South Dakota State University Extension, through an ongoing partnership with the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and other agencies, is once again coordinating the annual South Dakota Grassland Management School to be held tomorrow and Wednesday (July 27 and 28).
The 2021 Grassland Management School workshops will be held at the Eck Restoration Project north of Henry on the shores of Warner Lake. The workshops will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST each day, with the same curriculum offered both days.
According to SDSU Extension Natural Resources Field Specialist Pete Bauman, this year’s school deviates slightly from the traditional curriculum platform that normally features in-depth classroom education for landowners and producers coupled with a variety of field-site visits.
“Normally, the Grassland Management School follows the format developed by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition for our annual grazing schools, where we spend time in the classroom and the field,” Bauman says. “This year, however, due to COVID-19 concerns, drought and other issues, we’ve decided that it is more practical to modify the school to an outdoor-only platform for 2021. In this format, producers will be able to choose to attend one of the two days, so travel and overnight obligations are minimized.”
Farmers, ranchers, landowners, land managers, agency staff and others will join a team of instructors from a variety of agencies and local nonprofit organizations for a series of ‘stops’ at the project to discuss a wide variety of topics associated with restoration and renovation of grasslands for grazing production and wildlife habitat.
Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to: renovation of old hayfield/pastureland, use of cover crops prior to seeding grass, seeding techniques, seed drill operations, drought concerns, prescribed fire, grazing new seeding, rangeland soil health, drought, invasive species management and wildlife habitat.
“We’ll kick off the morning with about a half-hour of project history and then each stop will feature a facilitated discussion with a variety of resource professionals, including Kopriva Angus and other private landowners involved in grassland restoration, as well as staff from organizations like the Natural Resources Conversation Service; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; Pheasants Forever; The Nature Conservancy; National Audubon Society; Ducks Unlimited; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition and more,” Bauman says.
To request an informational flyer and/or register for either one of the two days, please contact Jan Rounds at the SDSU Extension Watertown Regional Center at Janice.Rounds@sdstate.edu or 605-882-5140. The workshops are free to current members of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and $35 for non-members. On-site registration for those not pre-registered will begin at 8:15 a.m. each day.
Bauman says the organizations strongly encourage individuals interested to visit the South Dakota Grassland Coalition website at SDGrass.org and click on the Join SDGC tab. Doing so creates a membership and allows for admission into most events hosted by the coalition. It also speeds up the on-site registration process.
To reach the Eck Restoration Project from Henry, head north on 437th Ave. (County Road 27) about nine miles to Warner Lake Road. From Wallace, South Dakota, head south on 437th Ave. (County Road 27) about six miles to Warner Lake Road, then west on Warner Lake Road, and finally north on Crazy Man’s Lane across the lake to the building site.
No food will be served; however, participants are expected to bring their own lunch, snacks and beverages. Drinking water and porta-potties will be available on site.
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