Grasstravaganza 2024: PLANT GRAZE - Growing Resilient Grazing Systems
Event Details
Date
March 9, 2024
Time
8am-4:30pm
Location
SUNY Morrisville (Student Activity Building)
80 Eaton Street
Morrisville, NY 13408
Host
USDA-NCRS, SUNY Morrisville, CCE and NOFA-NY
1-315-684-6993

This one-day conference will focus on the tools and strategies necessary to make grazing on your farm resilient and profitable now and for generations to come.
Our agenda is packed to keep attendees engaged and entertained. Get the full schedule here.
7:30 - 9a.m. | Registration and Tradeshow |
9 - 9:15a.m. | Welcome Remarks |
9:15 - 10:15a.m. | Ranching made profitable, enjoyable, and sustainable part 1 Kit Pharo |
10:15 - 10:30a.m. | Break |
10:30 - 11:30a.m. | Ranching made profitable, enjoyable, and sustainable part 2 Kit Pharo |
11:30a.m. - 12:30p.m. | Lunch and Tradeshow |
12:30 - 1:30p.m. | Managing for soil health and climate resiliency in pasture systems Joseph Amsili and Katherine Carestio of Backbone Farm |
1:45 - 2:30p.m. | Breakout Sessions 1 |
2:30 - 2:45p.m. | Break |
2:45 - 3:30p.m. | Breakout Sessions 2 |
3:30 - 4:30p.m. | Looking forward - weather resiliency- USDA Climate Hub Dr. Allison Morrill Chatrchyan |
Upcoming Events
Avian Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - the latest updates and what it means for poultry health
March 18, 2025
In light of the state of HPAI across the country and in NYS, the Poultry Subgroup of the Livestock PWT has developed two webinars to assist small farms and backyard laying flock owners to make informed decisions around getting laying hens and managing disease, while keeping abreast of the current status of HPAI and how they can keep it out of their flocks.
Join Dr. Jarra Jagne of Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Chad Wall of NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for an evening of learning about avian disease, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). We'll cover:
- Updates on the HPAI outbreak
- Symptoms of HPAI
- Common small flock diseases
- HPAI disease look-alikes
- Keeping your birds safe
Shop Talk: Integrated Weed Management

March 19, 2025
Andover, NY
Mike Hunter, Field Crop IPM Coordinator, will share his knowledge on managing weeds. The discussion will cover various management practices in both conventional and organic settings, including herbicide-resistant weeds.
NY Beef Producers Association (NYBPA) Region 2 Meeting
March 21, 2025
Lakewood, NY
Join is for a roundtable discussion with Jeff Hostetter of Select Sires, Phil Trowbridge of Trowbridge Farms, Dr. Shannon Carpenter DVM NYSCHAP Coordinator for NYSAGM, division of Animal Industry, Dr. Katie Card-Allen, DVM Regional Field Veterinarian on Best Practices for Cow-Calf producers. A proactive approach to animal health for mama and baby.
All are welcome. Membership in these beef producer groups is not required.
Following the buffet dinner, a short business meeting will kick off the evening. We will then move to the roundtable discussion.
Announcements
Transition Heifer Calf Program
Join us for this hand-on program and demos! We will be offering this program in English and in Spanish.Calf and heifer managers, dairy herdspersons, farm owners, and heifer raisers interested in learning more about how to better house and manage animals as they transition from the calf phase to the weaned heifer phase.
Topics covered:
Nutrition
Health
Housing Management
Inventory Management
Biosecurity: All attendees must wear clean clothes and boots. You will be required to scrub and disinfect footwear upon arrival to the program and before leaving.
Registration: $25 per person (includes lunch)