Missouri Grazing School Partnership and Grazing Management NASCA Field Staff Sharing Missouri Grazing School Partnership and Grazing Management Jim Plassmeyer October 2, 2018 NASCA Annual Meeting Syracuse, New York

Cattle Industry in Missouri 7.1 million acres of pasture 2.8 million acres harvested for hay 3rd in the nation for number of beef cows Beef cattle ranching and farming is a $1.6 billion value added economy in Missouri

History of Grazing School Early 1980’s grazing research at MU Forage Systems Research Center in Linneus, MO. 1990 first 3-day grazing school held at Linneus. 1994 Soil &Water Conservation Program started pilot grazing system practice in 4 SWCDs. Regional grazing schools started in 1995. 1996 grazing system practice offered statewide.

Grazing School Partnership University of Missouri Extension Natural Resources Conservation Service Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Conservation Program Soil and Water Conservation Districts MO Forage and Grassland Council (MFGC)

Regional Grazing Schools Coordinated and hosted by SWCDs. Classroom criteria established by NRCS and MU Extension. MFGC has regional coordinators and disseminates materials for class. MU Extension, MO Grazing Manual Forage measuring sticks

Regional Grazing Schools ~33 held per year statewide. Taught by MU Extension, NRCS, SWCD, MFGC staff. Typically 2 or 3 day session. Some held in evenings for 3 days and all day Saturday. Over 17,000 have attended from 41 states.

Grazing School Topics Introduction to Management Intensive Grazing Matching Livestock to Forage Resources Meeting Nutritional Needs of Livestock with Pasture Evaluating Farm Resources Plant Basics/ Forage Growth

Grazing School Topics -continued Soils and Topography/ Pasture Fertility Pasture Fencing Grazers Arithmetic Livestock Water Layout & Design Grazing Economics Field Tour

Regional Grazing Schools Attendance is required to be eligible for state cost-share. Ranking points awarded in NRCS EQIP contracts for attending school.

State Cost-Share Practices DSP 3.1 Grazing System Water Development DSP 3.2 Grazing System Water Distribution DSP 3.3 Grazing System Fence DSP 3.4 Grazing System Lime DSP 3.5 Grazing System Seed The practices can be installed independently of each other. However the system has to meet the NRCS 528 standard within 3 years of the first cost-share payment.

State Cost-Share Assistance Cost-share assistance is the lesser of 75% of state average cost or acre maximum based on the acres established in the grazing system. Practice Per Acre Maximum DSP 3.1 Water Development $110 DSP 3.2 Water Distribution $120 DSP 3.3 Fence $70 DSP 3.4 Lime $50 DSP 3.5 Seed $40

Practice Utilization

Grazing System Cost-Share