1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Practice Utilization

13. Grazing System Cost-Share