Forages cover more than 5 million acres of land across Kentucky. Grasses and legumes are a vital part of the state’s animal agriculture, providing a majority of the nutrients for beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats, horses and ruminant wildlife. Additionally, a number of farmers sell hay as part of their overall farm operation.This vital aspect of the state’s farm economy will be the focus of a summer grazing tour on June 14 at the John Hagan farm in Mt. Hermon.The event will begin at 4 p.m. with wagon tours covering a range of forage-livestock topics, including new innovations in forages, developing and monitoring quality summer pastures, mineral selection for grazing beef cattle, weed pasture control, grazing considerations for horses, managing pastures for goats, parasite control in goats on pasture, using warm season grasses in rotational grazing systems and economics of rotational grazing.Speakers for the stops include specialists from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Kentucky State University and the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service.“Forages play an important role in the success of the state’s overall farm economy, therefore it is important to provide opportunities such as this tour for our producers,” said Garry Lacefield, UK extension forage specialist. “This event always provides some of the most current information that our farmers can use to improve their operations.”The program is sponsored by the Kentucky Forage and Grasslands Council. The John Hagan farm is on Gentry Circle Road near Tompkinsville in Monroe County. Directions to the farm and a copy of the program are on the UK forages Web site.