CORTLAND CO., N.Y. — A three-part series on understanding the complexities of the simple practice of grazing livestock of any kind will be held this winter, organized by Cornell’s SCNY Regional Dairy Team. Dates and locations for these meetings are:
4-H Building at Chemung Co. Fairgrounds, 170 Fairview Rd, Horseheads–
January 11th, 25th, and February 1st all meetings are 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Broome CCE Offices, 840 Upper Front St #2, Binghamton,
January 12th, 26th , and February 2nd ,all meetings are 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Tompkins CCE Office, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850
January 17th February 21st, and March 21st, all meetings are 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Cortland CCE Office, 60 Central Ave. Cortland
January 18th, February 15th, and March 15th , all meetings are 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Masonic Lodge, 159 Main Street, Moravia
February 14th, & 28th, and March 14th -all meetings are 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Graziers of all types of livestock are invited to these discussion-based meetings. At our first meeting we will share a pot of soup while watching a presentation on how the grazing animal’s rumen works. Discussions will follow on member’s grazing operations; their strengths and weaknesses. This will help set up topics for future meetings. These meetings are free to attend. Donations of cash or soup ingredients would be appreciated.
Grazing livestock can be a low-cost way to make use of perennial grasses to produce food and fiber for the family or to sell. What many have found is that to be profitable, productive, and fun the grazier needs to understand the interactions of: nutrition, plant growth, nutrient cycling, soil health, record keeping, as well as other pieces that success is made up of.
The three-part winter series will be facilitated by Fay Benson with the South-Central NY Dairy Team. Fay has collected numerous resources, both recorded and printed during his twenty years as a dairy and custom grazier as well as his twenty years with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Discussion groups are a great way to gain and share knowledge. Please register at this link https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Winter-Pastures_211 or calling 607-391-2669 and leaving a message of which meeting you want to attend.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Cortland County