Beginning Farmers Program

The Cooperative Extension Service is planning to offer a ‘Beginning Farmer Program’ soon.  Many details are yet to be determined, although we do expect there to be as many as 12 different sessions including both classroom lectures and field trip visits. The Department of Agriculture Economics at UK will be involved in the final program, tailored to fit the type of agriculture in the region, and the composition of the class.

The Beginning Farmer does not need to be young – we have new farmers of all ages.  For more information about the class and to express interest in becoming a part of this intensive training, please contact us at the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811.   

Frost and frussic acid
Prussic Acid can build up to toxic levels in a number of plants including Johnsongrass, sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids and wild cherry immediately after a frost such as the one we had Sunday morning. It doesn’t matter whether or not the frost is killing, the plants are likely to be toxic to grazing animals.  However, it does matter if the frost killed the plant for your future grazing plans.  If the frost killed the plant, it is safe to graze again when it dries down.  If the frost did not kill the plant, the plant can be grazed again after about a week (barring no more frosts).

Prussic acid causes death by interfering with the oxygen-transferring ability of the red blood cells, causing animals to suffocate. Symptoms include excessive salivation, rapid breathing, and muscle spasms, and may occur 10-15 minutes after the animal consumes prussic acid-containing forage. Animals may stagger, collapse, and eventually die.

Forage with high levels of prussic acid which is ensiled is usually safe to feed after the ensiling process is completed within 3 weeks after silo fill. Hay which has dried enough to be safely baled (18 to 20 percent moisture) will not contain toxic levels of prussic acid.

Eden Shale pasture walk
The final Eden Shale pasture walk this season is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Eden Shale Farm in Owen County. Topics to be discussed are weaning management and current crossbreeding outcomes of the Eden Shale herd, as well as results of some of the most recent research being conducted on the farm.  UK Animal Science Professors Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler and Dr. Don Ely will be the speakers.