Each year, the South Dakota Grassland Coalition hosts the South Dakota Grazing School in Chamberlain/Oacoma. Two three-day sessions are offered during the 2nd week of September. Class #1 convenes Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon.

The Grazing School is designed for producers and anyone with an interest in learning how to best manage grasslands to benefit livestock. The agenda features presenters from state and federal agencies and universities. Area producers share their expertise about various topics related to grazing techniques and grassland management.

For more information please contact Judge Jessop (605) 280-0127 or judgejessop@sdconservation.net.

-8:45 AM Registration
-9:30 AM Welcome
Tighty Whities Demonstration
Eric Barsness, NRCS
-10:00 AM Field Site Visit
Seeding Cover Crops in Small Grain Stubble
Doug Toussaint, Farmer, Wahpeton, ND
Ron Kohl, Farmer, Claire City, SD
Earthworm Discussion Focusing on Soil Health
Rodney Utter, NDSU
Seeding Cover Crops into Soybeans & Corn
Graig Reicks, SDSU
Lee Briese, Centrol Ag Independent Crop Consultant
-12:15 PM Lunch @ Claire City Fire Hall
-1:15 PM No-Till Soybeans into Corn Residue with Growing Rye

For further info and to RSVP please contact NRCS or RCD (605) 698-7431 Ext 3

Contact Angela Ehlers at (605) 895-4099 for more information.

The Phil Jerde family has been using the principles of Holistic Management for nearly 20 years. Using buffalo and cattle as tools they have seen remarkable changes in the health of their land.

With Holistic Planned Grazing and the tools of grazing, animal impact and recovery time they have:
 -Increased diversity of plants and wildlife.
 -Increased their stocking rate for their area.
 -Healthy riparian areas are improving and increasing in size and diversity.
 -Birds, beetles and beavers are on the increase

Registration is free to all members of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition – or $30 for nonmembers (which include a complementary one year membership).

Meal with be provided after Tour:
Please RSVP for Tour & Meal: Contact Randy Holmquist - (605) 730-0550
or Randy@zhvalley.com

Agenda:

9:00-9:30 AM Registration and Inspect Plots
9:30-10:30 AM Kent Vlieger "Grazing Cover Crops and Getting Started With Cover Crops"
10:30-11:30 AM Dale Strickler "Cover Crop Guidance For Your Operation"
11:30-12:30 PM Wrap Up, Questions, Discussion

Registration is for this event is FREE

Topic Highlights:

Building Soil Health & Organic Matter with high carbon crop rotations, tillage reductions, and nutrient management

-Welcome and Introductions, Jim Ristau SD Corn Director of Sustainability
-Importance of building organic matter through the use of soil health principles & Farm History of Wagner’s Inc —Ryan Wagner, Farmer, President of SD Corn Utilization Council
-How I’ve grown carbon and what it means on my farm —Joe Breker, ND Farmer 2017 NCGA Good Steward Award
-The Science and Biology of Organic Matter through Management—Dr. Jose Guzman, Dr Steve Apfelbaum
-Soil Health Demonstrations—-NRCS Soil Pit, Rainfall Simulator, Slake test

RSVP
Jim Ristau
jimr@sdcorn.com
(605) 730-3474

Sponsored by Prairie Potters Master Gardeners

Fall Invaders:
-"How to Identify and Prepare For Uninvited Guests"
Presenter: Amanda Bachmann, PhD
Pesticide Education and Urban Entomology Field
Specialist

-"The Benefits of No-Till For Your Garden"
including a rainfall simulator demonstration
Presenter: Ruth Beck
SDSU Agronomy Field Specialist

Private Lands Partners Day (PLPD) brings together private landowner leaders and public partners from across the country to share their personal experiences with cooperative efforts to conserve rural working landscapes for both people and nature. The event, in its 11th year, has become the premier annual event spotlighting collaborative conservation and public-private conservation partnership.

SCHEDULE

October 2: Evening Reception at BassPro White River Conference Center
October 3: Brief Presentation followed by All Day Field Tour
October 4: Full day of presentations at BassPro White River Conference Center with banquet dinner

QUESTIONS? Please contact us at info@partnersforconservation.org.

Bus tour will include several field demonstration sites and will leave from address listed on flyer. Speakers include: Doug Landblom, Host Landowners, Tanse Herrmann, Shawn Freeland, & Chris Graham. Sack lunches will be provided, RSVP to Tanse Herrmann at (605) 347-4952 Ext. 3.

Cover crops, rotations, planting dates, rates, soil observations, and evaluations for continued improvement will be discussed. RSVP today! Day will begin at address listed above and participants will drive to various tour stops in the afternoon.

Please RSVP for planning purposes to Candice Mizera at (605) 314-2110.