Hay bales at a farm. Producers will learn how to reduce their winter feeding costs by using best practices for using and managing stockpiled and cool-season forage for their cattle during the fall and winter months.
Producers will learn how to reduce their winter feeding costs by using best practices for using and managing stockpiled and cool-season forage for their cattle during the fall and winter months at an Aug. 23 workshop in Overton. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a stockpiled forage and winter pasture management workshop on Aug. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Overton. The event will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, 1710 N. Farm-to-Market Road 3053.

Early registration is $60 by 1 p.m. on Aug. 13. The price increases to $75 after that time with a registration deadline of 1 p.m. Aug. 21. To register visit https://tx.ag/WinterPastureOverton. Cost includes materials and lunch.

Importance of stockpiled winter forage, pasture management strategies

Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton, and Jason Banta, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist and associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, Overton, will lead the workshop.

Corriher-Olson said the workshop will show cattle producers how to reduce winter feeding costs by learning the best practices and forage and winter pasture management strategies.

Topics include:

  • Stockpiled forage management and utilization. 
  • Acres needed per cow for stockpiled forage and winter pasture.
  • Cool-season forages and variety selection.
  • Establishment and fertilization. 
  • Monthly and seasonal forage production potential. 
  • Appropriate mineral supplementation. 
  • Estimated costs. 

For additional information, contact Michelle Sensing at 903-847-0611.