Project Overview
Tufts University´s Nutrition and Veterinary Schools hosted a series of four weekend-intensive livestock "field schools" on sustainable poultry, swine, sheep, beef cattle production, pasture management and direct marketing/processing for beginning and experienced, both organic and conventional, livestock farmers in the Northeast. The project partnered with the Mass Grass consortium (with UMass, NRCS, and NOFA) to cooperatively market pasture-based workshops. Livestock field school topics included: diversifying livestock production using rotational grazing and appropriate pasture management; appropriate breed selection; infrastructure, systems design, and alternative energy innovations; preventive veterinary care; analysis of the economic risks associated with new production technologies; tools for managing legal liability; and opportunities for new direct market access.
A total of 306 participants attended the livestock schools, many attended multiple workshops and participated in both the 2009 and 2010 series. Evaluations were overwhelmingly positive, citing speaker expertise, hands-on learning opportunities, and topic relevance. At least 70 of these participants applied what they learned at the workshops towards developing more diversified systems to improve livestock operations, improve production, and develop pasture management skills; keeping accurate production records; and gaining access to new markets.
Number of Participants: 306
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
There are no educational materials available for this project.
REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.