Silvopasture is the sustainable production of livestock, trees and forage on the same unit of land.  When managed effectively over time, water quality and soil health are improved, while income can be generated from livestock production and forest products.  Grafton County Conservation District (GCCD) and University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNH CE) of Grafton County are offering this workshop to look at the components of silvopasture, risks and benefits, and managing a silvopasture system.  The Silvopasture Workshop will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 10:00AM – 3:00PM, starting at the UNH CE Conference Room, Grafton County Complex, Route 10, North Haverhill.  Joe Orefice, Cornell Natural Resource Specialist, will present an overview of silvopasture.  Joe has been utilizing silvopasture for over 20 years at his own farm in Saranac, NY.  Jim Frohn, UNH CE Grafton County Forester, Jeff Jourdain, Consulting Forester, and Bill Fosher, Grazing Specialist, will also be joining us.  After the presentation we will visit two properties in North Haverhill to evaluate the sites for silvopasture, and discuss designing and implementing a silvopasture system.  To register, please contact Pam at Grafton County Conservation District by phone (603) 353-4652, or email: pamela.gilbert@nh.nacdnet.net.  Bring a bag lunch, we will carpool to the site visits and eat during the site visits.  GCCD is a partner in the Long Island Sound Regional Conservation Partnership Program, promoting water quality in the CT River Watershed. 

Our first stop will be at StoneFen Farm, owned by Steve and Lora Goss, located at 698 Daniels Road, North Haverhill.  StoneFen Farm has been practicing regenerative and sustainable rotational grazing on 30 acres for 13 years, grazing both dairy and beef heifers.  After a selective timber harvest in 2015, the owners would like to develop a silvopasture program to strengthen their existing environmentally enhancing practices of the farm.

Our second stop will be Green Bough Farm located at 1863 Benton Road (NH Route 116) North Haverhill, owned by Justin and Carolyn Smith, and family.  The Smiths graze 75 head of Scottish highland cattle using a rotational grazing infrastructure.  They are interested in establishing silvopasture on select areas of the farm to increase grazing acreage, diversify habitat for wildlife, and provide shade to reduce stress for grazing cattle during hot periods.

                This workshop will be a discussion about silvopasture: what sites are suitable for silvopasture, forest management objectives, forage establishment, fencing and animal watering considerations.  Bring your questions and join us to learn more about it.

Grafton County Conservation District

19 Archertown Road, Suite 1

Orford, NH  03777

603 353-4652