Registration Open for 2024 Lost Rivers Grazing Academy: Regenerative Management of Irrigated Pastures September 10th-13th,2024

 

2024 Lost River Grazing Academy September 10-13, 2023
in Owyhee County Idaho 

Regenerative Management of Irrigated Pastures

The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy is a 4-day hands-on workshop for livestock operators and their advisers and consults that want to harvest and sell more of the sun’s energy through grazing, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and reduce costs, primarily on irrigated pastures.  The program includes morning classroom discussions of theory and practice with hands-on field activities in grazing management and pasture evaluation.

The Academy was first held in 1994 in the Lost River Valley and has been held at least once annually since then, except when disrupted by pandemic.  The program has won state and national awards for Extension programs and has been recognized internationally.  It has been attended by agency personnel and livestock operators from all over the western US, as well as from eastern US, Canada, Mexico, and South America.

The program will be provided by current, retired and emeritus members of the University of Idaho Extension, as well as our featured speaker, Jim Gerrish.  Jim, formerly with the Forage Systems Research Center of the University of Missouri, is known the world over for his expertise in the management of temperate climate and irrigated pastures.  He has extensive experience as a pasture researcher, grazier, and international grazing consultant.  He has authored the books Management-Intensive Grazing and Kick the Hay Habit. You won’t find anyone with more practical experience in forage management and livestock grazing than Jim.

The 2024 program will also feature presentations by Brad and Ben McIntyre. The McIntyre family started farming in 1910. The farm started with row crops and raising animals, including a small dairy and supplying local watermelons. They currently operate, McIntyre Pasture, a diversified crop and livestock operation raising grass-finished beef, pastured pigs, pastured poultry for both egg and meat production, a variety of crops, and have an on-farm retail store. They realized that life below ground was just as essential as life above. All the members of the McIntyre family, father and sons, are alumni of the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy.

Loren (father) and Ben and Brad (brothers) are the 3rd and 4th generations to operate the farm. Loren loves a good, new idea! Brad has a great passion for soil health and loves helping people build it. Ben enjoys working with the beef and hogs and loves to organize and operate harvesting. The McIntyres grind all their feed on farm for their omnivore animals (birds and pigs) and grow many of the inputs that go into the rations. 

The 2024 program will be held in Homedale and Marsing Idaho, located about 35 miles southwest of Boise. There are several vacation rentals (Airbnb or VRBO) as well as RV campgrounds in the area. Motels are available in Caldwell or Nampa. Continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper will be provided by the Academy.

The LRGA classroom activities will be held at the Owyhee County Community Building in Homedale (432 W. Nevada Ave). Field exercises will be held at McIntyre Pastures, just across the Snake River from Marsing. McIntyre Pastures is the direct marketing branch of McIntyre Farms, Inc. a family owned, diversified crop and livestock operation. 

All days begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Community Building with a continental breakfast, and the noon meal may be a working lunch.  The workshop is limited to 20 participants who will attend classes, manage a small herd of cattle and solve a variety of grazing problems in teams of 4-5.  Continental breakfast and snacks are available daily, as well as a catered lunch and supper, with entertaining after-supper activities to reinforce principles taught during the day.

REGISTRATION:

Full-time:
(Includes continental breakfasts, lunches, suppers, breaks, one set of materials per ranch or farm, plus evening presentations):

-Per Person $850

-Per Ranch or Farm team $850, plus $725 for each additional team member. (1 set of materials.)

Alumni: $725 (no materials)

Additional Materials: $150 per set

University of Idaho graduate level or professional development credit is available for an additional fee.  Please check with Scott. 

For More Information:

Scott Jensen at 208-896-4104 or-scottj@uidaho.edu in Marsing

Chad Cheyney at 208-940-0222 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu in Arco

Follow us on Facebook:

Brochure 

Lost Rivers Grazing Academy Grazing Academy Alumni Using MiG in the Teton Valley of Idaho at 6000 Feet

 By Chad Cheyney, Extension Professor Emeritus

PK Ranch Headquarters

Robert and Morgan Piquet, and their children, raise cattle in the Teton Valley of Idaho at over 6000 of elevation where winters are both cold and very snowy!  Winter can last from October until the end of April! Robert is a supervisor for the local Teton Conservation District and had long wanted to convert virtually all his operation from farming to cattle raising to help protect the soil and the other resources and values of the Teton Valley.  Robert and is wife Morgan, were discussing this with their local district conservationist, who had attended the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy as a professional improvement activity with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.  She recommended it for what Robert and Morgan wanted to do.

Morgan and Robet Piquet (Left) in 2016

The Piquets attended the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy in the Fall of 2016.  They went home to the beginning of winter and “ruminated” on how to adapt and implement the principles and practices they had learned about and practiced at the Academy.  The next spring, they purchased a little power fencing equipment and tried out some of the principles.

