Join Jay Solomon, University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator, and John Strauser, University of Illinois PhD student for this program that will hopefully get you thinking about the benefits of perennial agriculture. This event will take place on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elizabeth Community Building, HWY 20 W. Elizabeth, IL 61028. Lunch will be provided for all participants. There is no fee to attend this program, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register or for more information visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw or call us at 815-858-2273.

Over recent years there has been an interest from farmers to look at focusing more on perennial forage agricultural systems, but it has also been noted that there are some systemic barriers that stand in the way of facilitating this agricultural transition. In this event we are hoping to work through what some of the barriers might be and ways that communities could work together to develop a diversified agricultural landscape that they desire.

Speakers for the event include Laura Paine, Outreach Specialist for Grassworks, Jim Munsch, full-time farmer, and Sarah Lloyd, University of Minnesota Supply Chain Specialist.

In her work with the Grassworks organization, Laura wears many different hats. One of those hats is trying to coordinate with farmers on ways to get livestock out onto the landscape. One way she has been trying to do this is with Green Land: Blue Waters also known as Match Made in Heaven: Livestock + Crops. This is what Laura will discuss at this event. Laura and her family also own a farm in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Jim and his family own a farm in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Along with being a full-time farmer, Jim is involved in farmer-led watershed groups and the UW-Madison based Grasslands 2.0 Project. In his role with the Grasslands 2.0 Project, Jim worked with colleagues to develop Heifer Grazing Compass which is a tool that can currently be downloaded and used by farmers. Jim is working on a similar tool for Beef Grazing that will be available soon known as Beef Grazing Compass.

Along with her work at the University of Minnesota, Sarah and her family own a dairy farm in Colombia County, Wisconsin. In her recent work, Sarah has worked on developing supply chains to identify ways farmers can more effectively bring dairy products and meat to market which she will discuss at this event.