The 2013 Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting will be February 8, 2012 from 8:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Bromfield Building at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

“Adapting to our Changing Climate” is this year’s theme. Join us to meet Dr. Chris Teutsch, of the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Blacksburg, VA, who will discuss his research focusing on filling in the cool season grass summer slump with summer annuals. Dr.  Teutsch’s   extension program focuses heavily on improving the management of existing pastures. He stresses the importance of evaluating and actively managing soil fertility and grazing. Teaching that by simply fertilizing pastures and implementing rotational stocking, pasture production improves by more than one-third. Stressing that this management also increases the drought tolerance of pastures by strengthening the plants’ root system.

There will also be our annual sheep, beef and dairy producer panel describing their operations, as well as Stan Smith, Fairfield County Extension Educator, discussing late season oats as a cost effective alternative to “traditional” forages and Dr. R. Mark Sulc will present his research on Alfalfa response to Sulfur and Gypsum applications with reduced fertilizer rates.

Kevin Elder, chief of the Division of Livestock Environmental Permitting at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, will give an update on Ohio’s 509 Nutrient Management Plan requirements and what it means to Forage and Grassland farmers.

Plan to join us for a full day including lunch from City Barbque!

2013 Annual Meeting Registration