At that time, Robert leased a large part of the land that he grazed.  Robert’s leases were based on grazing days. Although it sounds strange, Robert was ecstatic when he told us that he paid more rent for pasture that year than he has ever done before!  Some of the ranches he leased provide up to 1/3 more grazing in the very first year!

PK Ranch w/ Tetons in Background

Robert continues to work with the NRCS and the UI Extension Educators to design and install additional infrastructure for managed grazing, included permanent and temporary power fencing, wells and pipelines for greater water distribution as well as winter water, planting legumes into his pastures and structures and vehicles to support their new poultry enterprise.

Morgan felt that there was a market for “pasture-raised” eggs in the Teton Valley.  There was! She rapidly gained enough customers to have a waiting list! They have subsequently expanded into pasture -raised chickens and turkeys.  Morgan has a waiting list of customers for all these products at profitable pricing.

Multi-specie Grazing on PK Ranches

Robert and Morgan have agreed for the 3^rd year to make a presentation as alumni, about their operation at the Lost River Grazing Academy, September 12-15^th near Salmon, Idaho.  Robert has lived I the Teton Valley all his life and told us that this was the longest winter that he can remember.  We expect their presentation to be fascinating and informative.  They will be at the academy for supper on the evening of their presentation and will be available to answer your questions.

For more information on he Lost River Grazing Academy, September12-15th on the Eagle Valley Ranch near Salmon, Idaho, call Scott Jensen at 208-896-4104 or-scottj@uidaho.edu in Marsing or Chad Cheyney at 208-940-0222 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu in Arco.  Follow the Academy on Facebook and download a brochure at brochure at: 23-lrga-brochure.pdf (uidaho.edu)

2023 Lost Rivers Grazing Academy September 12-15th, Salmon

 

The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy is a 4-day hands-on workshop for livestock operators and their advisers and consults that want to harvest and sell more of the sun’s energy through grazing, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and reduce costs, primarily on irrigated pastures.  

The Academy was first held in 1994 in the Lost River Valley and has been held at least once annually since then, except when disrupted by pandemic.  The program has won state and national awards for Extension programs and is has been recognized internationally.  It has been attended by agency personnel and livestock operators from all over the western US, as well as from eastern US, Canada, Mexico, and South America.

The program will be provided by current and emeritus members of the University of Idaho Extension, as well as our featured speaker, Jim Gerrish.  Jim, formerly with the Forage Systems Research Center of the University of Missouri, is known the world over for his expertise in the management of temperate climate and irrigated pastures.  He has extensive experience as a pasture researcher, grazier, and international grazing consultant.  He has authored the books Management-Intensive Grazing and Kick the Hay Habit. You won’t find anyone with more practical experience in forage management and livestock grazing than Jim.

In 2023, we will also feature Jerry Elzinga, grazing manager at Eagle Valley Ranch. Jerry has been the grazing manager at Eagle Valley for many years.  He will share how he keeps high quality nutritious pasture in front the EVR cattle in a complex environment which varies in elevation by thousands of feet from the Lemhi River to the near the Continental Divide. 

We will also have Robert and Morgan Piquet of Driggs.  Robert and Morgan are alumni of the Academy and will discuss their experience with MiG in the Teton Valley, where Robert has extended his grazing season into December in spite of the high elevation and deep snow of the Teton Valley.  Morgan has taken advantage and now produces pasture eggs, chickens and turkeys.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants who will attend classes, manage a small herd of cattle, and solve a variety of field problems in teams of 4-5.  Continental breakfast and snacks are available daily, as well as a catered lunch and supper, with entertaining after-supper activities to reinforce principles taught during the day.

REGISTRATION:

Full-time:
(Includes continental breakfasts, lunches, suppers, breaks, one set of materials per ranch or farm, plus evening presentations):

-Per Person $825

-Per Ranch or Farm team $800, plus $700 for each additional team member. (1 set of materials.)

Alumni: $700 (no materials)

Additional Materials: $150 per set

University of Idaho graduate level or professional development credit is available for an additional fee.  Please check with Scott.

 

For More Information:

Scott Jensen at 208-896-4104 or-scottj@uidaho.edu in Marsing

Chad Cheyney at 208-940-0222 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu in Arco

Facebook:  (7) Facebook

Brochure at: 23-lrga-brochure.pdf (uidaho.edu)

Lost Rivers Grazing Academy Offered in Salmon Idaho September 13-16th, 2022

September 13-16th, 2022 Eagle Valley Ranch, Salmon, Idaho

The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy is a 4-day hands-on workshop for livestock operators and their advisers and consults that want to harvest and sell more of the sun’s energy through grazing, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and reduce costs, primarily on irrigated pastures.

