Program Description
Grazing lands are a very important resource in the eastern part of the U.S. and also in Kentucky. The growing beef cattle industry of Kentucky is prominent in the United States (as of January 1, 2000, Kentucky had 1.07 million head of beef cattle on 41,000 farms) and pastures are a most under- utilized renewable resource. Thousands of farms depend on grasslands for their livelihood. On the other hand, most of Kentucky's pasture lands are infected with the fungal endophyte (which causes an estimated $30 million in losses in beef cattle alone), are rolling-to-steep, and are permeated with streams and dry runs. It is also known that uncontrolled livestock access to streams can be greatly damaging to the ecological integrity and sustainability of riparian ecosystems. This is important because Kentucky contains more than 89,000 miles of streams and rivers.

Achieving a sustainable dairy or beef farm operation should be approached by looking at the farm as a system. A grazing system is the combination of pastures, livestock, water sources, fences, and management used to control forage production and harvest. A well managed grazing system should be able to help Kentucky farmers increase net profit by increasing yield of animal products per acre. Extension programs are being developed and presented to provide technical information to assist farmers who are planning to upgrade or expand their operation. Program topics include water systems, geotextile and gravel pads for heavy traffic areas, fencing, GPS tracking and water quality protection.

Outcomes
Healthy grazing lands provide an important economic base for producers and the communities where they live. Land resources can benefit as a result if producers and other interested groups take a more comprehensive approach to grazing. The Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department is an important source of technical and design information for both dairy and beef producers. Many programs are in cooperation with the Departments of Animal Sciences and Agronomy. Workshops, seminars, publications, and farm visits are providing producers, extension agents, NRCS engineers, consultants and other interested clientele with the latest planning, design, and management information.