Completed Project Report


Managing Risk using a Planned Grazing Chart and Biological Monitoring for Practical Management Decision Making

  • Award Amount: $9,835
  • Regional Center: Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2013 Unrestricted Risk Management Education
  • Project Director: Lee Rinehart
  • Email: lee@paorganic.org
  • Organization: Pennsylvania Certified Organic

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Project Overview

This project addressed financial risk management through increased reliance on grasslands for obtaining ruminant feed value. Activities included demonstration on the use of the grazing planning chart to track management. One workshop is focused on theory and two on-farm workshops were focused on practice. The audience was livestock farmers in Pennsylvania and New York, including members of grazing networks. Follow up peer mentoring from 4 farmer mentors has been established to assist farmers in incorporating grazing management planning and tracking into their daily routine.

Through this project, producers implemented practices to reduce financial risk associated with feed and health costs. The project was introduced to over 300 farmers. 38 farmers attended the introductory meeting and197 farmers attending two on farm workshops/pasture walks. We anticipated that 30 livestock farmers would implement their own planned grazing chart system on 5000 grazable acres, thereby reducing non-pasture feed inputs by an average of $2000 per farm annually.  In actuality, 37 farmers reported that they are using the grazing chart system as a result of the educational events and mentorship opportunities associated with this project.

Number of Participants: 235

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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