Farmers who raise cattle, sheep or any other grazing animals will want to mark their calendar for April 22 and 23, 2003.  That’s the date of the Kentucky Grazing School in Bowling Green.

The school features a variety of topics designed to help producers manage their forage and livestock program and put more dollars in their pocket.

“This is for producers who raise cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dairy cows, buffalos or any grazing animal, and targets people who want to improve their forage use and the carrying capacity of their farm,” said Donna Amaral-Phillips, Extension animal science specialist in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

The program will cover rotational grazing, establishing forage systems, temporary and permanent fencing, portable seasonal watering systems, minerals for grazing cattle, parasite control, weed identification and several other topics related to grazing management.

Producers who have implemented techniques learned at past Grazing Schools say they’ve seen improvements to their farming operations.

“There’s lots of hands-on instruction you could take back home and use very easily on any size farm,” said Jason Sandefur, beef cattle producer from Bourbon County. “The combination of the watering and the fencing systems and how they work together on total forage utilization, and the increased production you can get, was particularly helpful to my operation.”

The Kentucky Grazing School will be held at the Western Kentucky Ag Expo Center off Highway 31W in Bowling Green.  It is sponsored by the UK College of Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, and the Beef Integrated Resource Management Programs.

Cost of the two-day event is $100, which includes a grazing manual and materials, breaks and selected meals.  The registration fee must be paid to hold a place in the school, and enrollment is limited.

Make checks payable to: Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, and send to Rebecca Smith, Animal Sciences Dept., 400 W. P. Garrigus Bldg., Lexington, KY 40546-0215.  Rebecca Smith’s telephone number is 859-257-5985.  For additional information contact your county Cooperative Extension agent for agricultural and natural resources.