News Update

News Update
Sept. 14, 2007

Grazing School at University of Missouri, Sept. 25-27

Farmers caught with short supplies of grass and hay can learn new methods of making feed go further at the annual grazing school, Sept. 25-27, at the University of Missouri (MU) Forage Systems Research Center (FSRC) in Linn County.

The school teaches how to improve grazing efficiency through management-intensive grazing (MiG) where large pastures are divided into smaller grazing paddocks, says Craig Roberts, MU Extension forage specialist.

The late spring freeze and summer drought reduced grass growth for many producers this year, bringing increased awareness of grazing management, Roberts says. There are many ways to improve the production per acre in grazing systems, he adds.

The school trains instructors for regional grazing schools hosted across the state each year in addition to training beef producers. The latest grasslands research is presented at the school at Linneus, Mo., Roberts says.

Long-term studies at MU FSRC show that little additional fertilizer is needed on MiG pastures, Dave Davis, FSRC superintendent, says. “Managed grazing allows increased use of legumes in grass stands. Legumes improve the ration for the grazing livestock, and legumes capture nitrogen from the air and return it to the soil.”

In addition, most all nutrients consumed by the grazing livestock are returned to the soil by the livestock, Roberts says. Removing hay from a field mines the nutrients if the hay is fed elsewhere.

“By confining a herd into a small part of the pasture, the manure is spread evenly over the paddock. In continuous grazing (undivided) pastures, the livestock tend to concentrate the fertility near the waterers and shade,” Roberts says.

The grazing school covers topics on grazing basics, grass and legumes, soil fertility, animal nutrition and plant and animal growth. Other topics include economics, grazier’s arithmetic, ruminant animals and watering. Scheduled work sessions are planning grazing layouts and building fences. Sessions are taught by specialists from MU Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Added emphasis will be given to animal nutrition this year with the addition of Justin Sexten to the school faculty, Roberts says. Sexten was recently hired from the University of Illinois by the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture program.

The three-day workshop costs $250 per person or $375 per couple. That fee includes the Missouri Grazing Manual and other handouts. Three lunches and two dinners are also included. Motels are available in Brookfield, Mo.

Reservations can be made by contacting the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council at 573-499-0886 (mornings) or mfgc@mchsi.com.

Sign-in for the workshop begins at 7:30 a.m., Sept. 25. School adjourns at 3:30 p.m., Sept. 27.

MU FSRC, a part of the Agricultural Experiment Station, is 10 miles northwest of Brookfield, Mo. The farm is at 21262 Genoa Rd., Linneus. To reach the farm, go west from Brookfield on U.S. Highway 36, then north six miles on Highway FF to Genoa Rd. Go west 1.5 miles to the headquarters. Signs are at the intersections.

From Linneus, on Missouri Highway 5, go east two miles on Highway P to Finn Rd. Turn south for 1.5 miles to Genoa Rd., and turn east to the office.

Johanns Announces $3.6M for 19 Rural Cooperative Development Centers

Secretary Johanns announced Sept. 13 the award of more than $3.6 million to help Rural Cooperative Development Centers improve the economic condition of rural areas in 18 states.

Grants are being awarded to nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education to finance up to 75% of the cost of establishing and operating Centers for Cooperative Development.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Cooperative Program helps rural residents form new cooperative businesses and improve the operations of existing cooperatives. To accomplish this, Cooperative Program provides technical assistance, conducts cooperative-related research and produces informational materials to promote public understanding of cooperatives.

A list of recipients and further information is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

USDA Lowers Projected Corn Use for Ethanol

USDA has lowered its estimates in the projected use of corn for ethanol 100 million bushels (bu.) in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released Sept. 12. Ethanol use was lowered “based on indications of declining plant capacity utilization and a slower-than-expected pace of start-ups.”

Corn exports are projected at 100 million bu. higher with strong world demand and tighter foreign supplies.

The next WASDE report will be issued Oct. 12.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, Angus Productions Inc.