Shannon Dill Maryland Cooperative Extension Talbot County

Shannon Dill Maryland Cooperative Extension Talbot County

2 Small Farm Survey NAME: FARM NAME/BUSINESS: ADDRESS: PHONE EMAIL: Do you own a farm? Yes No If so how many acres? Did you grow up on a farm? Yes No If so how many acres? How many animals? What was your purpose for taking the course? (check all that apply) Want to start a business Want to learn more about agriculture/farming Want to buy a small farm Have a small farm Want to start a new hobby Other What topics interest you most about the course? (list all that apply) Is there any specific information you would like addressed in this class? How did you hear about this course?

Enterprise Brainstorming Activity 3 Direct Marketing Refers to producers selling directly to their consumers. This is a profitable way to cut out middleman costs and deal with your consumers. Examples - Roadside stand - Farmers markets - Farm tours Value Added This term is used when additional packaging, processing or modification is used to make the product/service worth more to the consumer. Examples - Processing fruit to jam/jelly - Making gift baskets with a variety of vegetables/crafts - Planting a variety of flowers in a painted pot Target Market This is the consumer. Who will you be selling to? Consider age, lifestyle, marital status, demographics, location etc Examples - Target school age children - Target convenience shoppers - Target health conscious adults Niche Market This is much like a target market but is more specialized. A niche market includes organic, ethnic, naturally grown etc. These are specialty items marketed to a target group of consumers. Examples - Growing native plants for homeowners - Oriental vegetables for cooking - Growing purple potatoes for restaurants

BE CREATIVE ENTERPRISE BRAINSTORMING 4 Product/Service: What are some ways to add value to the product/service? What could be your target market for the product/service? Where and how can this product/service be marketed/sold?

5 Market IT The 4 P s of Marketing Exercise Develop a Marketing Plan including the 4 P s (product, price, place, promotion) Choose a Product/Service PRODUCT: PRICE: PLACE: PROMOTION:

Farm Information Sheet Complete this sheet to assess farm resources and inventory. 6 - Location - Size of Farm Total Acres *Pasture acres *Cropland acres *Wooded acres - Describe the condition of each (include previous crops, fertility, soil type, drainage, slope) - Structures (buildings, fencing, storage) - Water Supply - Experience (list experience with livestock and/or growing crops) - Farm interests (what type of enterprise you are interested in. Include all livestock and/or crops) - Machinery (list available) - Machinery (custom, lease or interested in purchasing - Regulatory (number of animals, property zoning, chemical use) Business - Are you interested in part-time or full-time farming - How much net income do you want to earn NONE SOME CONSIDERABLE - Do you plan to do the labor yourself? - Are you planning to hire employees

4 Steps to Rotational Grazing Penn State Cooperative Extension Forage Management Fact Sheet 7 Introduction STEP 1: Determine Number of Animal Units STEP 2: Estimate Number of Acres Needed STEP 3: Estimate the Number of Paddocks Needed STEP 4: Estimate Size of Each Paddock A well-managed pasture program can often be the most economical way to provide forage to ruminant animals. It is estimated that on many dairy farms where pasture makes up a significant portion of the forage program, feed costs can be reduced by $.50 to $1.00 per day per cow during the grazing season. However, to optimize the production and utilization of pasture, as well as animal performance, careful planning and sound management are important. Knowing your animals, plants and soils, and being able to respond to their needs is a skill that must be developed if rotational grazing is to be successful on your farm. Developing a pasture system that utilizes your land resources and fits in with your total animal, forage and crop program is an important first step in pasture management. A major goal in pasture management is to provide quality pasture for the grazing animals throughout the grazing season. By using the information provided in this brochure, you can better plan to attain this goal. Example herd To demonstrate how each of the 4 Step into rotational grazing works, an example beef cow herd of 30, 1300-lb cows with calf and one 2000- lb bull will be used. STEP 1: Determine the number of animal units (AU) that will be in the grazing system. The first step into rotational grazing is to determine the forage requirements of the herd or flock. Dry matter forage intake varies by animal species and class. The concept of animal units gives a much better measure of pasture required, as compared to using animal numbers. One animal unit is based on the daily forage intake of one 1000 lb dry cow (about 25 pounds of dry forage per day). Table 1 gives some typical animal unit values for various species and classes of livestock. Determine number of AU using this equation: AU X Number of Animals = AU Example herd 1300-lb cow w/calf = 1.6 AU. 1.6 AU X 30 = 48 2000-lb bull =1.7 AU. + 1.7 AU X 1 = 1.7 49.7 (50) AU in herd

