By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

MARENGO, Ill. — “Mechanics of Grazing” is the title of an on-farm pasture workshop set for Aug. 22 at the Joe Clarke Farm on 306 Busse Road, six miles north of Marengo.

The workshop will focus on fencing and watering design and techniques for a managed grazing system. Topics to be discussed and illustrated include watering sources and options, amount of water and pipe size needed and winter watering.

Fence topics include what one should know about building with high-tensile wire, selecting an energizer and proper installation of grounding. The workshop will include handout material, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Speakers will be from the University of Illinois extension service.

The Clarke Farm has a beef cow herd and a ewe flock grazing 25 acres of pasture. The owner will explain his grazing, fencing and watering program.

Registration begins at the farm at 9 a.m. and the program is from 9:30 to noon (lunch not included).

A $20 registration fee is due by Aug. 15 to McHenry County Extension, 1102 McConnell Rd., Box 1430, Woodstock, IL 60098; call 815-338-4747 to learn more.

This fee covers handout materials and refreshments.

A minimum registration of 15 people is needed to conduct the program, and the maximum registration is 45.

“Mechanics of Grazing” is sponsored by UoI extension, Illinois Forage and Grassland Council and the USDA Risk Management Agency. Further information is available by contacting the McHenry County extension office at 815-338-3737.

This farm news was published in the July 18, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.