Learn how to raise and graze livestock at Mass Grass events

Local farmers and anyone interested in learning about grazing livestock are invited to attend a series of educational events this summer and fall. Join us to learn how to develop grazing systems and improve animal growth and production through better pasture management.

Raising livestock on pasture offers farmers economic, animal health and labor benefits over feeding with grain-based feed. Mass Grass helps new, beginning and experienced graziers to start and maintain sustainable and profitable grass-based livestock operations and incorporate management practices that protect the state’s natural resources.

Mass Grass is a state-wide grazing group of Massachusetts livestock farmers, leaders and educators from agricultural organizations including the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, UMass Extension, UMass Center for Agriculture, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Livestock Farm Day
Saturday, June 5, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536
Cost: Free! Lunch is available for $10 at the event. Please e-mail Sam Anderson if you plan to buy a lunch.
Contact: Sam Anderson, sanderson@comteam.org, 978-654-6745

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project kicks off its livestock schools with a free farm day at the Tufts vet school, including a full slate of workshops, the opportunity to talk with equipment vendors, and a pig roast. Free workshops will be held throughout the day, including species-specific beginner courses on sheep, swine, poultry, beef cattle and goats. Other workshops will cover egg grading and processing, alternative energy on the farm and a livestock judging demonstration

Dairy Farm Success Through Diversity:
Field Day on Grazing, Transitioning to Organic, Cheese-making and Producing Raw Milk
Saturday, June 12, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Robinson Farm, 42 Jackson Road, Hardwick, MA 01037
Cost: $35. The NOFA membership discount is $5. The early registration (by May 29) discount is $5.
Contact: Ben Grosscup, ben.grosscup@nofamass.org, 413-658-5374. Please type "June 12" in the email subject line.

Interested in organic dairy production in Massachusetts? Come to the NOFA/Mass Field Day on grazing, transitioning to organic, cheese-making, and producing raw milk.

Presenters include Stephen Herbert (UMass), Tom Akin (NRCS), Winton Pitcoff (NOFA/Mass), and our hosts and operators of Robinson Farm, Ray and Pam Robinson. The day includes a walking tour of the farm along with explanation of management techniques provided by the presenters.
 

Forage and Grazing Field School
Thursday, June 24, 9:30 am -3:30 pm
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536
Cost: $40 registration fee includes lunch and resource materials.
Contact: Sam Anderson, sanderson@comteam.org, 978-654-6745

At this workshop, you will learn how to grow, manage and ration pasture and other forage for livestock production. The training will include both classroom and hands-on practical components.

Topics covered will include pasture management, soil quality and testing, balancing rations, harvesting and preserving forage, determining when to grow forage and when to buy it, choosing between forage type...and lots of Q&A time!
 

Pastured Poultry Field School
Thursday, July 10, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds, 159 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA 01742
Cost: $40
Contact: Ben Grosscup, ben.grosscup@nofamass.org, 413-658-5374. Please type "July 10" in e-mail subject line.

At this workshop, you will learn how to grow, manage and ration pasture and other forage for livestock production. The training will include both classroom and hands-on practical components.

Topics include biosecurity practices for your flock, brooding facilities, profitable breeds suitable for pasture rearing, predator management, pastured poultry equipment and supplies, and feeding and nutrition. We will also hold a fencing demonstration and provide an overview of pasture rotation considerations.

Production, business management and marketing topics covered include regulatory requirements for processing eggs and meat, an introduction to the Mobile Poultry Processing Unit, enterprise budgets and recordkeeping, and marketing for both meat and eggs. We'll be sure to allow plenty of time for your questions!

This workshop is part of the Northeast Organic Farming Association's 'Backyard Poultry Day.'
 

Meat Processing and Marketing
Tuesday, July 27, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536,
Cost: $40 registration fee includes lunch and resource materials.
Contact: Sam Anderson, sanderson@comteam.org, 978-654-6745

This workshop will help you determine the options for processing, preserving and marketing meat. Livestock and poultry producers will have the opportunity to hear from and speak with local chefs and distributors about marketing local meats; processors and regulators will discuss what producers need to know about meat processing; and growers will learn about labeling requirements, alternative marketing such as meat CSAs, and more.

Field Day at the UMass Crops Research and Education Farm: Vegetable, Field and Energy Crops
Wednesday, August 11, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
UMass Crop and Animal Research and Education Center Farm, 89-91 River Road, South Deerfield MA
Cost: $15 fee includes dinner
Contacts: Ruth Hazzard, rhazzard@umext.umass.edu, 413-545-1843 or Masoud Hashemi, masoud@psis.umass.edu, 413-545-1843

The Field Day will include a tour of vegetable, field and energy crops:

Sheep Field School
Thursday, September 16, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536
Cost: $40 registration fee includes lunch and resource materials.
Contact: Sam Anderson, sanderson@comteam.org, 978-654-6745

In this sheep field school, you will learn the basics of raising sheep for wool or meat. The training will be divided into both classroom and practical skills components.

The morning classroom training will cover information on pasture management and rotational grazing, biosecurity practices, parasite management, genetics and breeding systems, winter feeding and nutrition, and marketing both meat and wool.

The afternoon practical skills training will cover "sheep tipping" for health examinations, hoof trimming, administering vaccinations, parasite evaluation including using FAMACHA, shearing considerations, herding/guard animals, fencing management and other practical skills.
 

Beef Cattle Field School
Saturday, October 23, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536
Cost: $40 registration fee includes lunch and resource materials.
Contact: Sam Anderson, sanderson@comteam.org, 978-654-6745

In this beef cattle school, you will learn the basics of raising, grazing, and breeding grass-fed beefers. The training will be divided into both classroom and practical skills components.

The morning classroom training will cover information on biosecurity practices for your herd, cattle health and disease management, breeds and breeding systems, reproduction and artificial insemination, winter feeding and nutrition, body scoring, pasture management and grazing, enterprise budgets and recordkeeping, and marketing and beef quality assurance.

The afternoon practical skills training will cover evaluating cattle for health and productivity, preventive treatments and administering vaccinations, assessing market weight, handling cattle (moving, catching, corral safety). Cattle management practices will be covered including castration, ear tagging and injection sites. A fencing demonstration, an overview of pasture rotation considerations and other practical grazing skills are also scheduled for the afternoon.

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