The 2025 Kentucky Beginning Grazing School, a program of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and UK Cooperative Extension Service, will be held April 29-30 at the Logan County Extension Office in Russellville. The school’s goal is to help livestock producers increase their profitability through a combination of hands-on and classroom learning.

“While this school targets beginning grazers, the topics and discussion will benefit producers along all segments of their grazing journey,” said Chris Teutsch, forage specialist in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Martin-Gatton CAFE and grazing school organizer. "This year’s event has been updated to put greater emphasis on soils, the foundation upon which sustainable grazing systems are built.”

Topics on April 29 include an introduction to soils, rotational grazing, meeting nutritional needs on pasture, grazing math concepts, portable and seasonal water systems, methods to access pasture production and determine stocking rates, and hands-on setup of electric fencing and watering systems.

Participants will also travel to Double M Farms in Russellville, a large row crop and cow-calf operation, for a grazing systems planning exercise.

Afternoon clinics include using temporary electric fencing to control grazing, using electrical offsets to enhance existing fencing, soil and hay sampling, pasture condition assessment, grazing management, and choosing forage species for a comprehensive grazing system.

Topics for April 30 include soil test interpretation, meeting the nutritional needs of livestock on pasture, a local producer speaker, and a strategic approach to restoring pasture productivity. Students will also calibrate a grain drill and try a GPS unit designed for frost seeding pastures.

The school will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT at the Logan County Extension Office with refreshments and adjourn at 4 p.m. daily. Lunch will be provided. The course will include both field and classroom work, rain or shine, so participants are advised to dress appropriately.

To register, visit Kentucky Beginning Grazing School Spring 2025 | Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The cost is $60 per participant. Registration is limited and will close on April 15.

To register by mail, send a check made out to KFGC to Caroline Roper, UK Research and Education Center, PO Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445.

The Logan County Extension Office is located at 255 John Paul Rd., Russellville, KY 42276.

Sponsors of the 2025 school include the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, Kentucky Beef Network and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. 

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