Finger Lakes Grazing Advocacy Program
LNE02-170
Project Type:
Research and Education Project
Projected End Date: 2004
Funds Awarded: $128,910
Matching Fed Funds: $41,543
Matching Non-Fed Funds: $238,574
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Coordinators:
Richard Winnett
RC&D Coordinator
Email
60777673985(Office)
USDA NRCS
415 West Morris St.
Bath, NY 14810
Participants:
Janice Degni
Area Field Crops Specialist
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Bill Henning
Small Farms Specialist
Cornell University
Peter Landre
Executive Director
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County
Jeff Parker
District Manager
Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation District
Judson Reid
Agricultural Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County
John Wickham
Grazing Advocate
Independent Consultant
John Wildeman
Consultant
Wildland Consulting, Inc.
Project Narrative
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Summary/Abstract
The primary purpose of the Finger Lakes Grazing Advocacy Program is to initiate a pilot grazing
advocacy project by contracting with consultants knowledgeable in the principles of prescribed
grazing and conservation planning. Presently local, state and federal conservation/environmental
programs are continually experiencing decreases in their respective budgets. Therefore, these
agencies/organizations have limited ability to provide technical assistance to the livestock
industry and more specifically grazing farms.
Under the direction of the Finger Lakes RC&D Council,Inc. a regional non-profit 501C.3
organization, the Finger Lakes Grazing Advocacy Program allows for the more efficient use of
local, state, federal, and private services resulting in the development of grazing plans and the
installation of Best Management Plans associated with prescribed grazing. Regional
representatives of Cornell Cooperative Extension in collaboration with the private consultants
and other agency personnel have been able to conduct seminars, pasture walks, and field days
that have emphasized prescribed grazing.
Objectives/Performance Targets
1. make 125 contacts with new graziers coordinate a minimum of 30 pasture walks with an average of 15
attendees for a total of 450 participants conduct 9 grazing seminars/workshops with an average of 35
people for an attendance of 315 participants make 200 farm follow up visits prepare 45 grazing plans
with an average of 65 acres of pasture/plan totaling 2925 acres install BMPs on a minimum of 10 farms
with grazing plans take 50-60 forage samples over two growing seasons prepare 24 articles on grazing,
dairy nutrition and management for submission to the local media and Country Folks establish one in
the field demonstration plot with side by side comparisons of management techniques per year establish
and maintain a database of landowners in the Finger Lakes Region that are interested in grazing.
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