Topic: Converting Cool Season Grass Pastures to Native Warm Season Grasses
Join us at Klondike Bison & Bee as Peggy Ladd teaches us the ins and outs of transitioning a pasture from cool-season grasses to native warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses improve summertime forage, drought tolerance, and beneficial native habitat to create resilience, adaptability, and ecological advantages. You’ll also get a rare glimpse of the bison. No petting allowed. 😉
Peggy Ladd’s family farm began in 1959 with cattle, and after her parents’ death, she began working towards rebuilding it with the goal of raising bison. In 2019, her first bison arrived, and she began providing quality grass-fed and grass-finished bison meat to the greater St Louis market.
Bison and honey will be available for sale following the Field Day.
Field Day Highlights
- Benefits of warm season grasses for soil and animal health
- Process of pasture conversion
- Bison!
NRCS Programs: NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers integrate native warm-season grasses into their grazing systems. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program and other Farm Bill programs help producers cover part of the costs for implementing conservation practices like prescribed grazing, brush management, biomass and forage planting, and fencing.
All Known & Grown Field Days occur rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and the terrain. Many Field Days include walking through tall grasses or fields, on uneven or muddy surfaces, around equipment and in a range of weather conditions.
We recommend that you bring:
- Close-toed shoes (comfortable for walking)
- Sun protection (cap or hat, sunscreen)
- Water bottle
- Rain jacket or poncho (depending on the forecast)
- Personal snacks (While we will try to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, we cannot guarantee this at every event.)
- Your family (Children are welcome with adults! Please be mindful of the potential dangers on a working farm, including electric fence, difficult terrain, animals and equipment.)
Please DO NOT bring:
- Dogs or other pets (service dogs, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are permitted)
- Professional camera or recording equipment, photos for personal use are acceptable
- Promotional materials or solicitations, unless you are invited to do so
We ask for special attention to biosecurity at events with livestock. While this is good practice at all farms, clean shoes and clothes are particularly important due to the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other livestock pathogens.
Wear clean shoes or boots that have not been worn on other farms with livestock or livestock buildings, or around a dense population of wild birds. Upon request of the farmer host, you may be asked to disinfect shoes or boots upon arrival. Wear clean clothes that have not been worn around other livestock.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT WEAR SHOES THAT ARE ALSO WORN AROUND SHEEP. SHEEP CAN CARRY A VIRUS THAT IS HARMLESS TO SHEEP BUT DEADLY TO BISON.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT WEAR SHOES THAT ARE ALSO WORN AROUND SHEEP. SHEEP CAN CARRY A VIRUS THAT IS HARMLESS TO SHEEP BUT DEADLY TO BISON.
Parking:
Gravel parking is available around the barns
Restrooms:
1 very nice outhouse
Mobility & Accessibility Considerations:
- This will be a heavy walking tour, up to 1/4 mile.
- A UTV is available for those needing assistance.
- You will likely experience uneven surfaces for walking.
- Rain prior to the event may cause the ground to be muddy.
- Collapsible stools are available for mobile seating.
- Cooling neck fans are available for temperature regulation.
- For larger crowds, a mic and portable speaker will be used.
Children:
Children are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian. Note in your registration if you intend to bring any kids along. Please consider that we will be doing a lot of walking.
Microgrants:
Farmers who attend this Field Day are eligible to apply for a microgrant. Details will be provided during the event, and a link will be shared via email for all attendees.
Questions?
Please contact Serena: Serena@GatewayFarmers.org or 314.561.7010 Ext 2
The Field Day series is supported by:
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines
Field Day Registration
Online registration for this event is closed. Same-day registration is available, permitting space.