UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania livestock producers looking for information on how to make their enterprises more profitable through pasture and grazing management can take advantage of a home-study course offered by Penn State Extension this fall.
The course, which begins Oct. 12, will cover profit-enhancing management principles for grazing livestock. Lessons are available through online delivery or through conventional mail. The course has six weekly lessons.
Lesson topics include getting started with pastures, plants in the pasture, pasture management, pasture facilities, grazing management and grazing economics. Each lesson has information about the topic and a worksheet for producers to complete and mail or email back to Penn State Extension for comments. Producers also can submit questions they would like to have answered.
"Home study is a great way for Pennsylvania producers to learn new information without having to rearrange their schedule to accommodate a meeting," said Melanie Barkley, extension educator based in Bedford County, who coordinates the course. "Producers can study the lessons at their leisure in their own home."
Worksheet questions are designed to assist producers with analyzing their current grazing practices. Course instructors address comments to participants' individual situations to better help them improve their management skills.
According to Barkley, Penn State Extension has assisted more than 1,500 livestock producers from across the country through other home-study courses. The grazing course is designed specifically to help producers in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
Interested producers can learn more or register for a course by visiting the Penn State Extension website or by calling 814-445-8912.
To speak to one of the instructors, contact the Penn State Extension office in Bedford County at 814-623-4800.
Cost for each course is $50 if taken online and $85 if taken using U.S. Postal Service deliveries. Deadline for registration is Oct. 3.