Want better pastures? Get on the AFGC bus April 24

Facts:

• • AFGC bus tour on April 24
  • Tour begins at Pocahontas
  • AFGC tour showcases 300 days grazing tactics
  • Info: Contact John Jennings, 501-671-2350

(280 words)

LITTLE ROCK – How did two very different cattle operations manage to eke out 300 days of grazing or more? Hear it straight from the owners April 24 during the 2015 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council’s spring bus tour.

“Last year Arkansas weather swung between flood and drought, yet two different livestock operations managed to keep their forage growing despite the extremes,” said John Jennings, professor-forages for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “On this year’s tour, the produces will describe their experience with the forage and grazing practices that work well and those that do not work well.”

Other speakers will discuss specific forage management practices on each farm and how to implement those in a season-long grazing system, he said.

“Many producers already have the forage production skills needed to feed their herds, but a large part is harvested as hay,” Jennings said. “That means they only need to rethink how to get the cows to graze more and avoid investing the cost of harvesting it for hay.”

Tour registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Pocahontas Livestock Auction in Pocahontas, Arkansas, and buses will depart at 9:30 for the first farm. Registration cost is $25 per person and $10 for students and includes lunch, tour handout materials, and comfortable bus transportation to all farms. For more information on the AFGC Spring Forage Bus Tour contact any AFGC board member or Jennings, AFGC secretary at 501-671-2350.

To reach the Pocahontas Livestock Auction, take U.S. 67 to Pocahontas, turn onto Townsend Street  (at the intersection of U.S. 67 and Arkansas 304, at the T-Ricks Citgo gas station) and go west about one-quarter mile to the Livestock Auction Barn.

To learn more about forage visit www.uaex.uada.edu or see: http://bit.ly/1JLjr5j.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

Related Links

• Arkansas Farm and Ranch
• Arkansas Crops