By: Bobby Smith

There are two outstanding trainings being offered in our area over the next few weeks. These two programs are a Master Equine Management Training Program in Shady Dale and a Hay Production School in Griffin.

The Master Equine Management Training Program is designed as an advanced training curriculum to inform horse owners about the many topics critical to starting and managing a horse-related business. The course is targeted toward horse owners, trainers, instructors, boarding stables, managers and breeding farms. Instruction topics will include:

•Horse Husbandry
•Feeding
•Nutrition
•Water Quality and Environmental Stewardship
•Horse Barn and Facilities Design
•Pasture and Forage Management
•Soil Quality Concerns
•Emergency First Aid for Horses
•Taxes, Legal, and Liability Issues
•Economics and Budgeting
•Arena Design and Construction

Classes will begin at 6 p.m. each Thursday evening beginning March 26 and run for a six-week period ending on April 30. Classes will be held at the Walton Masonic Lodge, 22581 N. Main Street, Shady Dale. Class size will be limited to the first 75 applicants. Tuition for the course is $140 per person and will cover expenses including all study materials, proceedings, meals, refreshments, door prizes, Master Equine Management Training Graduation Certificate and a cap embroidered with the Master Equine Training logo.

Registration deadline is Friday, March 20. To register, call the County Extension Office of Jasper County at (706) 468-6479.

Following on the resounding success of our first annual Hay Production School, we are planning an even bigger event for Tuesday, April 21 in Griffin. The event will be held on UGA-Griffin Campus in the Stuckey Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2009 Hay Production School will be a full day of learning and interacting with fellow farmers. In fact, this training is rather unique in the Southeast, as it is essentially the only opportunity for those who are serious about commercial hay production to get an A to Z coverage of the subject.

Presentation Topics include:
•Hay Production Economics and Outlook
•Recommendations in selecting and establishing a Hay Crop
•Fertilization Strategies for Hay Producers
•How to produce High Quality Hay I: Forage Species, Harvest Timing and Forage Quality
•Alfalfa Production in Georgia
•Weed Management Options for Hay Producers
•Insect Management Options for Hay Producers
•How to Produce High Quality Hay II: How to cure and handle Hay
•Baled Silage and Hay Preservatives
•Hay Storage Systems
•Hay Marketing Tips
•Meeting the Requirements of the Horse Hay Market
•Industry and Technology Updates

Register online at  http://www.areg.caes.uga.edu/.
Registration questions can be directed to Carla Wood at (706) 583-0347. For program/agenda questions, please contact Dennis Hancock at (706) 542-1529 or your local UGA Cooperative Extension Office.

Printed in the March 19, 2009 Edition.