July 24, 2007 - Blackduck, MN

Pre-register by July 19, 2007

Join us for a FREE tour of rotational grazing systems in Northern Beltrami County. This tour is designed to give producers and agriculture professionals a better understanding of pasture management. Everyone will receive a pasture stick. A very limited supply of Rancher’s Guides will be given away. Other grazing resource materials will also be distributed.

Speakers include Mark Hayek, NRCS Grazing Specialist and Ryon Walker, U of M Extension.

• 8:45 Bus Loads at the Blackduck High School Parking Lot located at 156 1st Street NE, Blackduck, MN
   
• 1st Stop ~ Beef Cattle in Rotational Grazing and Cropland Conversion — Murl Nord
  Murl completed 2 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts in 2006 resulting in the conversion of a large portion of cropland to pasture. Herd size of 100 cow/calf pairs with 2 bulls and a separate herd of 200 heifers with 5 bulls make up potential grazing numbers. This stop will focus on: use of creeping foxtail and turnips in the rotation, the pros/cons of high tensile wire fencing, watering system options and the benefits of rotational grazing.
   
• 2nd Stop ~ Grazing Buffalo — Wally Rockensock
  Wally’s goal is to rotate 20 buffalo cow / calf pair, 4 yearlings and 1 bull with this grazing system. Wally will discuss the “opportunities” grazing buffalo has provided in his operation.
   
• *Lunch -
   
• 3rd Stop ~ Beef Cattle in Rotational Grazing – Challenges of Peat Soils — Gary Leonhardt
  Gary has been rotating cattle for a number of years. Learn how water is provided for a stocker cattle operation – via a solar-powered well pump and a gravity flow operation. We will also discuss the management strategies for stocker cattle and the use of polywire.
   
• 4th Stop ~ Beef Cattle in Rotational Grazing – Watershed Protection — Joe and Tim Neft
  Joe and Tim are utilizing an EQIP contract to set up their grazing system. Our stop today will focus on the importance of excluding drainages/creeks from pasture use, management of overwintering areas, pasture mixes and the possibilities of no-till seeding legumes into a pasture renovation.
   
• 4:30 Return to Blackduck High School Parking Lot located at 156 1st Street NE, Blackduck, MN 56630

For further information contact Russ Severson at
218-281-8695 or 218-289-0499.