Perennial Forage Working Group Green Lands Blue Waters Conference November 20-21, 2013 Minneapolis

Livestock Agriculture can address multiple sustainability goals Sediment losses from Breneman farm outwintering pastures

Pasture & Grazing in the Upper Midwest 2007 Census of Agriculture IllinoisIowaMinnesotaWisconsin # of farms using MiG716510, ,469 Percent of all livestock farms using MiG 39%35%36%33% Total pasture acres1,195,5332,744,7082,195,2191,457,542

Long-term change in pasture and hay acreage

Perennial Forage Working Group Mission: –To increase acreage of pasture and perennial forage crops in the Upper Midwest –To encourage best management practices in existing pastures. We work to: –Identify obstacles currently facing grazing operations and perennial forage production –Develop & support economically sustainable strategies, tools &services to increase pasturelands and perennial forages.

Perennial Forage Working Group Current Membership: –Richard Cates, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison –Cara Carper, Southwest Badger RC&D –Vance Haugen, University of Wisconsin Extension –Jane Jewett, GLBW/U Minnesota –Andrew Larson, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach –Richard Ness, Land Stewardship Project –Bob Olson, Cooperative Development Services –Laura Paine, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) –Jim Paulson, University of Minnesota Extension –Troy Salzer, University of Minnesota Extension –H. Joe Sellers, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach –Terry VanDerPol, Land Stewardship Project *Co-Chair

Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference Networking producers and grasslands: –Corn stalk grazing –Public grasslands –Land rehabilitation and invasive species control. Demonstrate opportunities for young farmers. Outreach to non-farming landowners. Value of perennial forages in crop rotations.

Current focus: Contract Grazing A model for livestock production partnerships Landowner Livestock Owner Manager Landowner Livestock Owner Livestock owner Landowner Manager Livestock owner Manager Landowner Manager Livestock Owner Landowner

Contract Grazing Fact Sheets

2014 SARE Pre-Proposal Title: Brokering relationships between livestock producers, non-farming landowners, and beginning farmers Goals: –Beginning livestock farmers will gain knowledge of contract grazing as a means of getting started farming. –Non-farming landowners will gain awareness of additional choices for land management decisions. –Livestock producers will learn about how to use contract grazing to improve the resilience and economic performance of their operations by gaining access to additional grassland acreage. Activities: –A regional contract grazing conference. –One or more local workshop series in each state. –A mentoring program for beginning graziers by experienced livestock producers. –Research on and outreach to non-farming landowners. $198,637 requested

Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference Networking producers and grasslands: –Corn stalk grazing –Public grasslands –Land rehabilitation and invasive species control. Demonstrate opportunities for young farmers. Outreach to non-farming landowners. Value of perennial forages in crop rotations.

Networking producers and grasslands: –LSP’s Chippewa Watershed project networks producers & landowners with >3000 acres. –WI Grazing Broker project seeks to connect non-farming landowners with livestock producers. –Minnesota DNR grazing initiative Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference

Demonstrate opportunities for beginning farmers. Beginning farmer programs: –Farm Beginnings Program from LSP. –WI School for Beginning Dairy & Livestock Farmers –WI Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program –Iowa State University Greenhorn Grazing project. Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference

An estimated 60% of land in the region is owned by non-farming landowners Research and reach out to non-farming landowners. –Land Stewardship Project’s women landowners groups (Chippewa and Root River watersheds). –SW Badger’s WI Grazing Broker project. –SARE Contract Grazing Proposal. Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference

Perennial forages in rotation boost annual crop yields and reduces input costs. –Livestock agriculture makes perennial forages a potential enterprise for not only livestock producers but also cash grain producers –Losing livestock farming infrastructure has broad implications for agricultural economies, environmental performance, and rural communities. Perennial Forage Opportunities Categories from last year’s conference