The University of Tennessee’s Center for Native Grasslands Management (CNGM) will host a Twilight Forage Tour for Native Grasses on June 21.
The tour, at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center’s Blount Unit near Louisville, will feature tips on using native grasses such as eastern gamagrass, big bluestem and switchgrass in a livestock forage program. Specific topics to be covered include establishing native-grass pastures, grazing management and hay production.
Native grasses are highly drought-tolerant, long-lasting warm-season perennials and can produce high yields of hay and excellent animal performance when grazed during summer, according to Pat Keyser, CNGM director. “Yields can measure from 4 to 6 tons/acre and steers can gain an average 1.1 to 2.6 lbs daily when grazing these grasses.”
The tour will begin at 5:30 p.m. following a sponsored supper. The event is free but registration by June 11 is required. For more information, contact Kim Lane at 865-974-7201 or email kalane@utk.edu. Register online.