Knee Deep in Grass

Challenges and Opportunities

Most participants were very optimistic when asked about their future as dairy farmers (22 out of 29). Most agreed that they would have to deal with new challenges facing the dairy industry in order to prosper in the future.

Past Challenges

Adapting to new farming practices. Eighteen graziers reported that adapting to new farming practices has been challenging. These included converting to MIG and to producing milk, meat (pork, beef, chicken), and crops organically. Most felt the benefits from MIG far outweighed the challenges of converting to it. Some graziers were receiving premium prices for producing organic commodities. Labor shortages. Seventeen respondents indicated that labor shortage problems have been challenging. Many said such problems could be solved if they could hire relief milkers periodically (one day a week and a couple of weekends a year). This would free them from having to be at the farm every day and would enable them to spend more time with their families.

Cash flow. Nine farmers said cash flow problems have been challenging. Graziers who had partially or seasonally freshened herds expressed concern about cash flow most frequently. Most felt that they would have to adjust their spending habits during the period when cattle are not milking. Dairy markets. Seven respondents believed that dairy markets have been a problem for them. Problems cited include the structure of milk marketing orders, the increasing number of large dairy farms and the use of products such as BST. Some produced and marketed milk labeled as organic to secure premium prices.

BST. Graziers were asked what they thought about using BST and its effect on their marketing options. Sixteen disapproved of BST use, six approved of its use and seven were neither for or against BST use. Reasons cited for disapproval include concerns for human health, cattle health and possible milk price declines. One grazier said, "It is just plain bad for farmers." Another claimed, "Farmers will have to stop (using BST)." He, along with many others, believed it would ruin the dairy industry, beginning with small farmers.

Respondents who approved BST use generally regarded it as an effective management tool for some producers. Most graziers believed that BST will fail economically for the users, regardless of their opinion of BST. Sixteen thought BST will affect milk markets, ten thought there would be no effect and three graziers had no opinion.

Most graziers responding that BST will affect milk markets believe the impacts will be negative. Twelve believed that the increased milk production will lead to decreased milk prices and lower consumer confidence levels with farmers. However, 4 of the 16 think the impacts will be positive for them. They believe that the demand for milk labeled organic will increase, resulting in premium prices for their organic milk and milk products.

Seven farmers reported concerns about profitability levels. Most believed that milk prices have not been high enough to make a good return on their investments. Many thought that MIG would increase their profits by increasing their gross margins for milk products.

Other challenges cited were financing, soil fertility, calving intervals, ration balancing, manure management, pest management and grain marketing.

Anticipated Challenges

Anticipated challenges include: profitability (6); farm transfer (5); manure management and pollution compliance (4); developing pasture management skills (4); labor shortages (3); marketing milk and meat organically (6); adding alternative enterprises (3 beef, 1 manure, 1 green house); increasing farm size (2 dairy herd, 2 acreage); and marketing of farm products directly to consumers (3).

Current Problems

Graziers were asked about major short- and long-term problems.

Approximately half of all responses related to MIG. Much of the balance pertained to the dairy farm but not directly to grazing. Other problems cited include forming a business plan/family arrangement, improving people skills, owning the farm and milking facilities and cash flow.

Other replies included increase farm profitability, increase leisure time, reduce debt load and obtain farm financing.

Long-term Goals

Respondents were asked to list long-term (10+ years) goals related to their farm business, family, personal lives and community service and public affairs. They were also asked whether or not their goals had changed since they began grazing their cows.

The family goals were centered on the children. To spend more time with the family was the only common reply to this question.

Several graziers reporting no changes in their goals stated that grazing has not changed their goals. Instead, grazing was viewed as a tool to reach their goals. Graziers who have reduced emphasis on production-oriented goals said they are now focusing on the bottom line. A holistic approach of combining several goals into one was now used by some graziers. One grazier said, "I now look at my farm as an entire system...all our goals must work together in order to be successful."

Supplemental Findings

The following section includes additional informative data. This section also includes suggestions for further research.

Effects of Under- or Overgrazing

Both undergrazing and overgrazing appear to decrease pasture growth potential. Plants that become mature are producing no net growth. However they take up moisture, sunlight and soil nutrients while declining in feed value. Conversely, plants that have a majority of their leaf surface removed (grazed to 1 or 2 inches) have to withdraw energy from their root reserves for regrowth. Table 2 shows that when more than 50% of the leaf area is removed, root growth is severely retarded (Bartlett 1991).

