Tennessee Master Forage Program: Modules

Understanding how soil supports plant growth, including soil types, nutrients, water retention, and pH levels. Healthy soil is essential for strong plant development and overall ecosystem health.



Soil: The Base of the Forage Systems (0.5 credits)
Forages: Classification, Types, and Growth Patterns (0.5 credits)
Native Warm-Season Grasses (0.5 credits)

Forage systems are agricultural setups designed to produce and manage forage crops that serve as feed for livestock. These systems typically include a combination of grasses, legumes, and other plants that are cultivated to provide a sustainable and nutritious diet for livestock throughout the year.


Forage Systems: An Overview (0.5 credits)
Grasslands’ Crucial Role in Sustaining Global Future (0.5 credits)

Fertility programs involve strategies to ensure plants receive the necessary nutrients for growth, such as through fertilization, soil amendments, and crop rotation. This helps maintain soil health and promotes optimal plant productivity.


The Importance of Ag Lime in Forage Systems (0.5 credits)
Soil Testing in Forage Systems (0.5 credits)
Is Liquid Calcium an Option? (0.5 credits)
Fertility Program: N, P, and K (0.5 credits)

Alternative methods to provide nitrogen to plants, such as using nitrogen-fixing plants or organic fertilizers, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers that can harm the environment.


Potential Use of PGPR for Perennial Forage Production (0.5 credits)

Forage quality refers to the nutritional value and palatability of forage crops, which are essential for ensuring the health and productivity of livestock. High-quality forage typically contains optimal levels of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a crucial component of livestock diets.


Forage Quality (1.0 credits)
Using Handheld NIR to Determine Forage Quality (0.5 credits)

The process of managing livestock grazing to ensure pasture health. Proper grazing techniques prevent overgrazing and help maintain healthy plants, ensuring sustainable land use.


Grazing Management (1.0 credits)
Grazing Management Strategies for Small Ruminants (0.5 credits)
Grazing Management for Native Warm-Season Grass Forages (0.5 credits)
Managing Fescue Toxicosis (0.5 credits)

Strategic planning involves setting goals for land use, crop rotation, financial, economic considerations, and livestock management to improve long-term productivity, reduce waste, and ensure sustainability.


Planning Forage Systems (1.0 credits)
Establishing Native Warm Season Grass Forages (0.5 credits)
The Annual Forage Calendar (0.5 credits)
Sprayer and No-Till Drill Calibration (0.5 credits)

Identifying and addressing weaknesses in land management or ecosystem services, such as nutrient deficiencies, soil erosion, or inefficient resource use. This helps optimize system performance and sustainability.


Filling the Gaps in Forage (1.0 credits)

Methods to manage or eliminate unwanted plants that compete with crops or forage for resources like water, light, and nutrients. This can involve herbicides, mechanical removal, or natural controls.


Weed Management (0.5 credits)

Combining different agricultural practices to increase productivity, improve sustainability, and promote ecological balance.


Coming Soon (1.0 credits)

A land management system that integrates trees, livestock, and pasture. It helps increase biodiversity, reduce erosion, and provide shade for animals, while improving soil health and carbon sequestration.


Establishing Planted Silvopasture (0.5 credits)
Establishing Thinned Silvopasture (0.5 credits)

The methods used to gather crops or forage and store them to prevent spoilage. Proper harvesting and storage techniques help maintain food quality and ensure the longevity of resources for future use.


Silage: Fundamentals and Applications (0.5 credits)
Quality Hay Production (0.5 credits)

Quality Haylage Production (0.5 credits)

Forage economics involves the financial aspects of producing and managing forage crops, focusing on cost-efficiency and profitability. It encompasses the analysis of input costs, market prices, and economic returns to ensure sustainable and economically viable forage production systems.


Forage Economics and Budgets (1.0 credits)
Buying vs Raising Hay (0.5 credits)
Carbon Markets (0.5 credits)

Focus on the nutritional needs and health of livestock. It is essential to select forage types that provide balanced nutrition, including adequate protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, to support growth, reproduction, and overall well-being. Additionally, proper management practices such as rotational grazing, timely harvesting, and storage techniques are crucial to maintaining forage quality and ensuring a consistent supply of nutritious feed throughout the year. These practices help optimize performance and contribute to sustainable livestock production systems.


Southeastern Toxic Plants 1 (0.5 credits)
Southeastern Toxic Plants 2 (0.5 credits)
Southeastern Toxic Plants 3 (0.5 credits)
Forage Selection for Small Ruminants (0.5 credits)
Supplementation for Forage-Livestock Systems (1.0 credits)