managed grazing -...

Warren KingManager, The Pasture Project

Grassfed Exchange Annual Meeting

August 22, 2013

MANAGED GRAZING

The 21st Century Solution for

Agriculture and the Environment

Warren King

Project Manager

The Pasture Project

OVERVIEW

About the Pasture Project

Beyond the farm benefits of sustainable

and grass-based agriculture

Current and potential applications

Conclusions

Discussion & questions

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THE PASTURE PROJECT

Our Goal

Increase acreage in the Upper Mississippi River Basin that is sustainably managed

by expanding the region’s production of grass-fed livestock.

Approaches:

Broadly share with farmers the economic and environmental benefits

associated with grass-fed beef production

Help trusted individuals/institutions provide technical assistance to farmers

related to land management and accessing the grass-fed beef market

Support shifts in political, financial, land access and other systems that limit

entry into grass-fed markets

Regional Partner Organizations: Kickapoo Grazing Initiative

Land Stewardship Project

Southwest Badger RC&D

Sustainable Farming Association


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APPROACHES WE’VE TESTED

Transition conventional cattle producers through existing

grass-fed farmers and ranchers as “experts” to deliver

education, training, and connection to resources

Use a “Train the Trainer” approach to target local

NRCS agents or Grazing Specialists for advanced

education - to create events and tools that will

promote conservation and conversion

Create a new position/career

called a “Grazing Broker” to

educate landowners, assess financial potential, and implement plans to

transition existing acres to pasture-based agriculture

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APPROACHES WE’VE TESTED

Expand “bird-friendly” grass-fed beef production.

Explore development of an Audubon through business

planning and marketing to connect producers and

consumers Initially focused in western Missouri and

eastern Kansas

Use a “kitchen table” counseling approach

to engage producers and landowners in

conversation about what they want from

their land and the opportunities for

stewardship and profit with grass-fed beef

Close gaps in the supply chain by

developing a role for

“professional finishers” and encouraging other producers to transition

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LEADERSHIP

Core TeamWarren King, Wellspring Ltd.

Allen Williams, Ph.D., LMC, LLC

John Fisk, Ph.D., Wallace Center at Winrock

International

Advisory Committee:Todd Churchill, Thousand Hills Cattle Co.

Andrew Gunther, Animal Welfare Approved

Lauren Gwin, Oregon State University

Will Harris, White Oak Pastures

Mike Lorentz, Lorentz Meats

Lauren Paine, WI Department of Agriculture,

Trade, and Consumer Protection

Kerry Smith, USDA AMS

Patricia Whisnant, Rain Crow Ranch

Dan Rosenthal, Chicago Green Restaurant Co-op

Denis Jennisch, US Foods

George Boody and Terry VanDerPol,


Greg Nowicki, Wisconsin Grass-fed Beef

Cooperative

Cara Carper, SW WI Grassland and Stream

Conservation Association

Jeff Hastings, Trout Unlimited

Cynthia Olmstead, Kickapoo Grazing Initiative

John Mesko, Sustainable Farming Association

Kristine Jepsen, Grass Run Farms

Moira McDonald, Walton Family Foundation

Sarah Bell and Michael Roberts,

Schmidt Family Foundation

Rod Ofte, Norse Group

Allison Van, Wallace Center at Winrock

International

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SUPPLY CHAIN RESEARCH

The market for grass-finished beef is growing at 15-20% annually, with potential to reach 22% of households

Relative to conventional cattle production, producers can lower costs, increase prices, and participate higher up the value chain

Supply of grass-finished animals is the key limiting factor, however, the region has the animal numbers, acres and processing capacity to support transition

Working with existing branded programs is likely the quickest way to expand sales; there are multiple choices of branded programs to sell to in the region

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OVERVIEW





Conclusions


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BEYOND THE FARM BENEFITS

What can well-

managed grazing do?

Improve Water Quality

Increase Wildlife Habitat

Reduce Flooding &

Increase Water Recharge

Capture & Hold Carbon

HOW?

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE SOIL!!!

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CLEAN AIR AND WATER START

WITH SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

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WATER HOLDING CAPACITY

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Organic Carbon

(%)

Water Per Acre

(Gallons)

1% 14,400

2% 28,800

3% 43,200

4% 57,600

5% 80,000

8% 128,000

BENEFITS OF COVER CROPS AND

MANAGED GRAZING

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soil erosion

nutrient run-off

herbicide/pesticide use

operational costs

soil health

soil moisture retention

net farm returns

REDUCE/ELIMINATE:

IMPROVE:

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY

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Lower Fox River Watershed: Phosphorous

Reduction Project

Multi-year pilot project of NRCS through GLRI

Targeted reduction of sediment and phosphorous

Agriculture contributes 66% of Total Suspended

Solids(TSS)

Grazing as alternative for dairy farmers is a key element

of the pilot. Local RC&D is contracted for outreach and

technical assistance on managed grazing

Eventually lead to development of a phosphorous

trading scheme for the watershed

LOWER FOX RIVER WATERSHED

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Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY

