Four Pasture Walks Planned in November for Horse, Beef Cattle and Dairy Cow Operations in Maryland

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

(Annapolis, MD, November 1, 2006) ---Elmer Dengler, state grazing specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the schedule for four pasture walks he organized for Maryland farms in November 2006.

Pasture walks are planned for:

• A Horse Pasture Walk -- Thursday, November 9th at 1 pm in Chestertown
• A Horse Pasture Walk -- Saturday, November 11th at 1 pm in Centreville
• A Dairy Cow Pasture Walk -- Tuesday, November 14th at 1 pm in Jefferson
• A Beef Cattle Pasture Walk -- Thursday, November 16th at 1 pm in Sharpsburg

“A Pasture Walk is a place to get some answers on: What are good pasture grasses and mixes? How can I get more value out of my manure? What is the best way to renovate old pastures? How can I cut my annual seeding costs? Is there any way I can produce some hay?”, said Dengler. Specialists from the University of Maryland, local Soil Conservation Districts, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and USDA NRCS will be available to provide answers that work.

If you would like to participate in any of these Pasture Walks, please RSVP and get more information from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Becky Hickman at 443 482 2934. The Pasture Walks are free and will be held rain or shine.

Horse Pasture Walk Thursday, November 9th at 1 pm Kent Equestrian Farm, 27190 Morgnec Road, Chestertown, MD

Horse Pasture Walk Saturday, November 11th at 1 pm Crawford’s Chance Farm, 136 Pioneer Point Lane, Centreville, MD

At the Horse Pasture Walks, you will learn about: good pasture grasses and mixes, how to get more value out of manure, the best way to renovate old pastures, cutting annual seeding costs, weed control, using sacrifice areas, and ways to produce hay.

Managing a horse farm requires many new ideas to make everything work. The need to plan ahead and develop good ideas sometimes never seems to end. Pasture walks are great places to exchange ideas and learn new concepts about pastures and farm management.

We will discuss what are the best grasses to plant and how best to manage them for horses. Many times pasture issues are considered a “one size fits all concept” and that helps no one. There are ways to provide protective cover on a pasture regardless of the number of animals provided there are places the animals can be fed and exercised as a pasture recovers.

We will talk about ways to reduce wet mucked up areas. You will also hear about possible financial and technical assistance that may be available to help you in your situation.

Learn how to get some value out of the manure you horses produce through manure storage and composting. These actions can have favorable effects on making your manure nutrient management program work for you and not against you and the environment. With the high cost of natural gas, the fertilizer in the manure on your property has some real value that you may be able to reclaim. As always on a pasture walk you will have the opportunity to ask questions about similar issues you may have on your land.

Dairy Cow Pasture Walk Tuesday, November 14th at 1 pm Holter Farms, 5619A Holter Road, Jefferson, MD 21755

At the Dairy Cow Pasture Walk, you will learn how Ron Holter developed an entire holistic resource management approach that provides well for the economic, social and environmental aspects of his operation while providing a high quality of life for his family.

The Holter dairy operation is one of the most cutting edge grass based dairy farms in the Northeast. Currently the Holter’s are an organic seasonal grass based operation that sells its value added products through a cooperative of similar operations in order to capture a premium milk market. The entire grazing system is designed for simplicity and flexibility.

Beef Cattle Pasture Walk Thursday, November 16th at 1 pm Poffenberger Family Farm, 6000 Mondell Road, Sharpsburg, MD

At the Beef Cattle Pasture Tour, you will learn about: extending the grazing season by stockpiling grazing tall fescue and using red clover to cut fertilizer costs and improve forage quality.

At the farm we will be discussing tall fescue pasture stockpiling in practice. We also will be discussing the best way to cut nitrogen fertilizer costs by regularly over seeding with red clover. The Poffenbergers’ were winners of the National Cattleman’s Association Environmental Stewardship Award a few years ago and have maintained a well run beef operation adjacent to the Antietam National Battlefield in Washington County.

NRCS is USDA’s lead conservation agency and has worked hand-in-hand with farmers and landowners for more than 70 years to conserve natural resources on private lands. Maryland’s landowners can learn more about conserving natural resources by contacting NRCS Maryland through USDA Service Centers collocated with their County’s Soil Conservation Districts or by visiting the NRCS Maryland homepage at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.