The Somerset Conservation District hosts the Project Grass Coordinator,
J. B. Harrold. Project Grass is a cooperative effort by local farmers and county conservation districts, with assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve agricultural productivity in eighteen Southwestern Pennsylvania counties.
Project Grass Objectives
- Enhance Pennsylvania agriculture through better utilization of grasslands.
- Improve the economic position of Pennsylvania farmers, particularly farmers working small farms.
- Increase the amount of livestock production in the Commonwealth to increase energy efficiency and develop improved marketing capabilities for hay and livestock.
- Achieve better utilization of land and water resources for improved environmental quality.
Economics of Grazing
Farmers who converted to rotational grazing under this study experienced dramatic cost savings accounting for: fuel savings, commercial fertilizer savings, feed savings, and labor savings. Grazing also improves forage yield and quantity. The increase in productivity also allows for farmers to graze more days each year. This reduces the amount of feed that must be stored for winter feeding, which saves time and money. Also, when the animals are on pasture, the amount of manure that must be stored is greatly reduced. Having less manure to handle and having less feed to store reduces the amount of fuel needed to operate farming operations.
Environmental Friendliness of Grazing
Rotational grazing can be an environmentally sound method of sustainable agriculture. By taking highly erodible cropland out of production and converting it to a grass-based rotational grazing system, an average of 1.4 tons of soil per acre can be saved each year. Rotational grazing is a best management practice for nutrient management that is also a low-input method of farming that will benefit everyone.
For more information on Project Grass or rotational grazing, contact the Somerset Conservation District.