By Kate Halstead, WSU Extension
EPHRATA, Wash. – Sustainable farm-to-table livestock production lets small farms raise meat for family, friends and income while using land effectively and minimizing environmental impact. Washington State University will offer day-long courses in sustainable beef, pork, poultry, lamb and goat production July 10 and 11 at Castle Rock and Bremerton, Wash.
Beef 100, Lamb/Goat 100 and Poultry 100 will be Thursday, July 10, at Castle Rock High School. Pork 100 and Poultry 100 will be Friday, July 11, at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton.
Registration includes lunch, materials and a flash drive of resources to take home. Registration is $65 per person per course, or $50 per person per course for two or more from the same farm, if received by July 3. After that, late registration is $75 per person per course.
Register online at http://Livestock100.BrownPaperTickets.com or download the form at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/Livestock100/ and mail with a check.
A new all-day Youth Livestock Quality Assurance course will be offered July 11, also at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. It will cover all aspects of livestock production with an emphasis on meeting quality assurance standards. Visit http://snohomish.wsu.edu/YouthLivestockQA/ for registration and more information.
Hosted by WSU Extension and the WSU Department of Animal Sciences, the courses will help ensure producers have access to the best information and latest research.
Focused on a single species, each livestock course will help farmers and ranchers increase their knowledge on the safe production of high quality food animals in an environmentally sound and humane manner. Courses are for those expending into livestock production and for experienced producers looking to increase sustainability.
Topics will include nutrition, management on pasture, breed selection, genetics/reproduction basics, production and marketing, health, hands-on activities and more. Instructors will include WSU Extension meat and livestock specialists with extensive knowledge in all aspects of livestock production.
For additional information on the courses, contact Jan Busboom, WSU meat specialist in Pullman, 509-335-2880, busboom@wsu.edu; or Sarah M. Smith, area animal science educator in Ephrata, Wash., 509-754-2011, x413, smithsm@wsu.edu. For assistance with registration, contact Kate Halstead, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 360-794-6081, khalstead@wsu.edu.
Contacts:
Sarah M. Smith, WSU Extension area animal science educator in Ephrata, Wash., 509-754-2011, x413, smithsm@wsu.edu
Kate Halstead, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 360-794-6081, khalstead@wsu.edu