CANTON -- Cornell Cooperative Extension presents the 2021 Hay and Pasture School series on March 11 and 18.

The North Country is an ideal place to grow grass and other forages. Local livestock thrive on well managed pastures and consume our stored hay and haylage during the colder months.

These schools are designed to cover some basics and some more advanced topics relating to growing forages for livestock in the North Country. The classes will be offered over Zoom so you can attend from home and don’t even need a mask.

The Beginner Hay and Pasture School will be held on Thursday March 11 at 7:00 pm. Basic topics like forage quality goals, how to do a forage sample and interpret the results, the basics of haymaking and grazing, and reclaiming old fields will be presented.

The advanced Hay and Pasture School will be held on Thursday Marcy 18 at 7:00 pm. More advanced topics like dealing with the drought that is hanging over from last year, buying and selling hay, and where to get ideas on pasture, land rental and custom rates will be discussed.

Each session costs $5.00 per person. Register at the St. Lawrence County CCE website, http://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu under the events section. Call your Extension Office if you have questions. The St. Lawrence County office is 315-279-9192 or email Betsy Hodge at bmf9@cornell.edu.

This program was developed by the CCE Livestock Educators in the North Country and the CCE North Country Regional Ag Team. Speakers include Kitty O’Neil, regional Field Crops and Soils Specialist, Betsy Hodge, CCE St. Lawrence, Grace Ott, CCE Clinton, and Nicole Tommell, Farm Business Management Regional Specialist.