Locust Dale Cattle Company Summer Annual Forage Plot

VFGC and American Farmland Trust are planning an evening pasture walk at the Locust Dale Cattle Company’s summer annual forage plot on the border of Culpeper and Madison counties in the Northern Piedmont. John Paul Visosky of Locust Dale Cattle Company and Jacob Gilley of American Farmland Trust will describe the ins and outs of the plot design which highlights the several different summer annual species and mixes along with innovative modifications made to permanent infrastructure to improve grazing intensity and utilization. Through this plot, portable shade, water and electric fence were successfully used which increased the overall grazing efficiency and performance of the cattle and forage. An overview of variations in forage and cattle performance between the summer annuals and a bordering perennial cool season pasture will be discussed and an emphasis will be placed on highlighting the return on investment and cattle stocking differences between the two. American Farmland Trust plans to reveal it’s new “Corralling Conservation” initiative which provides local producers the opportunity to use a portable OK Corral and a LIVE cattle demonstration using the corral will be conducted at this workshop! You will not want to miss this information packed pasture walk being held on September 2^nd, 2020. Registration will start at 5:00 PM with the program promptly starting at 5:30 PM and ending at 7:30 PM. Dinner will NOT be provided due to the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic but lite, pre-packaged snacks and drinks will be available for pre-registered attendees. Register today at www.vaforages.org for FREE. You can also print and fill out the regisration sheet and  maill it in.  Summer Annual Plot 2020.Directions.Registration. Bring a lawn chair and wear proper attire for walking through the lush forages of this plot! Registration deadline is August 31^st so that we can make proper arrangements. For any questions about this event, you can contact Jacob Gilley at (540) 219- 5015 or email him at jgilley@farmland.org . We hope to see you there!

Based on the Covid-19 virus situation, you may not be ready to attend this event.  Each attendee will be required to answer a few basic questions and sign a liability waiver as they arrive on-site.  We ask that if you are sick, have even a slight fever, or minor cold symptoms or have been in contact with a person known to have had Covid-19 within the last 14 days, then please do not attend this event.  If you have an underlying health condition that makes you an “at risk” person for contracting the Covid -19 virus, then you should consider staying home.  For anyone who plans to attend, we ask that you be cautious, responsible and respectful and use social distancing practices and be prepared to walk to the different fields since we will NOT be loaded together on wagons. Wearing of mask is respectfully expected per the current guidelines. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we try to host this event while keeping your safety in mind.