Anyone with an interest in pasture management, hay production or livestock systems might want to attend one of the 2021 Summer Forage Field Days, sponsored by the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council. The field days are planned as drive-it-yourself day tours in central Ohio.

Don’t despair if you missed the first field day June 25 in Crawford County, because there are two more. On July 9, the series will continue in Wayne County, where early-career shepherds are especially encouraged to attend.

Improving soil with multispecies grazing and accelerated lambing will be the themes of the day, which begins at Lone Pine Pastures with Jeff and Michelle Ramseyer, who raise Katahdin sheep, Shorthorn beef cattle, pastured hogs and meat goats, and custom-graze stocker calves.

Along with pasture management, scrapie eradication continues to be a topic of importance for American sheep and goat producers. Over lunch, Brady Campbell, Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences, will review the importance of scrapie tagging and tag options approved for use.

The day continues at the farm of Leroy Kuhns to learn more about the use of accelerated lambing with registered Dorset sheep, and corn, oats and hay production for horses. The Wayne County field day is offered with support from the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, and the American Sheep Industry Association.

The field day will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1689 Varns Road, Wooster, Ohio.

The third Summer Forage Field Day is Aug. 28, with stops in Licking and Knox counties. The tour begins at Lightning Ridge Farm in Granville, where Bill O’Neill raises Longhorn cattle using intensive grazing.

With 12 divided lots and the capability to increase divisions into twenty-four paddocks, cattle are moved daily and have access to portable piped water. Hay quality preservation will also be discussed while touring a new hoop barn constructed for hay storage.

The second stop is 6 miles north to a field managed by Ned Campbell, who has provided space to plant 12 varieties of forages after wheat harvest. Attendees will be able to observe and discuss the value of those forages for grazing or harvesting.

The final stop is farther north in Knox County to learn about the use of Conservation Reserve Program-approved warm-season grass production. This field day will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6817 Cat Run Road, Granville, Ohio.

There is a $10 registration fee per field day per person. Lunch is included with registration and will be provided on each field day. A $5 discount will be applied if the person registering is an Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council member or a resident of the host county. Payment will be collected on the field day.

Register within one week of the event you plan to attend by visiting go.osu.edu and completing a quick registration form.

Questions about the Summer Forage Field Days can be directed to Gary Wilson by calling 419-348-3500.

Source: Ohio State University Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.