Author: CALS_User

Graze 300 VA
Stafford, C.C. Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, ccstaffo@vt.edu.
Clark, R.A. Extension Agent, VA Cooperative Extension, raclark@vt.edu.
Fike, J.H. Extension Forage Specialist, VA Cooperative Extension, jfike@vt.edu.
Swanson, C.A. Extension Agent, VA Cooperative Extension, horse@vt.edu.
Childs, C.C. Extension Agent, VA Cooperative Extension, cchilds@vt.edu.
Fiske, D.A. Superintendent, Shen. Valley Ag. Research and Extension Center, dafiske@vt.edu.
Mize, T.A. Extension Agent, VA Cooperative Extension, tmize@vt.edu.

Goals:
1) To improve farm profitability & water quality by converting cow/calf producers to winter feeding management reliant upon grazing
2) To increase the number of cow/calf producers who graze 300 days or more per year

Winter feeding expenses can account for more than 50% of total cost for grazing livestock. Beef producers seek savings now with slim margins.

Graze 300 VA Mission Statement:
To enable Virginia farmers to achieve 300 days of livestock grazing by facilitating better pasture management and environmental stewardship.

Water quality will benefit through improved infiltration, improved nutrient use efficiency, fewer barren winter feeding sites & improved soil organic matter

There are over
96,000 beef cows
in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Northern Piedmont of Virginia

If 20% cut winter feed cost by $100 per head, net revenue is $1.9 million. Current action by beef producers includes reducing stock rate to minimize hay feeding & strip grazing to increase stockpile utilization.

Graze 300 VA Educational Video Series

Eight Graze 300 VA educational videos have been published on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Graze 300 VA web site.
Titles of the four videos not shown below are “Using a Grazing Muzzle”, “Benefit of a Dry Lot for Horses”, “Stockpile Grazing in Autumn”, and “Using Grazing Charts.” There is also a series of videos about Using Summer Stockpiling to Extend the grazing season.

GRAZING THROUGH SNOW

MEASURING FORAGE WITH A FALLING PLATE METER