Tennessee Twilight Forage Tour Scheduled for July 10, 2014
The University of Tennessee Center for Native Grasslands Management is hosting a Twilight Forage Tour on July 10 near Knoxville. The tour, which will be held at UT East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center’s Holston Unit, will feature a new research project focused on using native grasses, including big bluestem and Indian grass, for season-long summer grazing.
Pat Keyser, director of the UT Center for Native Grasslands Management and coordinator for the event, says those attending will learn first-hand about our native grasses and just how well they can perform for livestock.
Keyser says the native grasses are highly drought tolerant, low input, warm-season perennials and can produce high yields of hay (4 – 5 tons/acre) and excellent animal performance when grazed during summer. Average daily gain (AGD) can measure about 2.1 pounds on steers, he says.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. EDT and include a sponsored supper. After a brief presentation, the group will tour the research center’s native grass pastures with the researchers, extension specialists, and the center staff managing the grazing projects.
There is no cost for the tour, but you must register by July 8, in order to attend.
To register, please contact your county Extension office. You may also register by sending your name, affiliation (producer, business or agency name), and contact information (mailing address, phone, and if available, e-mail address) to Kim Lane at kalane@utk.edu or by phone: 865-974-7201. You may register multiple individuals, but please provide the requested information for each person.
The East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center Holston Unit is located at 3723 Riverside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914.
Directions are available online at http://east.tennessee.edu/
The UT Center for Grasslands Management is a program of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries in the UT Institute of Agriculture. The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.
