MD.180.8.1, CPA - Mandatory C-Graz Training

Maryland Bulletin: 180-8-1
Subject: CPA - Mandatory C-Graz Training
Date: November 16, 2007

Action Required By: November 28, 2007

Purpose. To notify field offices of required training in the use of the revised C-Graz grazing land planning tool.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Explanation.  Maryland NRCS will be providing training during December 2007 and January 2008 in the use of the updated C-Graz planning tool. The Maryland template of C-Graz has been simplified and enhanced to make planning easier and the plan more useful for the producer. The C-Graz program now comes with standard detailed narratives that a planner can select for the type of livestock operation he/she is working with. The first page of the grazing plan will clearly identify what the producer needs to do to successfully implement prescribed grazing. The rest of the plan will offer additional options for technical improvements that the producer can choose to implement beyond the minimum requirements.

The new template is designed so that planners will be able to write technically sound grazing plans quickly, with a minimum of additional support, after they have attended a two-day training session. The training will be offered in four identical two-day sessions (9:00 - 3:30 each day) at the NRCS State Office Computer Training Room. Available dates are:

• December 3 - 4 (Monday-Tuesday)
• December 7 & 10 (Friday & Monday)
• December 13 - 14 (Thursday-Friday)
• January 22 - 23 (Tuesday-Wednesday)

The course outline is as follows:

Day 1

1. How planners with limited experience in grazing can develop plans by using the updated Maryland Grazing Handbook;
2. Grazing system designs based on the type of animal and capabilities of the producer;
3. Tools to simplify decision making in C-Graz;
4. Soils in C-Graz from Soil Data Viewer on the field office server;
5. Soil and plant suitability/productivity

Day 2

1. Basic forage inventory;
2. Basic data entry;
3. New short-cuts on documentation that provide more specific information for the producer;
4. Forage production curves and drought - important information that a planner can show to the producer;
5. How to use hay as supplemental forage in the grazing system;
6. Ways to use every part of the Maryland grazing template;
7. Ability to customize the plan to meet the information needs of the producer.

It is mandatory that at least one NRCS employee from each field office attend this upcoming two-day training. Certified Conservation Planners will receive 12 CEUs upon satisfactory completion of the training. We also welcome and encourage attendance by conservation partnership planners who are currently working with grazing operations or who may be doing so in the future. A sufficient number of sessions are being offered so that we can accommodate a total of two or three people per office. Follow-up technical assistance will be available for those who complete this training.

Employees need to follow their agency's training request/approval process. District Conservationists are directed to consolidate requests from their office and respond by no later than November 28, 2007. Please respond by email to Elmer Dengler, State Grazing Specialist, with employee names and preferred dates.

Contact. If you have any questions, please contact Elmer at 443-482-2907.

JON F. HALL
State Conservationist

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