Getting started with grazing

FREEPORT, Ill. — Join University of Illinois Extension for the second topic in the Livestock Production and Principles for Beginners webinar series.

Doug Gucker, ag and natural resources educator, will discuss “Getting Started with Grazing” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

This program is being offered as a Zoom webinar and is at no cost to participants. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 22 to receive the Zoom link.

To register or for more information on the program, visit go.illinois.edu/jsw or call 815-235-4125.

This presentation will be a basic overview for those looking to get started in grazing. Gucker will cover the basics of grazing for the beginner.

Specific topics that will be discussed include fencing needs, pasture plant species, optimal grazing height and seasonal pasture plant growth.

Also being discussed are how to estimate the number of animals a pasture will support for the grazing season and different types of grazing management and what might best fit your operation.

Grant McCarty, local foods and small farms educator, coordinated the series to help address the questions and the need in the community.

“These webinars are set up to provide an overview on best practices in getting started and for those who are raising to sell directly to consumers via farmers markets, websites and other avenues,” McCarty said.

“Many of the topics we will cover are ones we commonly get questions about at our Extension office and have provided programs on previously. However, we’ve seen a number of new farmers in the last five years reach out to our office looking for some of these topics to be more beginner/introduction.”

Other topics in the series include “Meat Goat Production” with Sarah Farley on March 16 and “Farm Scale Manure Management” with Jay Solomon on April 13.