A vision and roadmap for the next generation of agricultural systems

Grazing Working Group

This working group will adopt and apply systemic and integrative approaches as it strives to promote and accelerate the conversion to perennial grass-based grazing systems on environmentally-sensitive lands throughout the Upper Mississippi River basin and adjacent areas. Systemic and strategic thinking and analysis will guide carefully targeted collaborative research, outreach and education.

The emerging need for such conversion is due to the intersection of four beneficial trends. These trends include: 1) rising consumer and retailer demand for grass-fed milk and beef; 2) an increasing demand on the part of graziers (both current and prospective) for the proliferation of production knowledge for grass-based grazing practices; 3) growing interest in building community-based grazing systems that build the knowledge base on and maximize the multiple services benefits of alternative grazing practices; and 4) the expanding potential for alternative land use and management strategies in environmentally-sensitive areas. Over the next decades, climate change is expected to accelerate these trends.

This working group promotes the widespread adoption of grazing as a tool for facilitating the conversion to continuous living cover as a basis for enterprise development. Raising livestock on perennial pastures make good economic sense for farmers and is sensible for the land, especially environmentally sensitive areas. To increase the speed of conversion to grass-based systems, Green Lands Blue Waters partners want to work with graziers and other stakeholders to expand the percentage of acres devoted to feeding and housing animals on grass.

For more information about this working group and/or to become a partner, please contact George Boody, the Land Stewardship Project, via email gboody@landstewardshipproject.org or phone 651-653-0618

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