The University of Tennessee at Martin hosted its inaugural Forage Info Day on Aug. 1.
Coordinated by Dr. Isaac Lepcha, lecturer of plant and soil science in the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources, the event intended to showcase forage production and management research for area livestock producers. It brought 28 people from around the area.
The field day began at the UT Martin campus.
“We started with field visits at the UT Martin student farm to see summer annuals forage research plants, followed by a visit to the animal research facility utilizing a variety of forage species as livestock food,” Lepcha said. “We concluded with a trip to the BERG Livestock Farm.”
The BERG Livestock Farm is owned and operated by UT Martin alumni and former instructors Dr. Emalee Buttrey and Brad Buttrey.
Welcome remarks were provided by Dr. Wes Totten, chair of the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources. Other experts participating in the event were Dr. Harley Naumann, associate professor and state Extension specialist in forage and grazing; Dr. Clint Ary, associate professor of animal science; and Dr. Craig Darroch, professor of animal science – all from UT Martin – as well as Dr. Renata Nave Oakes, Extension specialist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
“We would like to acknowledge the people from Tennessee Tractor who brough their products, such as hay-baling machines for display,” Lepcha said.
Forage Info Day was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The objective was to build a capacity for forage and animal science programs at the university,” Lepcha said. “It was also to support outreach programs for livestock communities in the area.
“It was great. I was very apprehensive at the beginning because this was the first time to host this, but it went really well. We had very good, constructive feedback from the participants.”
Lepcha said the plan is to host a Forage Info Day every other year, but if funding is available, it could become an annual event.
For more information about UT Martin’s Forage Info Day, call Lepcha at 731-332-9114.
PHOTO: Dr. Isaac Lepcha (right), lecturer of plant and soil science in the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources, speaks to participants in the inaugural Forage Info Day at the forage research site at the UT Martin student farm.
