By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

SARDINIA, Ohio — It’s been said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But even the most experienced farmer could learn new grazing methods at the upcoming 2010 Southwest Ohio Grazing School.

This year’s course on Oct. 19, 26 and 30 will show farmers how they can increase profits, improve forage production practices and extend the livestock grazing season. The school is designed for any grazing animal, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

The three-day program teaches a broad range of rotational grazing management techniques such as fencing, paddock design, maximizing grazing pastures, forage selection, water management, pasture fertility, winter feeding, soil quality and meeting nutritional requirements.

“Producers who have attended the school indicate that they think rotational grazing is a better lifestyle not only for them, but for their animals as well,” said Cliff Little, Ohio State University extension educator in agriculture and natural resources. “The system improves farm production, reduces feed costs and increases the carrying capacity of the farm.”

Little estimates the grazing school has reached more than 2,000 producers across the Midwest through its 15-year history. A survey from past participants revealed that attendees increased forage production by 1,116 tons (a value of $89,280, at $80 per ton). Participants also indicated they increased their net profits by decreasing feed costs and fuel, and increased the number of grazing days by 64 per year.

“It’s rewarding to see producers have success with the program,” Little said. “Rotational grazing has so many benefits. It helps protect the environment, increases production per acre and improves water and forage quality.

“The best part is that it’s a socially accepted practice. People like to see animals outside, grazing on fresh forages. They see that as being healthy for the animal.”

Other topics covered in this school include plant physiology, environmental benefits, livestock nutrition, species and fertility, economics, annual forages, crop residue, hay storage, stockpiling and paddock designs.

Key presenters include Dr. Jeff McCutcheon, Wyandot County extension director and agriculture and natural resources educator; Dr. Ray Smith, University of Kentucky forage specialist; Bob Hendershot, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grazing specialist; and Latham Farley, OSU extension program director from Clermont County.

Other speakers include agriculture and natural resource educators Chris Penrose (Morgan County), Rory Lewandowski (Athens County), David Dugan (Brown County) and John Grimes (Highland County). The speakers will also compare grazing techniques over the years.

“Farmers were not as aggressive as they are today,” said Grimes, who will be addressing the need for farmers to meet their animals’ nutritional needs in pasture situations. “Even corn and soybean growers are more aggressive than they were 20 years ago. And part of that is the better access to improved technology.”

This school, which is sponsored by OSU extension and the NRCS, will be Oct. 19 and 26 from 6-9 p.m. and Oct. 30 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Eastern Brown High School, 11519 State Route 62 in Sardinia, Ohio.

Oct. 19 will cover grazing management, goals, resources, environmental benefits and plant physiology. The Oct. 26 gathering will include paddock design, livestock nutrition, economics and species and fertility.

The Oct. 30 meeting will be an on-farm gathering with emphasis on hay storage and feeding, fescue/frost seeding, forage quality, timely harvest of hay, annual forages, crop residue, fencing, water issues and examples of paddock designs.

Registration is $50 per person and $25 for each additional family member. The fee includes all program material, lunch and light refreshments. For more information or to register, contact the Brown County extension office at 937-378-6716.