The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced an innovative initiative to help beginning, small and medium-sized dairy farms boost profitability and improve resiliency through dairy grazing.
Dairy grazing is the practice of having dairy cows primarily eat fresh grass in managed pastures during the warmer months instead of staying indoors and relying on harvested feed.
"Grazing gives dairy producers an opportunity to reduce input costs and strengthen the long-term profitability of their operations," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "At a time when small and medium operators in Michigan are pressured to either expand or fold, this initiative will provide resources to help family-run dairies stay in business, sustain local jobs and ensure Michiganders continue to have access to nutritious, locally made dairy products."
MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture (Regen Ag) Program is one of the first in the nation to be embedded within a state agriculture agency. Among other actions, the program has invested in a next generation crop insurance pilot for farmers who implement practices that improve soil health, launched a free soil health assessment initiative for farmers, created grant programs to promote regenerative agriculture education and implementation, and established a training farm for veterans.
Source : michigan.gov