8 Table 1. Animal Units Animal Type Animal Weight (lbs) Animal Units Animals Needed to Equal 8 Animal Units Horse 1000 1 8 Feed Cattle 1000 1 8 Dairy Cattle 1400 1.4 6 Sheep 200.2 40 Broilers/Fryers 4.004 2000 Ducks 7.007 1200 Geese 12.012 650 Turkeys 19.019 425 Goats 89.089 90 STEP 2: Estimate how many acres will be needed throughout the grazing season. Estimating the number of acres required to pasture a herd or flock depends not only on the feed requirements of the animals but also on the available forage produced. Pasture growth is dependent upon plant species, soil characteristics, topography, fertilization, temperature and soil moisture. Because of the variability in pasture growth, we can only estimate the number of acres required for grazing animals. To estimate how much pasture a herd or flock will need, first calculate the total AU of the herd (Step 1). Second estimate how many acres each AU will need during each month of the grazing season (Table 2). For example, if the herd will be grazing medium producing Kentucky bluegrass and white clover pasture in June, then approximately 1.3 acres will be needed to support each AU. The same herd grazing medium producing orchard grass and white clover pasture would only need 0.7 acres for each AU. Example herd The herd (from Step 1, we know the herd contains 50 AU) will be grazing medium producing orchard grass and white clover pasture. May: (0.7 acres/au) X 50 AU = 35 acres June: (0.7 acres/au) X 50 AU = 35 acres July: (1.2 acres/au) X 50 AU = 60 acres Aug.: (1.2 acres/au) X 50 AU = 60 acres Sept.: (1.2 acres/au) X 50 AU = 60 acres Oct.: (6.2 acres/au) X 50 AU = 310 acres For the example herd, 60 acres will be sufficient for much of the year. However, there will be excess forage in the spring and the herd will need to receive supplemental forage in October. During this deficit period in the fall, stockpiled tall fescue or brassicas could be utilized.

9 Table 2. Estimates of the acreage required to provide the forage needs for one animal Pasture Species Pasture Annual DM Production Yield Acres needs to provide forage needs for one AU* Tons/ac Acre/Animal Unit April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Bluegrass& White Clover Medium 2.0 5.4 0.6 1.3 5.5 5.5 2.2 3.5 - - Orchardgrass & White Clover Orchardgrass plus Nitrogen Low Medium High Low Medium High 2.0 3.0 3.5 2.0 3.0 4.5-1.0.07 0.6 5.4 3.6 2.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.6 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.8 1.2 1.1 2.8 1.8 1.2 1.8 1.2 1.1 2.3 1.5 1.0 1.8 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.2 0.8 9.2 6.2 5.3 9.2 6.2 4.1 - - - - Stockpiled Tall Fescue Medium 4.5 2.4 0.4 0.6 1.0 - - 1.1 1.0 1.0 Summer seeded Brassicas Medium 3.0 - - - - - - 0.9 0.4 0.4 * Based on an animal unit consuming 25lbs of dry matter of forage per day with 70% of the pasture utilized Step 3: Estimate number of paddocks needed. The number of paddocks needed for a rotational grazing system will depend on the number of days the animals graze in a paddock and the maximum summer rest period needed. Rest periods should be based on the growth rate of the pasture and will vary depending on the season and weather conditions (Table 4). Table 4. Typical paddock rest periods for rotational grazing systems Season Weather Conditions Growth Rate Rest Period Spring Cool, Moist Fast 10 14 days Spring Warm, Dry Medium 14 20 days Summer Hot, Moist Slow 30 35 days Summer Hot, Dry Very Slow 40 60 days Growth rate will be affected by soil productivity and fertility levels. Therefore, even within a pasture system rest periods will vary. The best way to manage this situation is to not use a set rotational scheme, but move animals to those paddocks which have reached their optimum available pasture. Keep animals off a particular paddock until it reaches its desired optimum available pasture. Spring management usually involves diverting some of the paddocks out of the rotation scheme and using the forage for hay or silage. This effectively shortens the rest period between grazings and improves utilization of rapid spring growth. Paddock = (Max. rest period/grazing period) +1 number

