The workshop will feature the New York Grazing Coalition Pasture Soil Health Trailer. Fay Benson from Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) will provide information on how prescribed grazing impacts pasture productivity, conservation, and soil health. The trailer contains a rainfall simulator, water infiltration demonstration equipment, a soil quality and water movement kit, and several other items. Fay is the Small Dairy Extension Specialist with CCE South Central NY Dairy and Field Crops.
Aaron Gabriel from CCCE will join us to speak about the biological, physical, and chemical aspects of soil health in a grazing system and will also lead the pasture walk. Aaron has worked for the past 20 years for CCE and is the Field Crops Educator with the CCE Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program.
Sheffer’s Grassland Dairy is owned and operated by Eric and Wally Sheffer. Wally operated the the farm as custom heifer growing and crop operation for many years until he and his son, Eric, decided to turn the operation into a seasonal dairy. The Sheffer’s started with 100 milking cows and have since grown to 240 cows. They manage 250 acres of intensive grass and run an additional 350 acres of crop ground, which is primarily made into baleage.
Payment may be made at the door, or checks may be sent to:
Tove Ford/CCE Albany Co./24 Martin Road/Voorheesville, NY, 12186
The workshop is sponsored by the Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation and Development Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District and the New York Grazing Coalition.
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