08/18/2026
Yesterday, the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District was proud to host the Area 4 – 2026 Tennessee Grazing Inventory & Tools Field Training at Lick Skillet Farm in New Market!
It was a full day of hands-on learning focused on helping conservation professionals better evaluate pasture conditions and develop effective grazing management plans.
Throughout the day, participants headed into the field to practice producer and site inventories, plant identification, step-point and Pasture Condition Score (PCS) evaluations, and forage measurements using grazing sticks. We also worked through the “cowboy math” behind grazing management- looking at stocking rates, available forage, seasonal changes in forage production, rest periods, and balancing livestock needs with what the pasture can provide.
The training went beyond evaluating the grass beneath our feet! Participants discussed paddock setup and rotation, fencing and grazing infrastructure, contingency planning, and the resources needed to build a successful rotational grazing system.
During the afternoon group exercises, teams put everything together by evaluating actual pasture conditions, estimating available forage, determining the forage-to-animal balance, identifying infrastructure needs, and beginning to develop preliminary grazing plans based on real-world scenarios.
We wrapped up the day by comparing results, answering questions, and discussing NRCS Practice 528- Prescribed Grazing, grazing management plan requirements, TN Graze Tool entry, CART, and the next steps involved in putting these tools into practice.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make today’s training possible and to all of the participants who joined us in the field. Days like today are a great reminder that good grazing management starts with understanding the land, the forage, and the needs of the livestock!!
We were grateful to have the opportunity to host this hands-on training right here in Jefferson County!
