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Demonstrating conversion of wildtype to novel endophyte fescue pastures for greater livestock performance and better environmental outcomes Project Background  Tall fescue is the predominant forage species used in animal production systems across the upper Southeast, but it is the host for a fungus that produces alkaloids that are toxic to livestock. Environmental concerns relative to […]

Our 2020 winter forage conferences are scheduled for the following dates: January 21 – Wytheville January 22 – Chatham January 23 – Brandy Station January 24 – Weyers Cave. The theme for this year’s educational conferences is: THINKING STRATEGICALLY: The Role of Hay in Today’s Grazing System.” 2020 VFGC Winter Forage Conferences Brochure. As you […]

On-line Registration is Closed!! The 2020 Winter Forage Conferences will be held January 21 thru 24, 2020 at various locations across Virginia. The 2020 theme will be Thinking Strategically: The Role of Hay in Today’s Grazing System The Keynote Speakers will be: Kevin Yon. Yon Family Farms of Ridge Spring, SC is a family-owned operation […]

Dr. Kathryn Payne has accepted the position to become the Applied Forage Systems Specialist at the Virginia Tech Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SPAREC).  Katie’s appointment was effective July 1, 2019. Dr. Payne completed a BS degree in Soil Science, with an emphasis in Watershed Management, from West Virginia University.  She earned a […]

As a farmer in Virginia and a VFGC member, I’m sure you met David Fiske. Over the last 18 years, David served as a dedicated Board member of the VFGC and Superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center. So many of us benefitted from David’s service and dedication to Virginia agriculture as […]

By: JB Daniel, USDA-NRCS State Grazing Specialist Jerry and Judy Ingle partnered with the Black Diamond RC&D, the local Extension agent along with the Soil and Water District and NRCS to host an educational meeting emphasizing the practice of stockpiling and strip-grazing fescue over the winter. The event was held on February 19, 2019 and […]

David Allen Fiske, (age 59) of Steeles Tavern Virginia died unexpectedly from a sudden illness on Friday, November 16, 2018. He was born on September 14, 1959 in Charlottesville Virginia. David spent his younger years on the family farm and surrounding community near Aldie, Virginia. David was a loving son, brother, uncle, dedicated agriculturalist, community […]

Stockpiling fescue in late summer and fall offers a great opportunity to extend the grazing season well past our growing season and decrease your hay feeding days. As you know, winter feed costs are the largest expense item in the annual operating budget for a commercial cow-calf operation.  Many farmers over the years have learned […]

The grazing demonstration hosted at Ronnie Nuckols Farm as part of the Conservation Innovation Grant between VFGC and USDA-NRCS is now complete. The detailed case study summary report titled: Using Annual Forages and Improved Grazing Management to Build Soil Health and Improve System Performance, is available for download as a PDF document below. This report […]

Bellevue Farm Charles and Robert Drumheller Bellevue Farm was honored by the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council (VFGC) as the 2018 Outstanding Forage Producer of the Year. The farm is located in Swoope, within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It is owned and operated by Charles and Robert Drumheller, whose family has owned the farm […]