The story below features SARE-supported work conducted by William Sexten and a group of researchers and Extension specialists at the University of Missouri. Their findings suggest that delayed grazing can help both cows and pastures, and they recommend delaying turning herds onto pasture until at least a 5-inch growth shows.

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Story by: Justin Sexten and Robert Kallenbach

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Turning cow herds out to graze pastures at the first sign of green grass harms forage growth later in the season. But there’s another big reason to wait, says a University of Missouri beef...

NCR-SARE Professional Development Program grant recipient, Tonya Haigh, in association with the National Drought Mitigation Center will be conducting a series of webinars about drought management and planning on ranches. The webinars will occur on a monthly basis, from January through May, 2013.

Each one‐hour session will include a briefing on current drought status, followed by a session on a specific topic or tool related to drought planning. The information that will be presented is meant to be used as a part of a complete ranch drought planning process. 

The...

Sheep producer and SARE grantee, Curt Cline, was a featured speaker at the 2012 Buckeye Shepherd's Symposium. Cline received a NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant in 2007 to explore the use of rotational grazing systems to decrease lamb worm loads. He was awarded an NCR-SARE 2012 Farmer Rancher grant to study grazing corn plants as an alternative summer annual forage. Read more about Cline and his SARE grazing projects in the story below.

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Source: Farm and Dairy, by Chris Kick

Few Ohio producers have the grazing aspect down as well as Curt Cline, who raises sheep in of Athens...

Source: Adair County MU Extension Center, by Bruce Lane

Montgomery County farmer Harry Cope will talk about how he “moves the feedlot from the barn to the field” at the Missouri Livestock Symposium, Dec. 7-8 at Kirksville Middle School. University of Missouri Extension sponsors the free event.

Cope received an USDA NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant to research skip-row planting techniques with cover crops for sustainable growing. He has been experimenting with interplanting soybeans with corn to provide feed for his cattle and sheep operation on his Missouri Century Farm in Truxton. The crop...

Source: MSU Extension, Mandy Pratt

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension recently received a three-year grant to test the feasibility of a value-added grass-fed beef chain in northwestern Michigan and is seeking interested producers to participate.

The grant is funded by NCR-SARE (LNC12-345). This research will help pave the way from the pasture to the dinner plate and will involve not only the farms but also butchers, chefs and consumers to develop a new sustainable industry for Michigan.

The Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Good Food Charter of the Traverse...

You are invited to join Jay and Krista Reiser as they show the results of their NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant on July 30, 2012, 1pm-4pm. The goal of the Reiser's project was to mob graze cattle on cool season grasslands to promote soil health and native grass growth for ecological and economical benefits.

Tour Topics include:

• Fencing Equipment, Tools & Techniques
• Training Cattle for Mob Grazing System
• Livestock Monitoring & Daily Forage Allocation
• Advantages & Disadvantages of Mob Grazing on Native Rangeland
• View Mob & Mob Grazing Sites
• Combining Mob Grazing, Bale Grazing and...

An NCR-SARE project in Missouri is teaching pasture budgeting techniques designed to match beef cattle nutrient requirements to the forage system while strategically managing input costs, pasture quality, and carrying capacity. As part of the project, four core beef producer groups are being developed in cooperation with state and regional Extension specialists. This news feature highlights the first meeting of the North Missouri Grazing Group at Jonnie Hubach’s farm, located in northeastern Andrew County.

To read more about the related NCR-SARE Research and Education project,...

The following news piece features Laura Paine, a Grazing and Organic Agriculture Specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Paine is currently in the midst of a four-year NCR-SARE project on grass-based dairy products. The project brings farmers, researchers, processors and chefs together to explore the potential of grass-fed dairy products.

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Source: WisBusiness.com (http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=262830)

MADISON – When Laura Paine discusses her job at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection...