Town and Country RC&D's Grazing ProgramMike Gehl and Kirsten Jurcek, Town and Country RC&D's grazing team, have an established track record of successful coordination and implementation of grazing technical assistance and education in southeastern Wisconsin. We provide dairy farmers, livestock producers and private landowners with tools for making their lands more productive through the sustainable practice of Management Intensive Grazing (MIG).
Town and Country RC&D offers free assistance to farmers who want to explore MIG as a more profitable and sustainable operating system. Our MIG program in 2012 included:
Mark Shepard, CEO, Forest Agriculture Enterprises & New Forest Farm, is discussing how to establish a multi-story cropping system which improves nutrient cycling in pastures and created additional income. This presentation was given on September 8, 2012 at the Sheep & Wool Festival, Jefferson, WI.
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Management Intensive Grazing BenefitsDairy farmers and livestock producers in southeastern Wisconsin are showing interest in Management Intensive Grazing practices. MIG divides pastures into paddocks, where animals grazing in controlled rotations, using some paddocks for grazing while others rest and regrow. MIG decreases the use of fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals and reduces carbon pollution while sustaining high yields, encouraging plant variety, and protecting the land for future generation. MIG also reduces soil erosion and groundwater contamination. It's a win-win-win-win situation that benefits farmers, land animals and everyone who depend on them for healthy food.
For a look at upcoming grazing events follow this link. Grazing Apprenticeships and Internships Open Now. Click HERE to learn more.Upcoming Dodge/Columbia meetings For speaker bios, event particulars, and registration information, watch this site for updates or contact Town and Country RC&D grazing educator Kirsten Jurcek (at numbers listed below):
Jun 5th—Sue & Dennis Mengeling - follow up on 2012 seeding demo - pasturing swine - forage calculations with Brian Pillsbury Jul 10th—Ron Schoepp - summer slump - grazing alfalfa Aug 7th—Todd Rietmann - water supply systems Sep 4th—Bill & Laura Paine - warm season grasses -weeds |
New research shows favorable results for new heifers on grass
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The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST) has been collecting data on forage and grain cropping systems since 1989. Two new CIAS Research Briefs explore WICST findings. Managed grazing has a positive effect on several soil variables when compared to other typical Upper Midwest cropping systems.
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Research Brief 89, Pastured heifers grow well and have productive first lactations, shows that heifers grazed in the WICST trial compared favorably to confined heifers in terms of growth rate and first lactation milk production.
Research Brief 90, Managed grazing's effects on soil quality and structure, compares the effects of six cropping systems (including managed grazing) on soil characteristics. |
Grazing Assistance and Education Program
The Many Benefits to Local Grass Fed Beef
Eating local foods supports the local economy, is likely to reduce food safety risks, and reduces fossil fuel consumption.
Human Health: Grass fed beef products are higher in beta carotene, conjugated linoleic (CLA), and Omega-3 fatty acids (important in reducing cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure). They are also lower in fat, cholesterol and calories. In addition, the risk of infection by E. coli in grass fed beef products is virtually eliminated.
Animal Health: Grass fed beef animals are healthier as they are raised on their mothers’ milk and pastures – eating the food they evolved to eat.
Environmental Health: Grass-fed beef is an environmentally friendly product requiring less fuel, fertilizer, and water input to produce the animal. Pastures sequester carbon, prevent soil erosion, and soak up more rainfall to reduce overland flow. These pastures also provide habitat and food sources for native pollinators.
Grassworks - A resource for the Grazing Community
Eating local foods supports the local economy, is likely to reduce food safety risks, and reduces fossil fuel consumption.
Human Health: Grass fed beef products are higher in beta carotene, conjugated linoleic (CLA), and Omega-3 fatty acids (important in reducing cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure). They are also lower in fat, cholesterol and calories. In addition, the risk of infection by E. coli in grass fed beef products is virtually eliminated.
Animal Health: Grass fed beef animals are healthier as they are raised on their mothers’ milk and pastures – eating the food they evolved to eat.
Environmental Health: Grass-fed beef is an environmentally friendly product requiring less fuel, fertilizer, and water input to produce the animal. Pastures sequester carbon, prevent soil erosion, and soak up more rainfall to reduce overland flow. These pastures also provide habitat and food sources for native pollinators.
Grassworks - A resource for the Grazing Community
Grazing EducatorFor more information on anything listed on this page, or to request a speaker, please call Kirsten Jurcek, Town and Country's Grazing Education Specialist, at 920-342-9504, or kjurcek1@centurytel.net.
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Grazing Technician If you would like to have an experienced grazier make a farm visit, walk your pastures, and write a grazing plan for you, at no charge, contact Town and Country RC&D's grazing technical specialist, Mike Gehl, at 262-689-6689 or mikegehl3@gmail.com.
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