Teaching organic dairy farmers how to manage their pasture acreage can enhance their success and profitability. In 2018, CIAS developed and field tested training in organic pasture management and soil health for agency personnel who support conventional, transitioning and new organic dairy farmers.

In the autumn of 2018 and 2019, CIAS hosted four “train the trainer” events on organic, pasture-based dairy farms in Lancaster, Edgar, Random Lake and Rudolph, Wisconsin. The participants hailed from agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), county Land and Water Conservation Departments (LCDs), UW-Extension and organic certifiers. Surveys following these events showed a significant increase in participant knowledge of organic pasture management, managed grazing, soil health, organic inspection, dry matter calculation and extending the grazing season.

Videos of all the speakers at each training session can be found here: https://cias.wisc.edu/our-work/farming-systems/beginning-farmer-training/organic-pasture-training/

This work was supported by Organic Valley Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO).