For release: July 11, 2003
Contact: Roger Gates, (605) 394-2236; Barry Dunn, (605) 688-5455

South Dakota Grazing School Set for Sept. 9-11 at Oacoma

 BROOKINGS, S.D. -- A first-of-its-kind South Dakota Grazing School will focus on managed grazing during an intensive three-day school Sept. 9-11.

 "Managed Grazing: Pathway to Profit" will take place at the CLC Ranch overlooking the Missouri River and at Al's Oasis in Oacoma.

 Because of the intensive, hands-on nature of the school, registration is limited to 30 people. Cost is $150 per person.

 Make checks payable to SDSU-ARS and mail them to Dr. Barry Dunn, SDSU Box 2170, Brookings, SD 57007. The registration deadline is Aug. 26.

 For more details contact Barry Dunn, (605) 688-5455; Roger Gates, (605) 394-2236; Judge Jessop, (605) 895-2301; or Dave Schmidt, (605) 352-1200.

 The event is sponsored by the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University's Department of Animal and Range Sciences, the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Lower James Resource Conservation District.

 SDSU Extension Range Livestock Production Specialist Barry Dunn said the course will emphasize activities in the field along with some classroom sessions. It will offer hands-on training in pasture allocation while improving participants' appreciation for the principles of grassland productivity.

 Specific topics include soils of the prairie; managing the water cycle; plant life cycles; animal nutrition and forage quality; ecological sites; ranch profitability; grazing systems (including such issues as water, fencing, livestock handling and movement); matching forage supply and animal demand; stocking rate; wildlife; monitoring; and residual forage.
 Instructors invited include Bob Budd, president of the Society for Range Management; Dick Hart, retired range scientist of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service; David Schmidt, South Dakota State Range Conservationist for the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service; and NRCS soil scientist Jim Millar.

 Additional instructors are SDSU range science professor Pat Johnson; SDSU Extension Beef Specialist Trey Patterson; NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist Wayne Vander Vorste; and SDSU Extension Range Livestock Production Specialist Barry Dunn.

 Rounding out the slate of instructors are Judge Jessop, coordinator of the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition; SDSU Extension Livestock Educator Rod Geppert; and SDSU Extension Range Management Specialist Roger Gates.

 Participants are responsible for making arrangements for lodging for Sept. 9-10. A block of rooms is being held at Al’s Oasis, (605) 734-6061
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Lance Nixon, Editor
AgBio Communications Unit
South Dakota State University
ACC, Box 2231, Rm 200
Brookings SD 57007
Telephone: (605) 688-4653
LANCE_NIXON@SDSTATE.EDU