A new University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment program focused on helping livestock and forage managers more efficiently produce and use stored forages will begin next month in Adair County.

Farmers in Adair and neighboring Green and Taylor counties recognized the need for such a program. While attending a Master Cattleman program put on by their local UK Cooperative Extension Service offices, the producers suggested a new program that focuses on hay, haylage and baleage to extension agents for agriculture and natural resources Nick Roy, Ricky Arnett and Pat Hardesty.

“While we already have the Master Grazer program, it is focused on grazing management, whereas Master Haymaker is focused on stored forages,” said Roy, who is the Adair County agent. “While the species are the same in both programs, management is a bit different.”

Master Haymaker will begin at 5:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 2 and continue each of the next six Thursdays with sessions rotating between Adair, Green and Taylor counties. Speakers will be UK extension specialists for forages, livestock, soils and weeds.

“Hay is a crucial part of grazing systems in Kentucky, and while we want to minimize the number of hay feeding days due to cost, producing and feeding high quality hay for those days is crucial,” said Chris Teutsch, UK extension forage specialist, who will present at two of the sessions. “This hay school will focus on not only on yield, but more importantly on producing the most nutritious hay possible.”

Producers interested in attending the program must preregister with one of the participating counties. The cost for the entire program is $75. More information is available by contacting Roy at 270-384-2317; Arnett in Green County at 270-932-5311 or Hardesty in Taylor County at 270-465-4511.