10 Example herd The herd will graze each paddock for 3 days and the maximum rest period between grazings will be 35 days. (35 days rest/3 days grazing) + 1 = 13 paddocks Note: Species and class of grazing animal may determine the grazing period. Lactating dairy cows need consistent quality forage; therefore, the grazing period may be anywhere from.5 to 2 days. Beef cows, brood ewes and most other ruminants do not require as consistent a quality forage and a grazing period of 3 or more days may suffice. Step 4: Estimate how large each paddock should be. Paddock size depends on the AU in the herd, the amount of available pasture at the beginning of grazing, and the desired grazing period. Available pasture refers to that present in a paddock at the start of grazing minus the amount present when the animals are removed from the paddock. Typical Pennsylvania pastures, depending on density of plants, have about 300 lb of pasture for each inch of height. If a herd is turned into a paddock when the pasture is 7 inches tall and taken off when the pasture is 4 inches tall, approximately 900 to 1000 lb of pasture was available. In order to calculate paddock size, divide the total number of acres by the number of paddocks in the system. Example herd The herd will graze 60 acres and there are 13 paddocks. 60/13 = 4.6 acre in each paddock

11 YOUR FARM: Sheep NUMBER OF ACRES: 10 NUMBER OF ANIMALS: 10 FORAGE: Orchardgrass & White Clover Mix Medium Quality GRAZING: 3 days REST: 15 days Do you think this will work? (circle) yes no YOUR FARM: Goats NUMBER OF ACRES: 10 NUMBER OF ANIMALS: 15 FORAGE: Orchardgrass & White Clover Mix Medium Quality GRAZING: 3 days REST: 15 days Do you think this will work? (circle) yes no

12 YOUR FARM: Beef NUMBER OF ACRES: 10 NUMBER OF ANIMALS: 10 FORAGE: Bluegrass & White Clover Medium Quality GRAZING: 3 days REST: 15 days Do you think this will work? (circle) yes no YOUR FARM: Horse NUMBER OF ACRES: 10 NUMBER OF ANIAMLS: 8 FORAGE: Bluegrass & White Clover Medium Quality GRAZING: 3 days REST: 15 days Do you think this will work? (circle) yes no

Pasture Stocking Rate Worksheet 13 STEP 1 - Determine Animal Units (AU) 1 AU = 1,000lbs Sum of total herd in lbs (see Table 1)/1,000 = Total Herd AU s / = STEP 2 - Estimate the number of acres needed Acres of forage (see Table 2) X Herd AU = Total Acres Needed May: X = Acres June: X = Acres July: X = Acres Aug: X = Acres Sept: X = Acres Oct: X = Acres What are the least amount of acres needed? What month? What are the most amount of acres needed? What month? STEP 3 - Estimate the number of paddocks (Rest Period) + 1 Grazing Period = # of paddocks + 1 = # of paddocks STEP 4 - Estimate how large each paddock should be Total Pasture Acres = Paddock Size # of Paddocks = Paddock Size in acres The herd will graze acres and there are paddocks. 1. Is this situation feasible on your farm? yes no 2. Can you add more animals or should you remove some? Other conclusions:

