Colorado

Would you like to understand how to establish stocking rates, besides using Grandpa's tradition or the neighbors' rates?

Are you feeling pinched between rising costs and the bank note?

Would you like to spend more time in front of the fireplace or at the kid's ball games and less time feeding cows?

Do you want to start rotational grazing but don't know how to get there from here?

Jim Gerrish, beef-forage systems specialist and on-ranch consultant, will be at the Yuma Community Center (North Hwy. 59 and 2nd Ave) on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005. Rolls, coffee, and sign-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Come learn how to develop a low-cost, high-output range-based livestock system. Develop goals and set tactical objectives to move you toward those goals. Understand stocking rate, forage intake, rest and rotation. Discover how calving date affects forage demand and consequently stocking rate.

Who is the speaker? Jim Gerrish is an independent grazing lands consultant for farmers and ranchers across the U.S. Readers of The Stockman GrassFarmer and Beef Magazine will recognize Jim as a regular columnist. Over 3,000 producers and educators from the U.S. and Canada have attended the grazing management program he co-founded. You can learn more about Jim at his website: http://americangrazinglands.com.

Registration is $5 and includes a baked steak lunch. To get lunch, you must pre-register by Thanksgiving. There are three ways to pre-register: Call the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Wray at 970-332-3173 ext. 3 on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; e-mail Julie.Elliott@co.usda.gov; or drop a note to Julie at 247 North Clay, Wray, CO, 80758. Please give your name and number of people attending.

This workshop is being sponsored by: Cope, Flagler, Yuma, Yuma County, and Washington County Conservation Districts, and the Republican River Habitat Partnership Program, NorthEast Colorado RC&D, Yuma County Cattlemen.