West Virginia University scholars will translate years of research into an educational afternoon for practitioners of animal agriculture at a field day set for Saturday, July 7, at WVU’s Reedsville Farm in Preston County.
The field day is designed to educate cattlemen, shepherds and horse owners on research-based methods to improve pasture health, soil quality and livestock management. WVU’s Extension Service and Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Design have devoted significant energy and insight into areas related to pasture-raised beef and multi-species grazing.
Faculty from the Davis College and Extension will share their findings on subjects including GPS tractor guidance for the improved application of manure or fertilizer, the impact of different grazing systems and livestock type on overall pasture health and productivity, growth responses to winter and early spring grazing, and rotational grazing for horses.
“WVU’s Reedsville Farm has a number of pasture-related experiments that include a system approach, with data being collected on soils characteristics, forage productivity , sheep and cattle performance ,” said Tom Basden, nutrient management specialist with WVU Extension.
The approach of the field day – translating scholarly research into practical application for the state’s animal agriculture industry – is a prime example of WVU’s commitment to the land-grant university tradition, fusing teaching, research and outreach. West Virginia’s flagship university is in the midst of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which created the land-grant university system.
The event also embodies WVU’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future, with its goal of enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of West Virginia. The state is experiencing growing agricultural sectors in pasture-raised beef and small ruminants like sheep and goats and has always had a robust community of citizens who own horses. Research conducted by WVU Extension and the Davis College is directly targeted at improving the health and productivity of their enterprises.
This field day will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 7, rain or shine. Registration is free and includes a beef and lamb lunch. The day will feature field demonstrations of research at Reedsville and a question-and-answer session with WVU scholars.
Following the lunch, a series of educators will present additional topics in the horse arena, including a demonstration rainfall simulator, economics of pasture based production livestock and pasture soil testing and nutrient management.
For a complete, detailed agenda, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/reedsvillefieldday/ or call Ben Nemeth at 304-997-2662. To register, please call Nemeth by Wednesday, June 27. For directions to the Reedsville Farm, please visit http://www.ext.wvu.edu/agriculture/wvu_reedsville_farm/reedsville_farm_directions.
The field day is hosted in cooperation with the Davis College, WVU Extension, and WesMonTy Resource Conservation and Development, a not-for-profit corporation that operates in 12 counties in central West Virginia and works to enhance rural and urban areas and agricultural communities.
-WVU-
dw/6/13/12
WVU News on the Web – http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/
CONTACT: David Welsh, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design
304-293-2394, dwelsh@wvu.edu