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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Glacierland RC&D works with farmers to promote sustainable practices, including managed intensive grazing, soil conservation, and farm business planning. Our staff can help farmers navigate federal conservation programs and cost-share incentives, along with providing grant-writing services.
WHAT WE OFFER
Conservation Collaboration
In partnership with the NRCS, Glacierland has hired staff to provide technical assistance to agricultural producers around Wisconsin. These staff are available to help landowners assess their resource needs and assist them in connecting with available financial assistance.
Grazing Plans & Assistance
Glacierland’s grazing plan writers have collectively written more than 1,000 grazing plans covering more than 4,000 acres, in addition to providing technical assistance on another 6,000 acres of farmland.
Education
Glacierland’s Grazing Educators work collaboratively with farmers, agency staff, researchers, educational institutions, conservation groups and consumers to enhance and increase restorative agriculture. They actively faciliate networking and mentoring between local graziers.
Conservation through Partnerships
Glacierland RC&D has received Grant awards from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) & National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF) to assist farmers in their conversion to regenerative agriculture through the adoption of rotational grazing.
Other partners include the NRCS, County Conservation Departments, The Farmers Union & Grassworks. Together we work with grazing coordinators and farmers across the state to educate agency staff on operational details of managed grazing and on developing grazing initiatives.
Glacierland Coverage Area
The Grazing Team serves all counties in "yellow"
AREAS OF FOCUS
The target area for grazing assistance is the Rock River basin and its surrounding counties: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Rock, Waukesha, Walworth and Washington
Educational Activities
We have a history of success promoting regenerative grazing through Education!
Educational activities include:
Farmer-led round table discussions to determine local educational needs and encourage networking and mentoring between local graziers.
Pasture walks throughout eastern Wisconsin to support grazing on mid-sized farms. Pasture walks provide an opportunity for producers to see successful grazing practices in action and provide them access to experts and networking opportunities.
Winter Workshops to bring the latest grazing technologies and research data to local farmers and agency staff through both regional and national experts and on farm pasture walks tailored to various graziers’ experience levels and to the general public.
Consultations - What to Expect
Plans cover the following:
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Pasture establishment
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Soils & Fertility
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Seeding recommendations
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Pasture stocking rates
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Pasture layout and design
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Paddock layout within pastures
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Watering systems
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Sacrifice areas
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Overall livestock care, nutrition and handling
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Integrating cropping systems into grazing
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Mentoring through Financial Assistance Programs
Glacierland works with individual farmers and farm families to convert agricultural row crop land into functional and restorative pasture systems, as well as working with existing graziers to enhance their pasture management.
On Farm Consults Discuss:
Overall farm goals, budgets, time frames and available human & farm resources and provide workable, economical solutions tailored to the specific farm needs.
They advise on topics essential to insuring that the producers are properly implementing managed grazing so that they can become financially viable, conservation-minded grazing farmers.
Glacierland's Grazing Plans meet NRCS Standards for Grazing Management Plans which may qualify a landowner for Financial Assistance
Meet the Grazing Team
Kirsten Jurcek
Kirsten has a diverse background as a former hydro-geologist and organic feed mill owner. She grazes beef cattle on her family farm near Jefferson, WI. She brings expertise in grant writing, organizing producer-led groups and grazing educational events.
Mike Gehl
Mike has practiced rotational grazing on a dairy farm in Hartford, Wisconsin for over 35 years. He specializes in establishing centennial pastures through precision seeding methods. He strives to start new graziers off on the right foot through grazing plans that ensure quality, productive pastures.
Julie Hager
Julie has extensive knowledge of federal financial assistance programs having worked with hundreds of agricultural producers as a Soil Conservationist with NRCS for 11 years. Her passion lies in coaching producers to successfully apply regenerative agriculture and rotational grazing.
To find out more about other Glacierland Staff around Wisconsin,
click here!