The Capital Resource, Conservation and Development Area Council will host a Pasture Walk on December 11 on the Titus and Linda Martin Farm in Spring Run, Franklin County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

Graziers often use the term stockpile when referring to grass and forage that is left standing specifically to provide nutrition in the non-growing season.

This technique allows graziers to continue putting their livestock on pasture instead of only feeding stored forage in a heavy use area.

Stockpile management, using electric net fencing, and winter sheep management will be the focus of a pasture walk.

After retiring from dairy, Titus and Linda Martin started working with small ruminants, starting with goats in 2011 and then sheep since that time. They graze 33 ewes and their lambs on approximately 30 acres of pasture.

During winter, the Martin’s rely on 10 acres of stockpile forage that provides nutrition through February.

The pasture walk will showcase how the Martin’s plan for, manage, and use stockpiled grass to achieve this goal each year.

It will also focus on general winter management issues such as the effects of snow and ice on fencing.

In addition, Swift Aeroseed will discuss aerial seeding and provide a demonstration using drone technology to overseed clover in the Martin’s pasture.

There is no charge for the pasture walk but registration is requested by December 10, 2024 and can be made online, via email to events@capitalrcd.org, or by calling 717-241-4361.

This event is sponsored by Capital RC&D through partnership with the Mountains-to-Bay Grazing Alliance and with funding through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant.

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Assistance Agreement No. CB96358101) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.

For more information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email at cburns@capitalrcd.org.

Capital Resource, Conservation and Development Area Council is a locally led non-profit organization operating in South Central Pennsylvania with a mission to network people, resources and projects to promote responsible use and conservation of our region’s natural, community and economic resources.

Capital RC&D serves Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

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[Posted: November 25, 2024]

12/2/2024