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Yahara CLEAN: Phosphorous Reduction Project

Multi-year pilot project by Clean Lakes Alliance of Dane

County, WI (Madison Area)

Targeted reduction of P by 50% annually in Yahara River chain

of lakes

Agriculture contributes ~ 71% of total phosphorous load

20 year project costing $50 million to meet reduction goals

Strategies include increasing cover crops, no-till, production

of biomass, erosion control and purchase of manure

digesters. Grazing as an alternative practice is NOT in the

strategic plan

YAHARA CLEAN

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IMPROVING WILDLIFE HABITAT

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National Audubon Society:

Bird-Friendly Grazing

Use of adaptive grazing to improve the habitat of grassland

birds

Pilot project in Flint Hills Area of Missouri to determine

which grazing practices are of highest benefit

MDC and consultants providing technical assistance to

ranchers

May lead to protocol, certification and brand of bird-

friendly beef

BIRD-FRIENDLY GRAZING

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New paddock with over

20 documented species

Pasture after hard grazing with

cover remaining for birds

Images courtesy of Dr. Allen Williams

BIRD-FRIENDLY GRAZING

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Moving from grazed to ungrazed

pasture – note the difference in

forage height

Pasture allowed to mature prior to

next grazing provides cover for

birds

Images courtesy of Dr. Allen Williams

IMPROVING WILDLIFE HABITAT

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Trout Unlimited: Driftless Area Initiatives

Trout Unlimited (TU) is partnering with state & federal agencies, conservation groups and farmers to promote managed grazing

Recreational fishing in the Driftless generates over $1.0 billion annually

TU is a leader in The Kickapoo Grazing Initiative, promoting grazing to increase SOI and reduce nutrient runoff in streams and rivers

Improvements in fish populations are so dramatic that WDFW is removing brown trout from some streams

DRIFTLESS AREA

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Source: Driftless Area Partners

IMPACTS OF IMPROPER GRAZING

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Images Courtesy of: Trout Unlimited

WDNR STREAM RESTORATION

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Trout Run, Eyota MNRestoration in Progress

Images Courtesy: Trout Unlimited

WDNR STREAM RESTORATION

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GRAZING ON SPRING COULEE

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Grazing on Spring Coulee Ungrazed, unrestored stretch

Images Courtesy: Willow Creek Ranch

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RESTORATIVE

GRAZING

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OVERVIEW





Conclusions


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CONTROLLING FLOODING AND

INCREASING WATER RECHARGE

City of Milwaukee GreenSeams® Project

Infrastructure and land acquisition project by the Milwaukee Metro Sewer District (MMSD) to control flooding and improve water quality

The project has acquired over 2,000 acres at a cost of nearly $15 million to re-establish natural flood plains

Since flooding in the late 90’s that caused an estimated $90 million in damage, MMSD has spent over $250 million on infrastructure to control flooding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLsmXXR1gz0

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLsmXXR1gz0

CONTROLLING FLOODING AND

INCREASING WATER RECHARGE

Paw Paw River Watershed (MI): FieldPrint™

Calculator

Collaboration between Van Buren Conservation District, Coca-Cola,

World Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy

The calculator allows farms and landowners to determine the

environmental impact of ag operations, including soil erosion,

water usage and SOI

No-till and cover crops are being promoted as management

tools to improve sustainability

Coca-Cola is particularly interested in recharging the aquifer

since they have a bottling operation in Van Buren County

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COCA-COLA’S INTEREST

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Source: The Coca-Cola Company

CAPTURING & HOLDING CARBON

California Cap and Trade Program Allows Polluting Industries to

Purchase Offsets to Carbon Emissions

Recent Auction Permits Sold from $10-$15 per ton of CO2

Grazing is not yet approved as an offset activity, however the

protocol is being developed

Using conservative estimates for CO2 captured from grazing, the

offset credit could be worth $40-$60 per acre

There are other GHG, fertilizer, and fuel reductions from grazing

that could also be included in the credit

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OVERVIEW





Conclusions


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CONCLUSIONS

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The environmental issues are on a landscape and watershed

scale

They are expensive to address using the present technology

and a “mitigation mentality”

Changes to agricultural are seen as part of the solution,

however grazers are not part of the conversation

The ability of managed grazing to address these issues is a

proven solution

Grazing planned and executed on a watershed scale will take a

high level of coordination and teamwork

CONCLUSIONS

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Grass-based livestock operations are the opportunity to use an

agronomic solution that reduces the cost of production, leverages a real

& growing market demand, and potentially saves taxpayers hundreds

of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending

Strategic and coordinated communications targeted at municipalities, conservationists and businesses that promotes the benefits of grazing related to

clean water, flood control, “harvesting water” and wildlife habitat should be a high priority for the

grass-fed beef industry

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QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?

For more information, go to:www.wallacecenter.org,

email [email protected], or call 703-302-6530

WARREN KING

THE PASTURE PROJECT

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