SHEEP ANSWER SHEET STEP 1 Determine Animal Units (AU) 1 AU = 1,000lbs Sum of total herd in lbs (see Table 1)/1,000 = Total Herd AU s 2000lb /1000lbs = 2 Total Herd AU s STEP 2 Estimate the number of acres needed Acres of forage (see Table 2) X Herd AU = Total Acres Needed May:.7 X 2 = 1.4 Acres June:.7 X 2 = 1.4 Acres July: 1.2 X 2 = 2.4 Acres Aug: 1.2 X 2 = 2.4 Acres Sept: 1.2X 2 = 2.4 Acres Oct: 6.2 X 2 = 12.4 Acres What is the least amount of acres needed? 1.4 acres What month? May, June What is the most amount of acres needed? 12.4 acres What month? October STEP 3 Estimate the number of paddocks (Rest Period) + 1 Grazing Period = # of paddocks 15 + 1 = 4.75 paddocks 4 Step 4 Estimate how large each paddock should be Total Pasture Acres = Paddock Size # of Paddocks 10 = 2.10 Total Acres 4.75 1. Is this situation feasible on your farm? yes no 2. Can you add more animals or should you remove some? Other conclusions: It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

GOATS ANSWER SHEET STEP 1 Determine Animal Units (AU) 1 AU = 1,000lbs Sum of total herd in lbs (see Table 1)/1,000 = Total Herd AU s 1335 / 1000 = 1.34 STEP 2 Estimate the number of acres needed Acres of forage (see Table 2) X Herd AU = Total Acres Needed May: 1.0 X 1.3 = 1.3 Acres June: 1.1 X 1.3 = 1.3 Acres July: 1.8 X 1.3 = 2.34 Acres Aug: 1.8 X 1.3 = 2.34 Acres Sept: 1.8X 1.3 = 2.34 Acres Oct: 9.2 X 1.4 = 11.96 Acres What are the least amount of acres needed? 1.3 Acres What month? May, June What are the most amount of acres needed? 11.96 What month? October STEP 3 Estimate the number of paddocks (Rest Period) + 1 Grazing Period = # of paddocks (10 )+ 1 = 4.3 paddocks (3) Step 4 Estimate how large each paddock should be Total Pasture Acres = Paddock Size # of Paddocks 10 = 2.33 Total Acres 4.3 1. Is this situation feasible on your farm? yes no 2. Can you add more animals or should you remove some? Other conclusions: It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

BEEF ANSWER SHEET STEP 1 Determine Animal Units (AU) 1 AU = 1,000lbs Sum of total herd in lbs (see Table 1)/1,000 = Total Herd AU s 10000 / 1000 = 10 STEP 2 Estimate the number of acres needed Acres of forage (see Table 2) X Herd AU = Total Acres Needed May:.6 X 10 = 6 Acres June: 1.3 X 10 = 13 Acres July: 5.5 X 10 = 55 Acres Aug: 5.5 X 10 = 55 Acres Sept: 2.2X 10 = 22 Acres Oct: 3.5 X 10 = 35 Acres What are the least amount of acres needed? 6 Acres What month? May What are the most amount of acres needed? 55 Acres What month? July, August STEP 3 Estimate the number of paddocks (Rest Period) + 1 Grazing Period = # of paddocks 10 + 1 = 3 paddocks 5 Step 4 Estimate how large each paddock should be Total Pasture Acres = Paddock Size # of Paddocks 10 = 3.34 Total Acres 3 1. Is this situation feasible on your farm? yes no 2. Can you add more animals or should you remove some? Other conclusions: It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

