Master Haymaker program begins November 7

The Master Haymaker program will begin on Tuesday, November 7th at 6 p.m. at the RECC building in Albany. This program will focus on opportunities to improve stored forage production. Grazing is easily the most economical choice when it comes to livestock production, but having stored forage on hand when pastures get short or during the winter months is inevitable. Making hay or silage can be a large investment on the farm, knowing how to get the most return for those dollars spent is critical.

This program will take an in-depth look at the following topics…….

November 7th at Albany RECC. Cool season forages, speaker: Ray Smith, UK Extension forage specialist, using Winter Small Cereal Grains (Winter vs Spring Oats, Wheat, Rye, Triticale, etc.), Orchardgrass, Fescues (KY31 and Novel), winter legumes, annual ryegrass, and cool season annual mixes.

November 14th at Albany RECC. Warm season forages, speaker: Chris Teutsch, UK Extension forage specialist. Bermudagrass (seeded vs sprigged), crabgrass, sudans, sorghums, and millets, johnsongrass management as a forage, alfalfa, corn silage, and challenges associated with warm season annuals (weed control, nitrates, etc..)

December 5th at Albany RECC. Soil series, and soil fertility, speaker: Josh McGrath, UK Extension Soil Specialist. Soil testing, nutrient removal rates for hay crops, nitrogen application timing, yield responses to nitrogen application, urea vs ammonia nitrate, poultry litter and cow manures, fertilizer philosophy-how to raise soil test levels to med/high levels and luxury K consumption.

December 12th at Wayne County Extension office, forage storage (wet and dry), speaker: Jimmy Henning, UK Extension forage specialist. Properly harvesting and storing dry hay, making balage, haylage and silage, determining proper moisture, wet storage options, inoculants, corn silage, and ways to reduce feeding losses.

January 30th at Russell County (TBD) Machinery and economics, speaker: Tom Keene, UK Extension forage specialist. Machinery maintenance, cutting height adjustments, string vs net wrap, big square vs round balers, reducing leaf loss, crimper vs impeller, custom hay making.

Feb 13th at Cumberland County Extension office, weed control, speaker: JD Green, UK Extension weed specialist. Pigweeds, horsenettles, tick clover, sweet vernal grass, foxtails, herbicide residual Mgt. (Aminopyralids), Prowl H2O, weed effect on yield, Example weed control strategies for…warm Season annual grasses, cool season annual small grains, alfalfa, and perennial grasses.

Feb 20th at Russell County (TBD) Understanding forage analysis and quality, speaker: Jeff Lehmkuhler, UK Extension Beef specialist. Forage sampling, forage quality, using forage analysis for ration balancing, supplemental feeding, and nutrition.

Each session will begin with a meal at 6 p.m. (CST). There will be a $70 registration fee for the series to cover the meals and materials. Each participant will receive a binder with the printed material for each session as well as several UK publications on selected topics. Please call the Clinton County Extension office at 606-387-5404 for more information or to register.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.