UK to host Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour at Palmer Farms

July 15, 2020 | By: Katie Pratt

Lexington, Ky., - The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and the University of Kentucky are bringing their Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour to Palmer Farms in Calloway County’s Almo community. The event will be Aug. 6.

Owned by Michael and Stacie Palmer, Palmer Farms started producing grass-fed beef in 2011. Today, the operation produces and retails about 40 beef cattle each year. They also partner with other area farmers to offer grass-fed pork and chicken to their customers. Their forage operation includes cool- and warm-season annuals and perennials, including a rotation of annual ryegrass and crabgrass.

“We take great pride in providing healthy, delicious meat to people in our community, state and across the country,” Stacie Palmer said. “From genetics to marketing, we are constantly thinking outside the box to make our business unique and profitable.”

The farm truly is a family-run operation, with the Palmers’ children each having an active role. Their sons Will, 17, and Teshome, 16, assist with day-to-day cattle management. Their daughter, Jessie, 19, works to grow the family’s business through social media and product development.

Registration for the tour will begin at 3 p.m. CDT with the tour starting at 4 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and free for students. Attendees must wear masks and observe social distancing. To promote social distancing, the event will be a 1.5-mile walking tour. Limited transportation will be available for those who cannot walk the tour route.

During the tour, attendees will hear the history and overview of the farm. They will also learn about summer annuals for high-quality grazing, improved crabgrass for summer grazing, temporary electric fencing, fencing for perimeters, grass-finished animal genetics, and producing and marketing high quality grass-fed beef. The tour will finish with a meal featuring grass-fed beef and entertainment by a bluegrass band.

Registration is limited. Preregistration is available online at https://wkyforagefieldday2020.eventbrite.com/.

Palmer Farms is located at 2629 Hickory Grove Road, Almo, KY 42020. For more information on the tour, including directions to the farm, visit the UK forage extension website at http://forages.ca.uky.edu or contact Carrie Tarr-Janes, UK master grazer coordinator, at carrie.tarr-janes@uky.edu/.

In addition to the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, tour sponsors include the Kentucky and Forage Grassland Council, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Beef Network, Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Master Grazer Educational Program.

Contact: 

Carrie Tarr-Janes, carrie.tarr-janes@uky.edu; Chris Teutsch, chris.teutsch@uky.edu

Writer: Katie Pratt, katie.pratt@uky.edu

UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.

See the attached flyer for more Field Day information.