Three northwestern Wisconsin managed grazing projects are receiving state funding.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced Thursday $983,000 in grants for the Wisconsin Grazing Lands and Conservation Initiative (GLCI), which protects the land and water of the state through education, technical planning assistance, and research for dairy and livestock farmers. Grazing is a low-cost, environmentally-friendly method of farming that moves animals to a fresh pasture on a regular basis while resting unused pastures so the plants can regrow before being regrazed.
Studies show beginning farmers are more likely to use a managed grazing system to get started in agriculture because it doesn't require a huge capital investment in buildings and machinery. Nearly 50 percent of new dairy farmers use managed grazing.
Additional grants for specific grazing projects, include:
Pri-Ru-Ta Resource Conservation and Development Council of Medford is receiving a $169,252 Wisconsin GLCI grant for three grazing projects covering North Central and northwestern Wisconsin. Their projects are:
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- $58,128 for Lake Superior Basin: Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties.
- $40,684 for Northwestern region: Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.
- $70,440 for North Central region: Clark, Taylor, Price, Rusk and Sawyer counties.
