(Madison, NY – Jan. 2013) For seven years now, I’ve been helping farmers get more quality pasture into animals to replace purchased inputs through education, planning, mentoring, monitoring and building grazing infrastructure, which all contribute in some way to improvement in managing grassland systems.
Is it that important? This ominous quote would suggest a resounding YES:
“2013 could be worse than 2010. In other words, unless the price of milk holds at its current high level, instead of falling as current futures suggest, there will be significant continued pressure on dairy farmers and good reason to expect production to continue to contract. Of course, a continuing contraction would give reason for market prices to hold but it is hard to say where the sweet spot will be between lowering production and stronger prices. Where ever that stabilizes there is nothing in the tea leaves at this point to suggest that making milk will become much easier in 2013. I suspect that for a lot of NY farmers the key will be how good a feed crop they harvested, in other words how long they can stay insulated from high prices for purchased feed relative to the price of milk.”
Andrew M. Novaković, Ph.D, Cornell University
This advice in touting the increase of homegrown forage for the diet of dairy animals and livestock by agricultural service professionals is sound. This strategy saves farmers money and improves animal health while reducing the overall environmental footprint, which has inspired many to manage their pasture resources better.
However, in my rounds throughout the watersheds, there is still plenty of work to be done with really getting serious about grazing management. It’s why I’m very passionate about the planned grazing chart as a way to keep on top of daily decisions, rest periods, forage inventory, rainfall and something paramount to economics – soil fertility and biological life.
Because of the weather extremes and other seen (Armyworms!) and unforeseen factors, the sooner you measure, monitor and make an informed management decision, the quicker you can take control of situations that affect the bottom line.
The 2012 workload demonstrated diversity with grazing planning, pouring concrete, post-pounding and maintenance, building fence, organizing pasture walks, leading workshops throughout the USC watershed, doing outreach and writing or collaborating on five grant proposals as a way to diversify funding sources. The funding issue continues to manifest itself as the weak link that leads the District program to seek out different opportunities and partners as a way to keep grazing management strong throughout the region. Suffice it to say, it may not look like it did before as we change during these fiscal times.
I sincerely hope the work from the last seven years will show worth to the community as a dollar invested in the district yields more than $21 back into the agricultural community.
I appreciate being able to serve Madison County landowners and the strong network of graziers, beginning farmers, consumers and agency professionals through work on my own farm, with the Conservation District, The Upper Susquehanna Coalition, The AEM Program, The Central New York RC&D Council, The Madison County Grazier’s Group, Northeast SARE and the many media professionals.
Troy Bishopp is grazing specialist for the Madison Co. SWCD/Upper Susquehanna Coalition. He can be reached at (315) 824-9849 ext. 110, troy-bishopp@verizon.net or thegrasswhisperer.com.