The Alliance for Grassland Renewal will be hosting 6 educational seminars and workshops in the spring of 2026. With a mixture of in-person and online options for producers, extension agents and more, there are several events for anyone to chose from.
For Everyone
The main event for anyone including producers from across the US is the two-night online Producer Workshop: Improving the Production Efficiency of Tall Fescue-Based Forage Systems. This free event will be held from 7-9 pm ET on Feb 12 and Feb 26. Highlights are below.
Many farmers rely on tall fescue as the forage base of their livestock operations. While novel endophyte tall fescue varieties have the same agronomic and persistence benefits as traditional, toxic tall fescue, these newer cultivars keep livestock healthy and productive. In this two part event series, researchers and extension specialists from across the country will share their latest management recommendations for farmers managing both types of tall fescue on their farms.
Topics include:
- History of Tall Fescue and Toxicosis
- Selecting Forage Species for a Changing Environment
- Optimizing Livestock Selection in Tall Fescue-Based Systems
- Economics of Renovation Update for Today’s Cattle Market
- Effects of Ergot Alkaloids on Livestock Physiology
- Winter Management of Tall Fescue-Based Systems
- Forage Management for Improved Reproductive Outcomes and Weaning
- Backgrounding Management in Tall Fescue-Based Systems
For Extension Agents, NRCS and SWCD
The Alliance will also be hosting two events for those involved in outreach. The Tall Fescue Agent Training and The Tall Fescue Forage System Management Workshop are open to Extension agents, NRCS, SWCD and others that work in outreach and conservation and will give attendees the resources they need to assist producers in managing or removing toxic tall fescue. The Tall Fescue Agent Training will be held on January 21, 9am-12pm ET and designed for new agents or those wanting to learn more about managing tall fescue. The Tall Fescue Forage System Management Workshop will be held February 10, 9am-12pm ET and is for those agents that have already completed the Tall Fescue Agent Train and will cover more advanced concepts and economics of conversion to novel endophyte tall fescue varieties. Both events are free and online.
For Producers Converting Cropland to Pasture
Producers in Missouri and Kentucky (or those willing to travel) are invited to a special in-person workshop designed specifically for those converting acres from conventional row crops to perennial pastures or hay. These workshops will focus on topics such as Regenerative Agriculture, Perennial Grass Establishment, Infrastructure needed for Grazing: Fencing and Water, The Dollars and Sense of Grassland Conversions and Financial Assistance for Cropland Conversions. Each workshop will also feature hands-on demonstrations such as grain drill calibration, fencing demos, or virtual fencing systems.
The Missouri workshop will be held March 3rd in Linneus, MO and the Kentucky workshop will be held March 5th in Elkton, KY. Both events are $40 to attend and advanced registration is required. Lunch and educational materials will be provided.
For Kentucky Horsemen
For horse breeders and managers, the 4th Equines and Endophytes Workshop will be held on February 3rd in Lexington, Kentucky. This year’s highlights include Tall Fescue Toxicity Basics, Establishing Novel Endophyte Tall Fescues, Reducing Fescue Toxicity Through High-Quality Hay, Resources for Horse Owners Through Conservation Districts, The What and Where of Testing, and New Data for Better Management. Registration is $40 and includes lunch and educational materials. Discounted student tickets are available.
For questions about any of our events, please feel free to reach out to us at grasslandrenewal@gmail.com.
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is a national organization focused on enhancing the appropriate adoption of novel endophyte tall fescue technology through education, incentives, self-regulation and promotion. For more resources or to learn more about the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, go to www.grasslandrenewal.org
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal 