Even though it doesn’t feel like Spring, March is here! MLWPA is pleased to announce that Holly Neaton and family will be hosting the Spring Sheep Workshop on March 22 at their farm near Watertown. The program will include topics on health and management. Please refer to our Spring Workshop Page or the brochure for more details.
Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 2014 Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program Lambing Time Short Course and Bus Tour which will be held on January 31st and February 1st in Pipestone. We have an excellent program planned and we will be touring two outstanding sheep operation. The program starts with an optional Friday evening discussion. Saturday will begin with lambing time management and health topics. The afternoon will be spent touring and viewing two successful sheep operation.
Topics include: ”We Care” Sheep Management Practices, Production Record Keeping Systems, Internal Parasite Control & Strategic Worming, Golden Era of Sheep Production, Identifying and Treating Common Ewe Health concerns, Ways to Make Lambing Time Easier and Managing the Leading Killers of Baby Lambs.
The purpose of this short course and bus tour is to help producers recognize and effectively deal with common lambing time problems. We are fortunate to have highly qualified sheep veterinarians on the program to share their thought on common lamb and ewe health problems. Touring two top area sheep operation in the afternoon will provide an opportunity for individuals to see firsthand how other sheep producers recognize and deal with lambing time problems. You will see how they lay out their lambing barn, set up creep pens, graft lambs, dock, vaccinate, feed and management of their lambs and ewes. The farm demonstration session will provide an excellent learning opportunity.
Morning topics include: Ried Redden, NDSU: Direct Marketing; Margo Hanson : OPP; Tim Szymanski: Grazing and nutrition. After lunch, participants will hear Stephanie Anderson: from wool to yarn, and tour of wool processing plant.
The cost is $20 per person. For more information, contact Jim Stordahl at 218-280-1129.
Northern Woolen Mills is located in the Industrial Park in Fosston
Do you Direct Market your Lamb? The American Lamb Industry is attempting to take a closer look at the direct marketing of lamb across the United States. In an effort to better understand the current trends and assess the needs of this type of marketing, we ask those engaged in direct sales of lamb to complete the following survey. By combining the survey results, interviews and other research; we hope to formulate materials to assist you in your direct marketing pursuits.
Please click here to complete the survey before January 6, 2014.
Please help us spread the word by forwarding this information to fellow shepherds. If you would prefer; we would be happy to send you a hard copy of the survey. Please call 717-485-0532 to request a hard copy. Also, provide us with your contact information upon completion of the survey and be entered to win one of three prizes!
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and needs for the betterment of the Industry.
The MN Grazing Lands Conservation Association (GLCA) is hosting the third annual Grazing and Soil Health Videoconference on Thursday December 5, 2013.
Here is the link to register for the videoconference.
There are 9 locations throughout the state where you can participate in the videoconference. The opening addresses this year will be by Don Baloun, NRCS State Conservationist, and Dave Schad, DNR Deputy Commissioner.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Kristine Nichols, USDA-ARS in Mandan, ND. Dr. Nichols will discuss the importance of soil biota in farming systems and why grasslands and cover crops are so vital to the biota and for profitable farms.
Representatives from the DNR will discuss opportunities for grazing on public and private conservation lands. The always popular farmer panel will discuss many ways they utilize pastures and cover crops in their livestock and cropping systems.
If you have questions contact:
Wayne Monsen, Executive Director
MN Grazing Lands Conservation Association
651-439-6641
wmonsen@gmail.com
Frost on the windshield, the sounds of combining corn and soybeans, and geese flying overhead means that winter is just around the corner. I still need to cover my strawberries, haul out the manure and pull the rams out of the breeding pastures (hopefully all that will be done by this weekend).
The Shepherd’s Holiday is coming up the weekend of Nov. 15, and an updated agenda is posted on the website. Be sure to get registered and reserve your room by Nov. 1 for the best prices! You should be getting your newsletter soon, but all the conference information is now available on the website.
Join us for the Celebrate Lamb Social on Friday night, and stay for a great conference. Bring the kids to enjoy the waterpark at Thumper Pond. See you there.
Jeremy