02/23/2026
Southern Indiana Grazing Conference Returns March 13
Farmers, landowners, and conservation professionals from across the region will gather on Friday, March 13, 2026, for the Southern Indiana Grazing Conference at the Shiloh Community Center in Odon, Indiana. The one-day event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (ET), with registration opening at 7:30 a.m.
The conference focuses on practical grazing management strategies designed to improve soil health, increase forage productivity, reduce fertilizer inputs, and strengthen long-term farm profitability. Both large and small family farms will find ideas they can apply immediately this spring.
This year’s keynote speaker is Peter Byck, filmmaker and creator of the documentary series Roots So Deep: Stories of Forage, Fertility, and Farmer Ingenuity. Byck’s work explores regenerative grazing systems and their measurable impacts on soil health, climate resilience, and farm sustainability. His storytelling approach connects real-world farm experience with emerging research in a way that resonates with producers.
Joining him is Peter Ballerstedt, widely known as “Don Pedro, the Sodfather of the Ruminati.” Dr. Ballerstedt is an internationally recognized forage agronomist and advocate for ruminant agriculture. His work bridges grassland ecosystems, ruminant nutrition, and human metabolic health, offering a big-picture perspective on the importance of grazing livestock in modern agriculture.
Also featured is Barry Fisher, who recently retired after 39 years with the USDA–Natural Resources Conservation Service, where he most recently served as Soil Health Division Central Region Leader. Fisher is widely respected for advancing practical soil health principles and regenerative agriculture systems across the country.
Rounding out the speaker lineup is Greg Halich, Forage Systems Economist at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Halich focuses on improving livestock farm profitability through biologically based farming systems that reduce or eliminate commercial fertilizer inputs, including bale grazing and extended-season grazing strategies.
Conference topics will include bale grazing, soil health management, fertilizer reduction strategies, animal-source foods, and the connection between grazing systems and long-term farm sustainability.
Pre-registration is $40 per person if postmarked by February 28. Standard registration is $55 if postmarked by March 8. All registrations on or after March 9, including walk-ins, are $60 per person. Student (K–12) and FFA Advisor registration is $35.
A Meet & Greet with conference speakers will take place Thursday evening, March 12, at the Gasthof Amish Restaurant in Montgomery, Indiana, offering informal discussion and a homemade Amish meal.
Online registration is available at:
https://sigc2026.eventbrite.com
For questions, contact the Daviess County Soil & Water Conservation District at (812) 254-4780, ext. 3.
Join us in Southern Indiana for the 2026 Grazing Conference—tips, talks, and fun for pasture pros!
