2012 Coulee Grazier Winter Discussion Group
February 7, 2012
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Trempealeau Room of the Trempealeau County Government Center
36245 Main St. Whitehall
Room is in the basement directly below the sheriff's department -Watch for signs.

Forage Genetics and Recap of Cal West Research Facility Tour: Dr. Don Miller
will give highlights of the tour and talk to the group about what is up and coming in
forage genetics that will benefit grass based farms.
For more information Contact: Mary C. Anderson at (715) 579-2206

Winter Discussion Group in Thorp Public Library
Tools of the Trade for Outwintering and Winter Management
February 9th, 2012
Farm Discussion 11:00 am - 1:45 pm at Library
Farm Visit from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Focusing on Summer and Winter livestock watering options including alternative summer and winter watering options with Bill Kolodziej of Marathon County Land Conservation combined with an Outwintering Pasture Walk at the Mike and Lia Mayenschein Grazing Farm. We will start at 11:00 SHARP- Please bring your lunch, experiences, questions, and ideas!
Discussion Group Focus: Topics will include Reliable, low cost water delivery to remote sites. Bill has designed and used pressurized water lines to carry water nearly 2 miles to water his 80 head herd of cattle. He has used portable water utilizing neighboring properties for fall and early winter grazing. He also gained experience in Idaho and Wisconsin with "Off the grid" technologies, such as "cow power", gravity, and solar watering devices.
Winter Pasture Walk Focus: on the Jug Waterers, Windscreens and Bedding Pack Facilities built by the Mayenscheins.
Directions to Library in Thorp: from the intersection of HWY 73 and County X, follow County X east
.2 miles to S. Clark Street. Turn right and follow S. Clark .1 miles and take a left on E. Prospect. Follow E. Prospect .1 miles and turn right on S. Conway and travel .1 miles to the Library at 401 Conway St.
Directions to Mayenschein Farm: From Thorp travel south 8.5 miles on County M to County MM. Turn right (west) on MM and travel 2 miles to Dickerson Avenue. Turn left (south) on Dickerson and follow 2.1 miles south to the farm on the left (west) at N10485 Dickerson Avenue.
For more information Contact: Kevin Mahalko (715)225-9879 or Haly Schultz (715) 225-9882 or go to www.rivercountryrcd.org

"Summer and Winter livestock watering options including
alternative summer and winter watering options"
Short Farm Tour combined with Discussion Group
February 9th, 2012

Farm Tour Belz Family Farm, Baldwin, WI (5 to 5:45 pm): Join us for this pre-walk from 5 pm to 5:45 pm. Belz Family Farm is in their 3rd year of Strategic Out-wintering, rolling out bales onto pasture. They manage -200 acres of land, 50 Red Angus Cow/Calf pairs ( replacement heifers & bulls, selling steers as feeders) with Pharo Cattle Co. Genetics since 05'. Using plans by David Kammel, UW Ext. they have remodeled their dairy barn into a cattle handling facility.
Directions to Belz Family Farm (From Hwy 94): Take exit #28 (WI 128 -Spring Valley), take Hwy 128 North -1.5 miles to US 12, turn left & follow - 7 miles to 230th Street, turn right onto 230th Street & follow -3.5 miles, Belz Family Farm (Red Barn) is on right hand side of the road, 1063, 230th Street, Baldwin, WI
Discussion Group Topic, The Orchard, Baldwin, WI (6:00 to 8:00 pm): Summer and Winter livestock watering options including alternative summer and watering options with Bill Kolodziej of Marathon County Land Conservation. Topics will include: Reliable, low cost water delivery to remote sites. Bill has designed and used pressurized water lines to carry water nearly 2 miles to water his 80 head herd of cattle. He has used portable water utilizing neighboring properties for fall and early winter grazing. He also gained experience in Idaho and Wisconsin with "Off the grid" technologies, such as "cow power", gravity, and solar watering devices. (Dinner off the Menu).
Directions to The Orchard: From Hwy 94, take exit #19 (Hwy 63). Follow Hwy. 63 Northbound. Go straight at the stoplight in front of Kwik Trip. Continue less the 1/4 mile past Hardees. The Orchard will be on the right, 571 Hwy 63, Baldwin, WI
For more information Contact: Brian J. Brezinski (715) 579-2342

Beginning Farmer Course
Feb 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2012
Central Rivers Farmshed
Stevens Point, WI

This two-weekend course is taught by a group of experienced local farmers who will talk about how they started farming, their current practices, and their future visions.  Farmer instructors represent a range of growing and marketing styles, including vegetable and meat CSA, rotational grazing, Permaculture, urban farming, and value-added processing. http://farmshed.org/index.php/beginning-farmer-course or joelle@farmshed.org or phone 715-544-6154

32nd Annual Farm Show
February 22 - 23, 2012
Shoppes at Woodridge
Marshfield, WI

150 Booths plus 80 large equiptment items
Marshfield FFA silent auction
Shady Lane 4-H food booth
for more information http://www.shoppesatwoodridge.com/
Stop in and see us at the Cutler Fence Booth

23rd Annual MOSES Organic Farming Conference
February 23 - 25, 2012
La Crosse Center
La Crosse, Wisconsin

65+ Workshops
10 Full Day, Pre-Conference Courses
160+ Exhibitors
2,900+ Participants
Save $15! Register by January 16, 2012
Learn more at www.mosesorganic.org

The MOSES Organic Farming Conference is the largest organic farming conference in the U.S. Organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), and held annually in La Crosse, WI, the OFC is an extraordinary, farmer-centered event. With over 70 informatice workshops, 150 exhibitors, locally-sourced organic food, live entertainment and inspirational keynote speakers, the OFC is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community.  From its humble beginning with 90 attendees in 1989, our most recent conference in February attracted almost 3,000 farmers, advocated, educators, students, and more. Register online at http://mosesorganic.org/conference.html or contact MOSES at 715-778-5775.

