February 16, 2010

Contacts:
• Betsy Hodge, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, 315-379-9192
• Martha Pickard, Adirondack North Country Association, 518-891-6200
• Dr. Bob Nusbaum, nusbaum@uwplatt.edu, cell: 608-778-3140
Note: The name of Nusbaum’s farm is spelled BoNus with a capital N.

Beef cattle on NNY farm; photo: Betsy Hodge, Cornell Cooperative Extension St. Lawrence County

Grazing Specialists to Speak to NNY Farmers March 5 and 6

Canton, NY – On Friday, March 5th and Saturday, March 6th, 2010, Dr. Bob Nusbaum will tell North Country beef farmers not to laugh when he suggests buying some sheep to graze with their cows. Nusbaum, a retired beef, sheep and meats specialist and Professor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin Platteville, is the keynote speaker for Advanced Grazing programs sponsored by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and Cornell Cooperative Extension at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County. ANCA Grazing Specialist & Nutritionist Martha Pickard will focus on marketing to maximize income for meat producers.

Nusbaum, a retired beef, sheep and meats specialist with the University of Wisconsin, is the keynote speaker for programs on:
• Friday, March 5th, 6:30pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson
County, Watertown, NY with a videolink to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Westport, NY
• Saturday, March 6th, 10am-3pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St.
Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, Canton, NY with a videolink to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County, Plattsburgh.

Nusbaum has operated BoNus Angus Farm in Wisconsin since 1984. Nusbaum and his wife Amanda manage 150 Katahdin ewes and 100 Registered Angus cattle using a rotational grazing system. He will share tips on how to profitably graze different species of animals on the same land and how to select stock for such a grazing operation.

Nusbaurm says sheep and cattle naturally blend their grazing preferences to create a low maintenance farming opportunity. He says, “Multi-species grazing can provide farmers with the advantages of easier management, reduced labor time and costs, and pasture improvement, and proper selection of animals influences the ease of internal growth through pasture lambing and calving.”

Nusbaum grew up on a Registered Angus farm, earned his animal husbandry degree at the University of Wisconsin, and served as an Animal Husbandry Officer with the Peace Corps in East Africa for 27 months. He completed his Master’s degree and Ph.D. at Iowa State University, and served as Meats Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech and beef, sheep and meats instructor at the University of Wisconsin. He has farmed full-time since retiring from Extension service in 2008.

Pickard, a livestock grazing and human nutrition specialist, will present ideas for connecting with chefs, restaurants and consumers to market one’s meat products, including animal fat, soup bones and organ meats.

Pickard says, “Farmers have multiple opportunities to expand markets by tapping the interest of gourmet cooks and health conscious consumers. Homemade soup stocks and the use of rendered fats and organ meats for cooking are gaining popularity in the local food movement for their superior flavor and nutritional benefits.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge says, “Extension’s educational emphasis for livestock farmers in 2010 responds to producers’ interest in learning how to be more profitable. Grazing multiple species together, choosing animals with body types and genetics that are well-suited to grazing, and learning how to market your products are three good ways to increase the productivity and profitability of your farm.”

Pre-registration for the workshop is requested. The $10 workshop fee includes lunch and materials. Call your local Cornell Cooperative Extension to register:

March 5: Watertown/Jefferson County: Ron Kuck, 315-788-8450;
Westport/Essex County: Anita Deming, 518-962-4810 x109
March 6: Canton/St. Lawrence County: Betsy Hodge, 315-379-9192;
Plattsburgh/Clinton County: Peter Hagar, 518-561-7450.
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