Is rotational grazing the solution to dairy farm success?

NORWICH – Imagine thriving rural communities, once again dominated by successful family dairy farms. Dr. Jonathan Winsten, an agricultural economist and professor at the University of Vermont, thinks it’s possible.

How? Rotational grazing.

What is rotational grazing? It’s where livestock graze small sections of land for a short period of time – 12 to 24 hours – in cycles for a five to six month period, as opposed to being fed in a barn or let loose on a pasture.

Through funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Winsten and a team of experts from several different institutions are studying rotational grazing’s potential impacts on small to medium-sized dairy operations in the Northeast.

The group’s findings thus far: They argue it could be the savior of the family farm.

“Studies show it’s profitable,” Winsten told a group of over 20 local farmers and regional agricultural representatives Wednesday during a roundtable discussion at Fred’s Inn in Norwich. “The issue of expanding adoption of rotational grazing isn’t just a farming issue, it’s an issue for the environment and rural communities ... there’s a lot to be gained beyond the farm gate.”

The group is considering piloting a local farm to act as a rotational grazing case study.

Proponents say the practice allows each section of land to re-grow and retain nutrients, while being fertilized by the cows themselves.

According to studies the group provided, the results could include: lower feed and fuel expenses, better land, better water, healthier animals, permanent vegetative growth, decreased soil erosion, improved communities due to less manure spreading, and improved rural landscapes.

Currently, 13 percent of farms in the Northeast have adopted the practice. In Chenango County, one of the project’s focal points, 21 percent have made the shift.

The potential downsides for dairy farmers in Chenango County and elsewhere are: lower milk production, difficulty affording monthly payments during the transition, getting used to a more intensive farm management style and learning how to utilize rotations in limited space.