Kickapoo Grazing Initiative Pasture Walks scheduled
Pasture walks scheduled in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota
The Kickapoo Grazing Initiative (KGI), now in its tenth year, is a public/private conservation partnership focusing on the promotion of economic and environmental incentives for landowners and farmers to adopt the managed grazing of grass-fed beef, dairy and multi-species. “Because of the benefits of increased soil organic matter, reduced runoff, and value-added healthy food production, the KGI believes that managed rotational grazing can help protect water quality while sustaining our small farmers in the area,” remarked Cynthia Olmstead, KGI Project Director.
The Great River Graziers/KGI Pasture Walks are free to the public with no RSVP being necessary and are generally scheduled for Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. with some Saturday pasture walks also included on the schedule. Volunteer Vance Haugen, a retired UW-Extension agent from Crawford County, WI, will be hosting the pasture walks which generally last 2-3 hours. KGI is partnering with GrassWorks, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization linking farmers with grazing resources, with many of the pasture walks featuring operations that are part of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP program. A complete schedule of pasture walks can be found at: http://www.kickapoograzinginitiative.com/uploads/2/5/6/6/25665665/final_...
A Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Pasture Walk within Allamakee County is scheduled for Tuesday, July 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Jeremy and Jody Peake Farm, 323 North Line Dr., Waukon. Directions from Waukon: On Highway 9, go west 7 miles and turn north on Apple, and then right (east) on North Line Drive. Farm on the right, south side of the road.
The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Walk scheduled for Tuesday, July 5 will cover the all grass and organic dairy farm operated by Jeremy and Jody Peake and will include an opportunity to view the operation’s new parlor, discuss new housing options for cows, look at a sorghum/sudan grazing plot and discuss renovating and inter-seeding permanent pastures with other methods.