Grazing Heights

In general, the recommended beginning grazing height is 6 - 10 inches at which time there is approximately 2,000 to 2,500 pounds of dry matter/acre. Initial spring grazing is the one exception to this. Then a 3 - 4 inch beginning height is suggested so paddock growth is staggered and remaining paddocks do not overmature. Beginning grazing heights should not be more than 10 inches. This is because forages 10 inches and less are grazed from the top down, while those taller than 10 inches are bitten off at the bottom of the plant (Bartlett 1991). As noted earlier, the tops of the forage plants have higher RFVs and CP levels.

Seeding into Existing Sod

Only legumes should be seeded into existing sod. Attempting to seed grass into a grass sod is seldom successful because sod competes too greatly to allow establishment of the new grass seedlings (University of Wisconsin 1991).

Bypass Protein Supplementation

In general, high quality pasture forages are high in crude protein (CP) but low in non-degradable or bypass protein. A recent study reported that Holstein cattle grazing orchardgrass pastures and supplemented with a grain mix containing 47% of the CP as bypass protein produced slightly less milk (67-80 lb./day) than cows supplemented with a grain mix containing 62% of the CP as bypass protein. Bypass protein supplementation may be beneficial for reproduction as well as milk production (Linn 1994).

Bulk Tank Method Records

Graziers in the study found the bulk tank method was an excellent, quick way of monitoring recent management strategies. However, it appears that none of the producers using this method keep written records of their daily observations. Perhaps developing a simple recording system to monitor bulk tank yield and daily feed would provide graziers with valuable information.

Impact of Grazing Cattle on Distribution of Soil Minerals

Grazing livestock ingest substantial quantities of mineral elements contained in the forage they consume. Typically, 70% to 95% of these ingested minerals are returned to the soil via excretory processes. Neither ingestion by grazing or redistribution by extraction are random functions. Both are dependent upon size and shape of pasture as it relates to proximity of water, landscape features and special features that serve as points of livestock concentration such as shade, water and supplemental feeding sites. Therefore, fertilization of pastures should be structured to apply nutrients only to areas from which livestock are removing nutrients to avoid further enriching areas of animal manure and urine concentration. Minimizing the development of single direction nutrient gradients in pastures should be considered during placement of watering equipment, shade and mineral feeders (Gerrish et al. 1994).

Suggested Topics for Further Research

Dairy graziers and conventional dairy farmers face many similar challenges. However, information available on dairy grazing is immature when compared to that on confinement feeding systems. In many cases, information must be extracted from data pertaining to confinement feeding systems. While additional research on numerous topics would help dairy graziers, the authors believe the topics of dairy nutrition and economics are immediate concerns for dairy graziers and dairy farmers considering MIG. Additional areas for further research are environmental impacts of MIG and why some adopters of MIG have discontinued the practice.

Summary

The first objective of this study was to obtain baseline information so that farm evolution of dairy operations using MIG can be traced. This was accomplished by completing the survey. Reported data will be stored for possible future use.

Developing predictors of successful conversions to MIG, the second objective of the team, is more complex. Since everyone has different values, beliefs and experiences, we all define success differently. Often we think of measuring success financially, perhaps because it is easy to quantify. However, there are many other gauges. In general, success depends upon setting and attaining both business and personal goals. It could be said that all farmers who have achieved their goals (whether or not they have changed because of MIG) could be called successful. For example, some graziers had the goal of increasing the time they spend with their family. Those who, after adopting MIG, can now attend their son's or daughter's school activities consequently can be considered successful converters. Other objectives like income, personal and business growth and security can be addressed similarly. More specifically, predictors of successful conversion include:

Defining goals. Farm managers who had written goals and objectives appeared assured about the direction of their farm. By having written goals, graziers were able to check their progress periodically and share goals with the entire family. Written goals also served as a way to keep score.

Planning. The transition to MIG appeared to be easier for those who had done some research. One grazier remarked, "By talking to other graziers first about MIG, you can avoid making some of the same mistakes they've made." In general, graziers who planned ahead had less difficulty converting their farms than those who just went with the flow. Some graziers planned their entire farming system very thoroughly. They planned according to their land base quality and size, available labor resources, equipment, facilities and market outlets.

The ability to obtain and apply information. Some graziers were effective in identifying sources of information. Some graziers seemed especially perceptive in knowing what would and would not work on their farms. Many graziers indicated that applying new information to their farm was more difficult than obtaining the information.

Taking an experimental approach. It appeared that farmers who viewed grazing as an art as well as a science recognized the need for continual experimentation. These farmers were not attempting to copy how their neighbors grazed or how someone told them it should be done. Instead, they were combining experience with new ideas.

The third objective of the team was to prepare decision cases that teach principles of effective farm conversion. This survey was used to identify farms willing to cooperate in developing decision cases. The decision cases are being prepared separately.