock and watering system. UK College of Agriculture specialists in forages, beef cattle, dairy cattle and veterinary science will present a variety of topics ranging from grazing math concepts to implementing a grazing system. A grazing-land specialist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss available cost-share programs, and a representative from a fencing company will share fence-building tips. Local producers will share their rotational grazing experiences and management practices.

In one of the unique features of the program, participants will design a grazing system based on their property. They should bring a printed aerial map of their farm to the school. Maps are available through the local Farm Service Agency or online through Google Maps.

Preregistration is necessary, as the school is limited to the first 45 registrants. Applications are available online at the UK Grazing website at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/grazer or through the local office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. Registration costs $50. Make checks payable to the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and mail with the registration application to Lyndsay Jones, 804 W. P. Garrigus Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0215.

Co-sponsors include the Master Grazer Educational Program, Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, UK College of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council.

For more information, contact Lyndsay Jones, UK Master Grazer Program coordinator, at 859-257-7512 or email lyndsay.jones4@uky.edu.