• By April W Bowman
• Posted Friday, January 8, 2021

NC Forage and Grasslands Council Workshop Series

The NC Forage and Grasslands Council is excited to host it’s 2021 Winter Conference virtually this year sponsored by Farm Credit. This event will be F-R-E-E to all participants! Only one registration is required for you to attend all four sessions. Sessions will be held via Zoom from 6:30 - 8:30 PM on select Tuesday evenings. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration. This conference will be limited to 300 participants. To ensure your spot, register now!

To register and for more conference details, click here .

During the conference, we will also be holding a Forage Photo Contest. Please submit your photos via Facebook or to mackenzie_hall@ncsu.edu . When submitting your photo please provide your full name, email, and/or phone number.

Featured Conference Speakers: Greg Judy Mr. Judy is the owner of Green Pastures Farm in Rucker, Missouri. With the help of his wife, Jan. They raise sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, and mushrooms on 1,620 acres. While grazing livestock on rich pasture, a main focus of theirs is building healthy soil throughout their farm. Greg Judy’s books are called “No Risk Ranching” and “Comeback Farms”.

Greg Brann Mr. Brann owns and operates 900-acre Big Spring Farm in Tennessee and Kentucky. He practices management-intensive and multi-species grazing. Brann also utilizes warm-season forages, livestock genetics, and novel feeding strategies to build resilience in his farm. Behind it all has been a focus on integrating soil, animal, and plant health for the improvement of the whole system. Greg direct markets his 100% grass-fed & finished livestock.

Other Speakers:

• Dr. Alan Franzluebbers: USDA-Agricultural Research Service
• Dr. Neil Rhodes: University of Tennessee Extension Specialist Weed Management
• Johnny Rogers: Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator
• Andy Burlingham: Livestock Extension Agent – Pitt County
• Eve Honeycutt: Livestock Extension Agent – Lenior & Greene County
• Panel Members: James Britt, Josh Teauge, Blake Allen Rafael Bravo

BREAKDOWN OF SESSIONS:
All About That Waste! - January 26th This session will include producers in eastern North Carolina discussing subjects including bermudagrass, annuals, and crop residue utilization. As well as hog and poultry waste utilization and its effects on soil and forages and ultimately livestock. Local extension agents, Andy Burlingham and Eve Honeycutt will present this information. Dr. Tom Van Dyke, NC State Extension Beef Veterinarian, will also be discussing mineral supplementation and nitrate issues in forages and hay.

Creating Your Own Opportunities! February 2nd This session will focus on utilizing and optimizing forages that you have, navigating tenant-landowner relationships for leased lands, and multi-species grazing (sheep and cattle). Greg Judy, Owner of Green Pastures Farm in Missouri, and Greg Brann, Owner of Big Spring Farm in Tennessee and Kentucky will be the speakers.

FINALLY - Soil Health! February 9th This session will highlight soil health and fertility with a focus on fescue fertilization, winter stockpiling, and maintaining control of grassy weeds in new and existing fescue pastures. Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and Dr. Neil Rhodes, University of Tennessee Extension Specialist Weed Management will be the speakers.

Producer Panel - February 16th The final session will be a panel discussion that consists of local producers from across the state. These producers will have the opportunity to describe and showcase their farms and how they utilize different forages throughout the year. Johnny Rogers, Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator, will moderate the panel. **Waste and pesticide credits have been applied for. ** During the conference we will also be holding a photo contest. Please submit your photos via Facebook or to mackenzie_hall@ncsu.edu. When submitting your photo please provide your full name, email, and/or phone number. If you have any questions about the conference, call (919) 552-9111, email mackenzie_hall@ncsu.edu, or contact your local extension office.

** To register for this event, click here .

For more information, email, April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855.