Tired of mowing the yard? Interested in a possible alternative approach? Have you ever looked at grazing?

Yes, you heard it right - grazing. There are a number of animals which can be successfully grazed on a few acres, but you must do it correctly. Forage is the key! What type of forage do you have: grass, grass/legume, or grass/shrub? What do you plan on grazing: chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, or maybe even pigs? These are all important decisions you need to consider.

At the Natural Resources Conservation Service we can help producers develop a grazing plan for the type of livestock you plan to graze. We can help you determine the potential forage available and how many animals it could support. This is very important to your long-term success. We can help develop a plan that includes fencing, water lines, and tanks to better utilize the forage you have available.

If this is something you have been thinking about pursuing please contact your local NRCS office. We would love to meet you out in the field and discuss your ideas and work with you to develop a grazing plan to manage your forage as efficiently as possible.

Next time, we will discuss the different aspects of a grazing plan.