Appalachian Grazing Conference set
“Grass: The Green Energy” is the theme for the 2013 Appalachian Grazing Conference at the Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown W.Va., on March 8 and 9.
Conference topics include pasture management and renovation; managing drought in grazing systems; parasite management in beef cattle and advanced sheep production for the 21st century. Presentations will address cattle, goats and sheep.
Keynote speaker Dr. Gary Lacefield, a plant and soil science extension professor and forage specialist at the University of Kentucky, will discuss grazing challenges and opportunities. Lacefield is the past president of the American Forage and Grassland Council; co-authored the book “Southern Forages” and writes a monthly column for the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association magazine.
Closing speaker Bob Hendershot will be discuss stockpiled tall fescue and clover management. He is a retired grassland conservation specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ohio grazing lands conservation initiative coordinator. In addition, he was one of the founders of the Ohio forage and grassland council and was recently presented with the Bob Evans Forage Leadership Award.
There is a registration fee. Registration forms can be found at www.grazeappalachia.org. The conference is a cooperative effort involving the Greene County Conservation District, Southwest Project Grass Coordinating Committee, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts, West Virginia Conservation Agency, West Virginia Department of Agriculture and West Virginia University Extension Service.