The Academy was first held in 1994 in the Lost River Valley and has been held at least once annually since then, except when disrupted by the pandemic.  The program has won state and national awards for Extension programs and is has been recognized internationally.  It has been attended by agency personnel and livestock operators from all over the western US, as well as from eastern US, Canada, Mexico and South America.

Lost River Grazing Academy to be Held September 13th-16th, 2022

 September 13-16th, Eagle Valley Ranch, Salmon, Idaho

 The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy is a 4-day hands-on workshop for livestock operators and their advisers and consults that want to harvest and sell more of the sun’s energy through grazing, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and reduce costs, primarily on irrigated pastures.

The Academy was first held in 1994 in the Lost River Valley and has been held at least once annually since then, except when disrupted by the pandemic.  The program has won state and national awards for Extension programs and is has been recognized internationally.  It has been attended by agency personnel and livestock operators from all over the western US, as well as from eastern US, Canada, Mexico and South America.

Stockmanship School October 11-14, 2018

In cooperation with the Cottonwood Ranch in the O'Neil Basin of Nevada, Steve Cote, stockmanship expert, will be offering a 4-day workshop October 11-14, 2018.

Steve Cote specializes in teaching livestock handling for range and grazing lands management.  He worked for 26 years helping farms and ranches with range and soil conservation with USDA. The last 17 years with USDA, Steve taught livestock handling learned from Bud Williams. He has gone around the country helping producers on rangelands, pastures, feedlots and dairies to solve their handling difficulties. Steve wrote the book, Stockmanship, which is the only book in the world on the subject of low stress livestock handling for grazing lands management. 

You can learn more about Steve and his work at his website Cow Sense.

Topics to Be Covered

·         Stockmanship principles, techniques and cattle traits

·         Moving herds and pairs

·         Weaning pairs in a field

·         Placing cattle on range without fences

·         Sorting cattle

·         Working stock in facilities, Bud Box design and use

·         Solving handling challenges-riparian loafers, bunch quitters, aggressive stock, stock that run through gates, poor mothers 

·         Range management principles &planning grazing for improving riparian function & recovery 

·         Handling the herd on the range to reduce predation by wolves or bears

  

Why You Should Come

·         Implementing low stress livestock handling principles and techniques of will reduce stress in your herd, lower health costs, increase weight gains, reduce or eliminate weight loss in calves at weaning, and increase carrying capacity though better utilization of hard to get areas. Your $500 training investment will yield economic and financial returns for your business.

·         Understanding and implementing low stress techniques on placing livestock without fences will allow you to successfully meet utilization goals set for riparian areas on public lands and graze previously unused areas on both public and private ground.

·         Increase the competence and effectiveness of ranch labor as fewer people will be needed to move livestock.

·         Reduce or eliminate family and labor people stress when livestock need to be moved. People will find themselves looking forward to working stock in a low stress manner.

Teaching Style – See, Hear, Do

·         Interactive practical presentations and diagramming will allow you to see and hear about low stress handling basics, advanced techniques, and dealing with problems.

·         Hands-on experience working in teams with cattle to implement low stress handling techniques. Team efforts are supported by experienced coaches.

·         Presentations on range management, riparian function and recovery, and rancher experiences in implementing low stress livestock handling on their place. Other confirmed speakers include: Steve Leonard, Cowdance Range and Riparian Consulting and Dr. Sherm Swanson, University of Nevada.

Tuition & Lodging

 

Tuition Cost: $500 per person: Mail the tuition payment, along with the registration form listing your preferences on lodging or camping type and the number of days you want both your choice of lodging and meals to:

Cattle Sense, PO Box 642, Arco, Idaho 83213.

Contact Steve or Susan Cote at 731-336-1167 or email stevecote119@gmail.com with questions.

Please make sure we have your name and contact information on the registration form in case of any changes or questions.

Cottonwood Ranches lodging and meal charges:

Lodging ($60/bed/day (2 to a room); RV Camping $45/day; Tent Camping $15/day)

Meals ($45/day).

Make checks out to “Cottonwood Guest Ranch” before leaving the school for lodging, meal, camping etc .

Contact Cottonwood Ranch by email vckasmith@gmail.com , telephone 775-472-0222 if  you have questions about the facilities at the ranch.

Registration Form

Name ________________________________________________________________________

Ranch _________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________

City __________ State _________ Zip ______________

Telephone ____________________  Email __________________________________________

	Number attending	Cost	Number of Days	Total
Course fee		$500	N/A
Lodging		$60/bed/day
RV Camping		$45/day
Tent Camping		$15/day
Meals		$45/day

Pesticide Recertification Class December 9th

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