2007 Saskatchewan pasture school likely to fill quickly

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Producers considering attendance at the 2007 Saskatchewan Pasture School should make their decision quickly. The fifth annual event, organized by the Saskatchewan Forage Council, will take place June 13 and 14 in Saskatoon.

“It’s geared towards producers and grazing managers,” said Janice Bruynooghe, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Forage Council. “This forum allows them to gain practical knowledge and expand their management skills through a combination of seminars, hands-on exercises, and pasture tours.”

Attendance at the Pasture School is limited to 50 participants.

“At least 50 per cent of our time is spent in the field on pasture tours,” said Bruynooghe. “We try to keep our numbers small, because when we’re in the field, we like to have enough resource people so that we can break up in small groups and have lots of one-on-one interaction.”

This year’s agenda includes sessions on Calculating Stocking Rates, Matching Grazing Animal Requirements to Forage Quality, Herd Health Concerns on Pasture, and a Producer’s Perspective on Grazing Legumes.

According to Bruynooghe, the school is very interactive.

“We start at the basic level of discussing how grass grows, as well as some of the basic management principles. Then we put pencil to paper in practical exercises. Next, we hop on the bus and get out to do a bunch of pasture tours,” she said.

“We encourage people to get on their hands and knees and do things like plant identification, and to ask lots of questions about how the things they’re seeing pertain to their own operations.”

Through social events, producer presentations, and panel discussion, the Pasture School also provides plenty of opportunity to exchange views.

“The other important learning that goes on is the peer to peer interaction,” Bruynooghe said. “Talking to your neighbour or someone who has a grazing operation in another part of the province, you learn about things that have worked for other producers.”

The 2007 Saskatchewan Pasture School will be held at the Best Western Inn and Suites in Saskatoon. Registration is $132.50 for the first registrant and $106 for any additional registrants from the same operation. The fees are pre-approved for Canadian Agricultural Skills Service eligibility.

The agenda and registration form are available online at www.saskforage.ca.

The Pasture School is a joint project of the Saskatchewan Forage Council, the Western Beef Development Centre, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Ducks Unlimited, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration.

For more information, contact:
Janice Bruynooghe, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Forage Council
Phone: (306) 966-2148
E-mail: jbruynooghe@saskforage.ca
Website: www.saskforage.ca