Two-Day On-Farm Advanced Grazers Workshop

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

The demand for grass-fed and finished beef from consumers and food service providers continues to outpace supply. Maryland’s grass-fed producers are trying to meet that demand and looking to programs such as the Maryland Grazers’ Network and University of Maryland Extension programs to help move their production and profits forward.

However, producers who have several years of grazing experience need an ‘upper’ level or ‘graduate’ grazing workshop that will help them reach their production and marketing goals. Speakers for this two-day workshop have been recruited for their knowledge and experience with topics specific to the production and marketing of grass-fed livestock and products.

KEY THEMES

• Forages, soils, animals, and mineral cycling—building premium pastures.

• How to finish high quality meats on grass

• Marketing – what you want and need to know about pricing, rules, and strategies

• Get answers to ALL your grazing questions from the experts – the collective wisdom of the whole group of farmers and speakers

Each day will feature a wonderful homemade lunch from pasture-raised meats thanks to Janet and Karissa Martin!

PROGRAM AGENDA

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016

9:30 AM

Registration

10:00 AM

Introductions, Introductions with Program & Farm Overview

10:15 AM

Ray Archuleta; Walking with Shovels – Soil peeking below the surface.

11:25 AM

Ray A. and Adam Daugherty – Pastures, Soils, and Cover crops

12:10 PM

Lunch and networking opportunity (10 minutes to move to next teaching session)

1:05 PM

Brent Cammauf, Hans Kefauver, Rob Schnable - Funding and Technical help Opportunities for Grazers

1:40 PM

Jonathan Zeiset & Jeff Semler; Minerals in the soil, Minerals in the plant, related?

2:30 PM

Those who must leave can go; others can stay for 30 minutes of Q &A about today’s topics

3:00 PM

Scheduled program ends

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

9:30 AM

Registration

10:00 AM

Ed Rayburn; Managing pastures for profit: maximizing fescue, high animal gain per head, reducing drought risk, optimizing legumes, stockpiling for winter

11:15 AM

Ray Archuleta; Soil Health - so what is it really?

12:00 AM

Lunch and networking opportunity (10 minutes to move to next teaching session)

1:00 PM

Garth Wiemer, The Art of Grass Finishing for Highest Meat Quality: Balancing Genetics, Forage Quality throughout the Season, and Grazing Management

2:00 PM

Garth Weimer, Myron Martin, & Ginger Myers; Marketing to the masses

2:30 PM

Those who must leave can go; others can stay for 30 minutes of Q &A about today’s topics

3:00 PM

Scheduled program ends

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

GARTH WIEMER
is a beef farmer from King William, Virginia. He and his wife operate Pampaike Hill Farm where they raise 100% grass-fed and grass finished beef. They market their beef processed and sold by the cut, half or whole. Garth will share his system for bringing top-notch, completely grass-fed product to market.

RAY ARCHULETA
is a Conservation Agronomist at the NRCS East National Technology Center, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ray teaches soil health and the principles of agroecology throughout the country. He has 25 years of experience with the Natural Resources Conservation Service working in New Mexico, Missouri, Oregon, and now in North Carolina. His infectious enthusiasm for soil health has earned him the moniker, “Ray the Soils Guy.”

ED RAYBURN
is an Extension Specialist at West Virginia University where his focus is on raising healthy livestock in pasture-based systems. He also conducts research in Production Risk in Pasture Finished Beef Production Systems and How to Mitigate Production Risk. Ed is also a beef farmer– cow calf producer.

Brent cammauf
District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
hans KefauverSoil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
will discuss cost share opportunities for grazers, and the types of technical help available from the federal, state, and local offices.

Adam Daugherty
District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS - Coffee County, TN

FEES

Farmers/Producers
1-day only (either Monday or Tuesday): $20 per person
Both days (Monday and Tuesday): $30 per person

Agency & Ag Personnel
1-day only (either Monday or Tuesday): $50 per person
Both days (Monday and Tuesday): $75 per person

REGISTRATION

To register by credit card go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/two-day-on-farm-advanced-grazers-workshop-tickets-22176429297

To register by mail and pay by check: email sbarnes6@umd.edu for registration form

Complete the registration form below or click here... for offline registration form

• Mail your check payable to UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND with registration form to: Susan Barnes, University of Maryland-WMREC, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, Maryland 21756-1104
  
  

CONTACT
Ginger S. Myers, 301-432-2767 x338; gsmyers@umd.edu
Susan Barnes, 301-432-2767 x301; sbarnes6@umd.edu

PROGRAM SPONSORS:

This workshop is supported by the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, through an endowment from the Jorgensen Family Foundation