Climate Smart Grasslands: Advancing Markets for Grass-based Livestock Producers

AFRI - Regional Partnership Proposal with UT (FY 2025 RFA) Grasslands Partnership Project University of KY Statement of Work Overview of Entire Project: We will develop a regional partnership to include Universities within AL, AR, KY, MO, NC, TN, and VA, a 7-state region. This region is the most important for cattle production east of the Great Plains and dominates forage-based livestock production in the Southeast. Currently, tall fescue, a cool-season perennial, provides the majority of the region’s forage. In fact, these agricultural grasslands are commonly referred to as the “Fescue Belt” because of the dominant role of this grass. The University of Kentucky will focus on On-farm Demonstrations: On each farm, we will offer a suite of practices designed to enable producers to shift from the prevailing Fescue Belt model, which is overly- reliance on cool-season (C3) grasses to systems that include more warm-season (C4) forages. We will prioritize establishment of several common, core practices on as many of the demonstration farms as possible. These will include native perennial grasses, improved grazing, and legume interseeding. University of Kentucky Extension Service Field Learning: We will use a network of on-farm demonstrations to conduct in-service trainings for county agents and other agricultural/natural resource professionals from both the public and private sectors. University of Kentucky Stakeholder Education: We will provide education for farmers on practices that enhance grasslands in Kentucky and enhance the production potential of the farm. We will hold field days one per every two farms enrolled - over a 3-year period. We will also develop printed materials, videos, and other resources that can be delivered to producers who have not otherwise participated directly in this project. Stakeholder Input: We will seek input from the farmers in Kentucky on the value of improved forage production. Soil Monitoring: We will conduct an assessment of soil properties at different depths (i.e., 0-6, 6-12, and 12-24) on a subset of the demonstration farms in Kentucky. In the final year of the project, we will determine how the various practices have improved the productivity of the soil. Project Assessment: We will conduct an assessment of the demonstration farms evaluating the impact of the implemented practices on the economic and production benefits. Expected Outcomes: Our project will provide a strong educational program, one that is evidence-based, to stakeholders across the beef sector, but especially those directly engaged in grasslands agriculture. We will provide hands-on, practical solutions for enhanced grassland productivity. Individual farms will be able to realize cost savings from practices such as improved grazing practices.