The Northwestern Illinois Grazing
Conference is an excellent workshop
opportunity for livestock producers and
others to fine-tune their knowledge about
grazing through hearing from several
successful beef, sheep and dairy graziers
who have incorporated managed grazing in
their operations. Given the rising cost of
farm inputs, grazing may make greater sense
in managing today’s farm expenses.
Consider making plans now to join us in
Stockton on December 8. It will be time well
spent! Please keep in mind that reservations
are due by December 1.
Conference Guest Presenters
Ed Ballard, Grazing Consultant; Farm Manager,
University of Illinois Dudley Smith Farm. Guest
presenter at numerous national, regional and local
grazing conferences and schools, a co-author of
grazing handbooks and recently retired Animal
Systems Educator with Univ. of Illinois Extension,
Ed has spent his entire career in animal agriculture
working with producers and industry groups to
enhance farm profitability and sustainability.
Dr. Larry Tranel; Iowa State University
Extension Dairy Field Specialist. Covering such
topic areas as management intensive grazing,
utilization of forages, new and remodeled freestalls,
parlors and other livestock facility planning; and farm
family labor/personnel management, Dr Tranel has
been a guest presenter at numerous meetings and
conferences. An extension professional since 1989,
Dr. Tranel had also been a dairy producer from 1986
to 1999 transitioning to dairy grazing in the process.
Freedom Hills Ranch/ Adolph Red AngusMt.
Carroll, IL - Randy Adolph. Commercial beef &
purebred Red Angus operation with 700 cows and
over 1,000 cropping acres. Herds pastured on 1,400
acres of managed lands - 900 are open and another
500 acres divided into paddocks. All pastures are
annually fertilized and sprayed for weed control.
Northwest Illinois
Grazing Conference
------------------------------
Gene Schriefer, Dodgeville, WI
Multi-species livestock grazier whose operation
currently includes beef (30 cows) and sheep (300
ewes). Also works for University of Wisconsin
Extension as agriculture agent serving Iowa County.
John Scidmore, Morrison, IL - Dairy grazier
intensively managing 26 acres for lactating cows
using poly wire to provide fresh breaks of one-third to
one-half acre. 28 additional acres of rotated pastures
for dry cows and 30 more acres for heifers and
yearlings; 170 cropping acres and 50 acres for hay;
15 acres of sorghum-sudangrass for grazing and
baleage in 2009; planted turnips in 2008 and 2009.
CR VIEW Dairy, Stockton, IL - Delmar &
Theresa Westaby. Certified organic dairy since
2002. Farm milks 81 registered Holsteins and
includes 200 animals of all ages with all being homeraised. In addition to the 240 cropping acres, farm
makes 160 acres of hay annually and utilizes 245
pasture acres for livestock grazing with 14 acres set
up in separate paddocks with break wires for
intensive grazing of the milking herd.
DeKap Angus Farm, Lanark, IL - Duane Kruse
Diversified livestock farm with a purebred 100 cow
herd raising bulls and replacement females, and
finishing cattle in the farm feedlot; operation includes
90 acres of pastures and aerial seeding of rye on 85
corn acres and 15 soybean acres in 2009.
Jim Foster, Chadwick, IL - Dairy goat operation
that is now milking 80 head. Currently utilizes 13
pasture acres mainly for dry goats and kids.
A Grazing Conference
Sharing Perspectives
--------------------------------------Tuesday, December 8, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Holy Cross Church
223 E. Front Ave., Stockton, IL
Sponsors
Northwestern Illinois Grazing Workgroup
Carroll, Jo Daviess & Stephenson NRCS/SWCD
Illinois Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
Illinois Forage and Grasslands Council
Blackhawk Hills RC&D
Northwestern Illinois Forage & Grasslands Council
University of Illinois Extension
Northwestern Illinois Grazing Conference
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Holy Cross Church, Stockton, IL
(located ½ mile south of Rt. 20 & Rt 78 intersection near downtown Stockton; go one block east on Front Ave.)
9:30 a.m.
Registration & Refreshments
9:45 a.m.
Welcome - Mark Maidak, Northwestern Illinois Grazing Workgroup Coordinator
9:50 a.m.
The Grazing Advantage – You Can Make It Happen
Ed Ballard, Grazing Consultant and Beef Herd Manager
10:15 a.m.
Break / Visit Exhibits
10:35 a.m.
My 15 Year Experience Grazing Annuals in the Fall and Winter
Gene Schriefer, Dodgeville, WI – Beef and Sheep Grazier
11:00 a.m.
Grazing – How We Got Started, What We Have Learned
John Scidmore, Morrison, IL – Dairy Grazier
11:15 a.m.
Extending the Grazing Season to Reduce Stored Feeds
Ed Ballard, Grazing Consultant
Duane Kruse, Beef Producer (aerial seeding of rye into corn/soybeans)
11:50 p.m.
Lunch / Visit Exhibits
12:50 p.m.
$$ Million Dollar Farms through Dairy Grazing
Dr. Larry Tranel, Iowa State Extension Dairy Field Specialist
1:10 p.m.
Tips and Tricks from Observing Successful Graziers
Dr. Larry Tranel, Iowa State Extension Dairy Field Specialist
1:30 p.m.
Grazing – How We Got Started, What We Have Learned
Theresa & Delmar Westaby, Stockton, IL - Organic Dairy Producers
Randall Adolph, Mt. Carroll, IL – Beef Producer
Jim Foster, Chadwick, IL – Dairy Goat Producer
2:25 p.m.
Establishing a Grazing Network in NW Illinois
2:40 p.m.
Evaluations & Adjourn
University of Illinois • U.S. Department of Agriculture • Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Registration Form
NW Illinois Grazing Conference
December 8, 2009
Name(s)
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone (
)
Registration Fee Received by December 1:
$20 per person
Registration Fee Received after Dec. 1:
$30 per person
Make checks payable to University of Illinois
Extension and mail to:
Jo Daviess County Extension
204 Vine Street, Box 600
Elizabeth IL 61028
Phone: 815-858-2273
You may also register on-line and pay by
credit card at http://jdc.extension.uiuc.edu
If you need a reasonable accommodation to
participate in this program, please contact
Mark Maidak at 815-858-2273.