Warren King Manager, The Pasture Project Grassfed Exchange Annual Meeting August 22, 2013 M ANAGED G RAZING The 21 st Century Solution for Agriculture and the Environment Warren King Project Manager The Pasture Project
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
2
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
Land Stewardship Project
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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,
Land Stewardship Project
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
About the Pasture Project
Beyond the farm benefits of sustainable
and grass-based agriculture
Current and potential applications
Conclusions
Discussion & questions
8
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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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
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
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
WDNR STREAM RESTORATION
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Trout Run, Eyota MNRestoration in Progress
Images Courtesy: Trout Unlimited
GRAZING ON SPRING COULEE
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Grazing on Spring Coulee Ungrazed, unrestored stretch
Images Courtesy: Willow Creek Ranch
OVERVIEW
About the Pasture Project
Beyond the farm benefits of sustainable
and grass-based agriculture
Current and potential applications
Conclusions
Discussion & questions
27
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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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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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
About the Pasture Project
Beyond the farm benefits of sustainable
and grass-based agriculture
Current and potential applications
Conclusions
Discussion & questions
32
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