PASTURE MANAGEMENT

FISC 119

Use and management of turfgrass landscapes in urban and suburban environments, including home lawns, golf courses, and sports fields. Focus is on creating sustainable and attractive turfgrass landscapes through proper species selection, use of slow-release or organic fertilizer practices, and minimizing the use of pesticides and supplemental irrigation.

FISC 72

Students will learn production and management strategies emphasizing pasture-based dairy or livestock farm start-up. Students will begin a business plan in this introductory course as the first of the two-course series. There will be one full-day required field trip. This course is held in conjunction with, and serves as the core of, the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF).

FISC 63

In this comprehensive course, students will learn how to care for their herd to increase production and profits. Use of business, feeding, and herd management tools in dairy farm operation will be covered in depth. Case studies of individual farms used for analysis and planning. Specific topics covered will include: cattle movement and behavior, calf care, heifer care, nutrition, reproduction, fresh cows and diseases, parlor management, milk harvest, mammary anatomy, mastitis and milk quality control, cattle comfort and housing options, herd culling decisions, and interacting with the consumer.

PLANTSCI 302

Establishment, management, harvesting and utilization of forage crops for use as hay, pasture and silage. Emphasis on cool season perennial grasses and legumes.

FISC 73

Course covers grass-fed production and marketing, risk management (specifically of pasture-based farms), pasture soil nutrient management, grazing and natural resource management, and ecological restoration through livestock. Students will present their business plans to a panel of lenders. Students will be required to attend four evening Business Plan Writing Workshops. This is the final course in the two-course series of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy/Livestock Farmers (WSBDF) program.