HORSE ANSWER SHEET STEP 1 Determine Animal Units (AU) 1 AU = 1,000lbs Sum of total herd in lbs (see Table 1)/1,000 = Total Herd AU s 8000 / 1000 = 8 STEP 2 Estimate the number of acres needed Acres of forage (see Table 2) X Herd AU = Total Acres Needed May:.6 X 8 = 4.8 Acres June: 1.3 X 8 = 10.4 Acres July: 5.5 X 8 = 44 Acres Aug: 5.5 X 8= 44 Acres Sept: 2.2X 8 = 17.6 Acres Oct: 3.5 X 8 = 28 Acres What are the least amount of acres needed? 4.8 Acres What month? May What are the most amount of acres needed? 44 Acres What month? July, August STEP 3 Estimate the number of paddocks (Rest Period) + 1 Grazing Period = # of paddocks 15 + 1 = 8.5 paddocks 2 Step 4 Estimate how large each paddock should be Total Pasture Acres = Paddock Size # of Paddocks 10 = 1.17 Total Acres 8.5 1. Is this situation feasible on your farm? yes no 2. Can you add more animals or should you remove some? Other conclusions: It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

Hay Quality Exercise Send 3 to 4 samples of hay to be analyzed. This can cost $20 30. The standard analysis is sufficient and generally includes: dry matter, crude protein, bound protein, available protein, adjusted protein, soluble protein, degradable protein, ADF, NDF, ash, NSC, TDN, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper. Most small livestock users are generally most interested in crude protein, TDN and micronutrients. A variety of hay samples is recommended ex. Alfalfa, grass and mix. This gives a good variation and more for discussion. During the course ask each participant to rate the hay according to the score sheet attached. This is a way livestock owners can. It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

Hay Evaluation Guidelines by Lester R. Vough Forage Crops Extension Specialist Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture University of Maryland, College Park The score sheet below is a guideline for evaluating hay. The sheet indicates the amount of importance to place upon each quality factor. Note that maturity, at 30 points, is the most important factor. Leafiness, color, and odor and condition each receive a possible 20 points. Foreign material has a possible 10 points. Sample Score Sheet Possible score Score given Maturity Alfalfa should be cut in the late bud or early bloom stage, clovers at 20 percent bloom. Most grasses should be cut in the boot to early heading stage. These stages of maturity score highest (25 to 30 points). Alfalfa and clover cut at full bloom and grasses cut between late heading and full bloom score low (1 to 10 points) because they have lower feed value. 30 Leafiness Hay with a high ratio of leaves to stems and a substantial portion of the leaves attached to stems scores high (5 to 20 points). Stemmy hay and hay with shattered leaves score low (0 to 5 points). 20 Color Hay with a bright green color scores high (15 to 20 points). Golden yellow to yellow hays score 5 to 15 points. Dark brown or black hays score 0 to 5 points. 20 Odor and Condition Smell of new mown hay scores high (15 to 20 points). Hays with musty or other off-odors score 5 to 15 points. Moldy or unusually dusty hays score very low (0 to 5 points). 20 Foreign Material Hay with noninjurious foreign material should receive a lower score than that without. Hay with injurious foreign material should not be fed to animals. 10 TOTAL: 100 It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.

Other Activities Sign It Adverting Exercise Materials Wipe-off board Color Markers Each group is to choose a product and draw a sign advertising it. The sign can be for a product or service. Groups are encouraged to be creative and informative. The groups should then share their sign explaining what and why they choose colors, text or pictures. Package It Adding Value Exercise Materials Fresh or Artificial Fruit (craft store) Basket Note cards and pen Each group is given materials and instructions to add value. Note cards can be used to explain packaging or any other additions needed to add value. The groups should share their new product explaining why there is added value. Pesticide Label Activity Materials Copy of pesticide labels Each group should get a copy of a pesticide label. Questions specific to labels should be asked and members respond according to the labels. Questions such as re-entry interval, personal protective equipment and signal words are good to start with. Try to generate discussion from this exercise about exposure and possible health risks. It is the policy of Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age or national origin.