The second installment of the 2011 Kentucky Grazing School will be held Aug. 15-16 at the Woodford County office of theUniversity of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Serviceand the C. Oran Little Research Center in Versailles.

Preregistration is necessary, as the school is limited to the first 45 applicants.

The Woodford County program begins at 7:30 a.m. EDT and ends at 5:30 p.m. both days. Each day begins at the Woodford County extension office, and the participants will travel to UK’s C. Oran Little Research Center for hands-on activities.

“Participants seem to love the hands-on aspect of the grazing schools,” said Lyndsay Jones, UK Master Grazer program coordinator. “One such program allows small groups of participants to construct a small paddock and water system for a few cattle to graze for 24 hours. The next day, they are able to compare and discuss the different paddock designs.”

The program’s agenda covers grazing information relative to Central and Eastern Kentucky with an emphasis on ruminants. UK College of Agriculture specialists in forages, beef cattle and dairy cattle will present a variety of topics ranging from meeting nutritional needs on pasture 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 present information.

Participants should bring a printed aerial map of their farm, so they can design a grazing system based on their property. Maps are available through the local office of the Farm Service Agency or online through Google Maps.

Producers can register for the school through their local agriculture and natural resources extension agent or by contacting Jones at 859-257-7512 or email lyndsay.jones4@uky.edu. Registration forms are also available online at the UK Forages website http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/. Registration is $50 and includes all materials, grazing manuals and lunch both days. Payment is required to reserve a spot.

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