Farms.com Home   News

Small Ruminant Grazing During Drought is the Topic of April 29 Webinar

North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension are hosting a webinar at 7:30 p.m. CDT on April 29 for producers to learn more about sheep and goat grazing during drought conditions.

The webinar, “Thriving Through Drought: Regenerative Grazing Strategies for Sheep and Goats,” will cover grazing management strategies for sheep and goats as they interact with pasture and range this summer.

“A majority of Minnesota is classified as abnormally dry as of the April 1 drought monitor,” says Travis Hoffman, Extension sheep specialist for NDSU and UMN. “Planning the next grazing season with limited resources is going to be critical for grazing utilization of small ruminants.”

Jonathan Kilpatrick with the Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association will discuss pasture management strategies for drought conditions and other topics related to grazing and drought. He has many years of experience getting the most of pastures and will share his passion for grazing management strategies.

“Join us to learn about ways to improve grazing systems to maintain healthy pastures and maximize forage production,” says Brenda Miller, UMN Extension livestock educator. “We can better prepare, manage, and utilize our resources during drought through sheep and goat production.”

Sheep and goat producers are invited. Registration is required and available at ndsu.ag/grazing-drought. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants upon registration. Those unable attend the live session will receive the recording via email.

Source : ndsu.edu

Trending Video

FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

Video: FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

It's sheep shearing day at Ewetopia Farms! ?? Our Dorset lambs and ewes are getting fleeced — and for the first time, our shearer hands over his clippers to a beginner. We finish shearing the last of our adult ewes and this year’s Dorset ewe lambs.

From moving the sheep between barns, loading them into chutes, and watching the wool come off, this is always one of the most satisfying days on the farm. But this video has a twist — we welcomed a new helper, Gian, who’s not only lending a hand but also learning how to shear! With guidance from our experienced shearer, he got a crash course in sheep shearing and even tried his hand at shearing a couple of lambs himself.

You’ll see firsthand how both teacher and student handled this unique challenge. Shearing is more than just removing wool — it’s about sheep health, comfort, and giving us a closer look at the flock. It’s always amazing to see the transformation from woolly sheep to freshly shorn ewes and lambs.