18 On-farm workshops improve producers understanding of winter forage management strategies.

In 2017 a series of 4 on-farm workshops were held across North Carolina to address winter forage management strategies. Two workshops were held in the Piedmont region where tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is the dominant forage. Topics included extending the grazing season, improving soil health, frost-seeding clover, improving soil nutrient distribution and introducing warm season grasses. Two additional workshops were held in the Coastal Plain region where bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is the most prevalent forage. Those sessions focused on over-seeding Bermudagrass pastures with winter annuals, renovating winter feeding areas, improving soil nutrient distribution and livestock mineral supplementation. Workshops were held on farms participating in USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant #693A75-14–251 which is focused on improving soil health in pasture-based livestock farms. Total workshop registration was 153 with 120 evaluations completed. Participants were 73% male and 27% female with 51% being under the age of 50. The total number of pasture hectares grazed by participants was 3726 with 1682 ha as hay. Livestock inventories for attendees were 5289 beef cattle, 505 sheep, 359 goats and 62 horses. Post-workshop responses from the Piedmont workshops indicated that 100% of attendees had increased understanding of using stockpiling, frost seeding clover and warm season grasses in fescue systems. Ninety-seven percent of participants indicated a better understanding of how annual forages can be used to extend the grazing season and soil nutrient distribution. Similar responses were reported from the Coastal Plain workshops with 100% of attendees having increased understanding of establishing winter annuals into Bermudagrass, winter feeding area renovation and mineral supplementation. Ninety-six percent of attendees had an improved understanding of how grazing management can impact soil nutrient distribution. Participants completed an evaluation at the conclusion of each workshop (n = 120) where they indicated their satisfaction with (scale of 1 = not satisfied to 4 = very satisfied, mean ± SD): instructors’ knowledge (3.85 ± 0.35), workshop environment/format (3.85 ± 0.37), and overall quality (3.85 ± 0.35). One hundred percent of the attendees indicated that this workshop met their expectations and they would recommend it to others. Continued workshop participation indicates the demand for hands-on education in these areas and that the on-farm format is an effective teaching environment.