FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2010
For More Information Contact: Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606

Good Grazing Makes Good $ense! – New IL NRCS/GLCI Effort

Champaign, IL—Illinois’ Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) together with the Illinois Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) launched a new effort to encourage beef and livestock operators to pursue the ecological and financial benefits of using a Grazing Management System. The campaign, “Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!,” was unveiled at the 2010 American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) meeting held in June 2010 in Springfield, Missouri. To access details about NRCS grazing operations and assistance, visit www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/grazing.

Illinois NRCS Field Office Teams and Grasslands Specialists Roger Staff and Matt Bunger work with landowners to plan and develop successful grazing operations and manage healthy pastures. “We hope to meet new operators interested and ready to create a profitable operation,” says Staff. NRCS and GLCI are working together to offer the technical and financial resources producers need to make grazing work.

According to Staff, switching to a pasture or grass-fed operation doesn’t happen overnight. Learning how to manage grasses and forage species and put all the pieces in place for fencing and paddocks and water systems takes a little strategizing and good up-front planning. “That’s where NRCS and GLCI grazing mentors can lend a helping hand,” Staff said.

Cliff Schuette, Illinois GLCI representative, adds “We’ve got a lot of good graziers here in Illinois who can show folks what they did, what they learned, and where to go with their questions and concerns. The NRCS has specific conservation programs and practices designed to solve the resource problems graziers face. We have people to answer your questions and written guidance to get what you need.”

New NRCS information materials include helpful factsheets, Illinois Grazier profiles, display banners, bookmarks, radio spots, a website and access to an online educational video series. To access grazing information, including The Illinois Grazing Manual--visit www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/grazing.

In addition to NRCS, Illinois producers have many organizations and successful graziers who support good grazing management: University of Illinois Extension, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), the Illinois Beef Association (IBA), and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) supporters are here to help. All these organizations share a goal: to help producers establish grazing plans and grazing systems that produce quality grass and quality livestock on healthy landscapes.

The push for good grazing is not just aimed at beef operations and food and fiber production. “We’re reaching out to help ALL growers and graziers—goats, sheep, buffalo, dairy, whatever. Truth is, with a good plan and help from experienced specialists, anyone can succeed AND be profitable,” Staff explains. To learn more about NRCS’ “Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!” materials or to speak to someone about your operation, contact your local USDA Service Center today.

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