PIERRE, SD – The South Dakota Grassland Coalition, in partnership with SDSU Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a series of workshops focused on alternative calving methods in February.
“As a coalition, we feel it is important to share some of the areas where we’ve found success when it comes to calving,” said Jim Faulstich, a South Dakota Grassland Coalition board member from Highmore. “Our intent is to share knowledge to help other livestock producers be profitable as well.”
The workshops will feature short presentations from local ranchers on key topics, followed by open discussion and question and answer sessions. Producers, business partners, family members and lenders, among others are invited to attend the workshops.
“Sometimes it’s best to provide education based on real-life experiences that extend beyond scientific or economic reports,” said Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist. “The information from the cattle men and women who have agreed to share their knowledge and experience in these workshops should be very valuable to other producers.”
The first workshop is Feb. 18 at the 4-H Building in Ipswich. The second workshop is Feb. 19 at the AmericInn in Chamberlain. The final workshop is Feb. 20 at the American Legion in Faith.
Topics to be covered:
– When and Where to Calve: Weather, ground conditions and nutritional needs
– Managing the Cow: Cow health and nutrition, cow size and safety
– Resource Allocation and Assessment: Matching calving inputs to ranch or farm resources
– Marketing Strategies: Production and marketing if a change to calving dates is made
– Managing People: Considerations for family, employees, health and time constraints
“As we evaluated our ranch and our goals, it was clear that how we managed our calving program impacted everything from our lifestyle to our profitability,” said Brett Nix, a livestock producer from Murdo and a South Dakota Grassland Coalition board member.
Registration opens for the workshops at 9 a.m. The program begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Coffee and lunch will be served.
The workshops are free to South Dakota Grassland Coalition members and $30 for non-members, which includes an annual membership and lunch at the event. RSVPs for the workshops are requested for lunch planning if possible, but not mandatory. Walk-ins are welcome.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Pete Bauman by email or 605.882.5140; Jan Rounds by email or 605.882.5140; or Judge Jessop by email or 605.280.0127.