Coulee Grazier Winter Discussion Group
February 28th, 2012
Wisconsin Room of the Trempealeau County Government Center
36245 Main St. Whitehall
Room is on the main floor of the building just inside of the main doors -Look for the signs!

AA (A1) Protein Components in Milk -This webinar will explain and educate us on what the beta casein differences are, why it is important and what these proteins could mean for future milk sales.
For more information Contact: Mary C. Anderson (715) 579-2206


March 2012

March 3rd, 2012
11 am - 1 pm
Meier Farms -Eric & Sandy Meier 
N 8754 380th Street, Menomonie,WI
Strategic Out-Wintering/ Multi-Species Beef Cow-Calf/ 100% Grass Fed Operation

Topic: Strategic Out-Wintering. Join us as we discuss how the Meier's implement the Strategic Out-Wintering program in their 3rd, year, pre-placing bales in Mid November & utilizing 10 Black Angus Cow/Calf pairs & 100% Grass Finished Steers (All hay from this farm is purchased with sales received from direct marketing steers). This unique multi-species operation also utilizes 49 Laying Hens (Black & Red Stars/Wyandottes/one buff Orpington Rooster) & Cornish Cross Chickens for meat (2011 -25, 2012 planning for 50) throughout the year with sales from Eggs covering the cost of purchasing chickens. In addition they plan to open a Bed & Breakfast on the farm in 2013.
Directions: Directions (From Hwy 94): Take exit #41, turn North onto Hwy 25, turn left onto 700th Avenue, immediately turn right onto CR - F, follow a 1/4 mile turn & left onto CR - J & follow 5 miles until you come to 380th St., turn right onto 380th St., follow approximately 1 mile and end at N8754, 380th Street, Boyceville, WI on the right hand side.
For more information Contact: Brian J. Brezinski (715)579-2342

March 9th, 2012
West Central WI Spring Grazing Conference
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Metropolis Resort / Action City
5051 Fairview Drive, Eau Claire, WI

Keynote Speakers: Gerald Fry, Grazing Genetics (Linear Measuring) & Dr. Paul Detloff (D.V.M.), Organic Valley (Herd Health). Tradshow All Day & Farmer Panel to follow.
Directions: From Hwy 94; Take Exit # 68 onto Hwy 93, turn South onto Hwy 93, turn right onto Lorch Avenue, Hwy 93, turn right onto Lorch Avenue, take first right onto Fairview Drive,
end at 5051 Fairview Drive.
For more information Contact: Brian J. Brezinski (715)579-2342 or Kevin Mahalko (715)225-9879 or Haly Schultz (715)225-9882 or go to http://www.rivercountryrcd.org
Stop in at the tradeshow at the Cutler Fence Booth

March 20th, 2012
Transitioning to Organic Production
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thorp Public Library

Transitioning to Organic Production with Harriet Behar of MOSES (Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service) and other questions about Licensing or Certification of Grass-based Livestock Production. We will discuss what Graziers need to transition to organic production, We will also discuss other types of certification and what is needed to market products from your own farm.
Directions: In Thorp from the intersection of Hwy 73 and County X, follow County X east .2 miles to S. Clark Street. Turn right and follow S. Clark .1 miles and take a left on E. Prospect. Follow E. Prospect .1 miles and turn right on S. Conway and travel .1 miles to the Library at 401 Conway Street. Please bring your own Lunch.
For more information Contact: Kevin Mahalko (715)225-9879 or Haly Schultz (715) 225-9882 or go to http://www.rivercountryrcd.org/

March 22nd, 2012
The Red Cedar Conference at UW Stout
7:30 am - 5:30 pm

Featuring speakers River Country's Kevin Mahalko, Paul Daigle of Marathon County Dept. of Conservation, Planning and Zoning, and Joe Tomandl, grazier from Medford, at 2:30 - 3:35 talking about Managed Grazing and water quality enhancement efforts on grazing farms. The event focuses on many aspects of the Red Cedar Watershed water quality issues and has invited great speakers from farms and businesses who play a vital role in water quality management.
Contact: Karl Hakanson at River Country at (715) 579-4981 or karl@rivercountryrcd.org or uwstout.edu/profed/redcedar


March 24th, 2012
Outwintering Pasture Walk
Larry Rud Farm
W335 County Road Z
Mondovi, WI

Larry Rud is a advanced beef grazier. They will be discussing recovering the outwintering areas.
Larry has been pushing the envelope in terms of outwintering his cow herd, come and learn what he does to outwinter his cows to the benefit of his land and his herd.
This is a great opportunity to come and see the action.
Directions: From Independence take State Hwy 121 towards Gilmanto Turn right on Cty Rd H travel over the hill and turn right on Cty Rd Z (By the Good Shepherd Church and Larry's farm is on the right hand side of the road approx. 2 miles.)
For more information Contact: Larry Rud (715)946-3214
or Mary C. Anderson at (715)579-2206