Intensive Grazing Management
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute- East Troy, WI
More Wisconsin farmers are putting their cows on to pasture. This grass-based farming system can improve water quality (the cows spread their own manure) and makes good economic sense for the farmer. To assist farmers in making the transition to grazing, grazing networks have developed throughout the state.
The Southeast Wisconsin Grazing Network is a coalition of farmers, agricultural consultants, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute that is working to promote the adoption of managed intensive grazing systems (MIG) in the area. We came together to offer winter workshops and summer pasture walks to discuss and demonstrate grazing systems and practices that can benefit both the economic and conservation goals of farmers.
Some of the topics of our workshops and pasture walks covered in the past have included:
- conversion to grazing systems
- profitable dairy grazing systems
- finishing beef cattle on grass
- direct marketing of grass-fed beef
- custom grazing dairy heifers
- fence building demonstrations
- alternatives to chemical weed control in pastures
In partnership with the Network, MFAI is providing assistance to farmers in five counties of Southeast Wisconsin (Walworth, Jefferson, Rock, Kenosha and Waukesha) who are interested in developing managed grazing systems on their farms. With the support of a Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Program grant, MFAI contracted the services of a local dairy farmer and grazing specialist, Altfrid Krusenbaum, to provide grazing land management assistance to farmers, help farmers develop grazing plans that meet the requirements for participation in NRCS cost share programs and act as a facilitator to the Southeast Wisconsin Grazing Network.