Registration open for 2026 grazing schools

GALENA, Mo. – Registration is open for 2026 grazing schools offered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Missouri Extension.

These three-day schools help livestock producers learn the art and science of grazing cattle through a combination of classroom instruction and on-farm visits, said University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.

Missouri’s $93 billion agriculture industry relies heavily on well-managed forage operations, Schnakenberg said.

This year, 21 grazing schools will be held across the state taught by NRCS personnel and MU Extension specialists.

Classes cover grazing economics, soils, plant growth and quality, animal nutrition, and designing management-intensive grazing systems.

 Since 1990, more than 22,000 graziers have completed the program with support from Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, with participants seeing a net return of $40 to $60 per acre, Schnakenberg said.

In 2025, the schools drew 411 participants, including 101 from southwestern and south-central Missouri counties, which produce most of the state’s cattle.

The three-day schools will be held at various locations from April to October. Details and registration.