Kentucky’s sheep and goat producers enjoy quality grazing opportunities because of the state’s ample forage base. Each year, the Kentucky Small Ruminant Grazing Conference aims to provide educational opportunities to new and established producers.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment along with Kentucky State University, the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, the Kentucky Goat Producers Association and the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association will offer the 2019 conference Feb. 23 at the Derrickson Agricultural Complex at Morehead State University.

“Each year we move the conference around to different areas of Kentucky to try and reach the most people,” said Tom Keene, UK agronomy specialist. “We will offer science-based research that producers can apply in their own operations.”

The daylong event begins with a registration at 7:30 a.m. EST. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome and a market update. Focused sessions begin at 9 a.m. Morning topics include: record keeping, watering systems and grazing management. Keene will present information on plant identification during lunch. Afternoon sessions include producing and storing high quality hay and a producer panel. The conference officially ends at 2:30 p.m. but interested participants may stay for an optional FAMACHA training at 2:45 p.m. FAMACHA is a program designed to help producers of small ruminants diagnose parasite infection.

Preregistration, due Feb. 21, is $40 for the conference and an additional $20 for the FAMACHA training. The program and registration are available online at the UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability website at http://rcars.ca.uky.edu/small-ruminant-grazing-conference.

Those who do not want to register online may send their name, address, phone number and email address along with payment to UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability, attn. Jackie Allen, 130 Robinson Road, Jackson, KY 41339. To pay with credit card, contact Allen via phone at 606-666-2438, ext. 291.