The Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group’s mission is to facilitate an increase in land used for pasture and perennial forage production in the Upper Midwest, and to improve the environmental performance of farming systems, while maintaining agricultural production and profitability.
Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group
New Great Stuff!
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![]() Infographic: Perennial Forage for Infrastructure Protection PDF Web Version (8.4 Mb) PDF Print Version (13.4 Mb) |
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About Us
Co-Chairs:
- Laura Paine | lkpaine@gmail.com | University of Wisconsin Grasslands 2.0
- Jim Paulson | jcp@umn.edu | Consultant
Core Group Members:
This group has committed to involvement in Working Group operations:
participating in quarterly meetings (three conference calls and one in-person meeting),
and participating in and advising on projects on an ongoing basis.
- Nadia Alber | nalber@wisc.edu | Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems | University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Robert Bauer | bauer321@umn.edu | TN Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Jeff Duchene | jeff.duchene@usda.gov | MN Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Meghan Filbert | meghan@practicalfarmers.org | Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Jacob Grace | jacobjgrace@wisc.edu | Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UW-Madison
- Doug Gucker | dgucker@illinois.edu | University of Illinois Extension
- Vance Haugen | vjhaugen@gmail.com | Consultant
- Pete Huff | Pete.Huff@winrock.org | Pasture Project| Wallace Center at Winrock International
- Caleb Langworthy | Caleb@mosesorganic.org | Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
- Gene Schriefer | gene.schriefer@ces.uwex.edu | University of Wisconsin Extension
- Denise Schwab | dschwab@iastate.edu | Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
- Kent Solberg | sevenpinesfarmandfence@gmail.com | Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota
- Elisabeth Spratt | elisabeth.spratt@winrock.org | Pasture Project| Wallace Center at Winrock International
- Terry VanDerPol | tlvdp@landstewardshipproject.org | Land Stewardship Project
- Caroline Van Schaik | caroline.ikesumri@gmail.com | Consultant
- Diomy Zamora | zamor015@umn.edu | Agroforestry Program, University of Minnesota Extension
Emeritus Members:
- Richard Cates | Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems | University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Warren King | Pasture Project | Wallace Center at Winrock International
- H. Joe Sellers | sellers@iastate.edu | Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
Calendars & Field Day Resources
Beginning Graziers
- Beginning Grazier Resources
- General Beginning Farmer Resources
- Beginning Farmer/Grazier Programs
- Regional
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
Contract Grazing
Fact Sheets
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- Sample Contracts & Leases
- Minnesota Cropland Grazing Exchange
- Iowa Beef Center Custom Grazing Information
- Nebraska Crop Residue Grazing Exchange
- Budgeting Resources
- Stocker Cattle Enterprise Budgets
- from WI Beef Information Center
- Livestock Enterprise Budget
- UW-Extension; authored by Paul Dietmann
- Stocker Cattle Enterprise Budgets
- Land Stewardship Project Conservation Leases Resource Page
Cover Crop Grazing
- Fact Sheets and other resources
- Integrating grazing of cover crops into conventional row-cropping systems
- Corn & Soybean Herbicides & Restrictions When Planting, Grazing or Feeding Cover Crops | Practical Farmers of Iowa et al. 2017
- Herbicide Use May Restrict Options for Cover Crops
- Corn Herbicides & Grazing Restrictions
- Soybean Herbicides & Grazing Restrictions
- Herbicide Use and Cover Crops | 2016 Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Herbicide Use May Restrict Grazing Options for Cover Crops | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 2015
- Herbicide Rotation Restrictions in Forage and Cover Cropping Systems | University of Wisconsin Extension 2014
- Corn & Soybean Herbicides & Restrictions When Planting, Grazing or Feeding Cover Crops | Practical Farmers of Iowa et al. 2017
Dairy Grazing
Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group conducted this project in 2017 – 2018 with funding from USDA-Risk Management Agency.
Fair Use:
You may download, print, and distribute any of these materials for educational purposes. These are open-access; you do not need to ask permission. Please do not charge recipients more than the actual cost of printing and distribution.
PowerPoint slides may be downloaded and used in any manner for educational purposes. Proper credit is already included on the slides.
Fact Sheets & Slide Sets
7 case studies of grazing dairy operations in IL, IA, MN and WI
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- Durovec Dairy
- Bob & Patty Durovec | Meadolands, MN
- Haverinen Dairy
- Wayne & Heidi Haverinen | Menagha, MN
- Law-Rae Manor Dairy
- David & Susan Suprenant | Manteno, IL
- Paris Family Dairy
- Bert & Trish paris | Belleville, WI
- Springside Dairy, LLC
- Olaf Haugen, Vance & Bonnie Haugen | Canton, MN
- Tomandl Farms
- Joe and Christy Tomandl | Medford, WI
- Wedermeier Dairy
- Scott & Catherine Wedemeier | Maynard, IA
- Durovec Dairy
Project Team
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- Laura Paine | Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship | lkpaine@gmail.com
- Jane Jewett | Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture | jewet006@umn.edu
- Tom Cadwallader | Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship | tkcadwallader@gmail.com
- Kent Solberg | Sustainable Farming Association of MN | kent@sfa-mn.org
- Doug Gucker | University of Illinois Extension | dgucker@illinois.edu
- Jim Paulson | Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship | jim@dga-national.org
Support for the Project
-
- This project is funded by the Risk Management Education Partnership, USDA-Risk Management Agency.
Dairy Grazing Programs & Organizations
Center for Dairy Profitability Grazing Economics Papers
Forage & Grazing Resources
Fact Sheets & Infographics
![]() Infographic: Perennial Forage for Infrastructure Protection PDF Web Version (8.4 Mb) PDF Print Version (13.4 Mb) |
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Grazing & Pasture Resources
Iowa
- Forages, Hay and Grazing | Iowa Beef Center
- Improving IA grasslands with managed grazing, 5 case studies
- Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers | Iowa State University Extension
- Practical Farmers of Iowa Grazing Site
- Iowa Forage & Grassland Council
Kentucky
- Forage Resources | University of Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
- Forage Research and Extension page | University of Missouri
- Extending Grazing and Reducing Stored Feed Needs | Missouri Alternatives Center
- Management-Intensive Grazing: the grassroots of grass farming. Green Park Press. Gerrish, J. 2006.
*Book in print.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Grazing Activities Resource List, 2013
(PDF, 63 kb)
from Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UW-Madison; and the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers - Grassworks.org
- Grazing Resources & Research
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension - Grazier’s Notebook
University of Wisconsin Extension - Grazing Guide 2010.
* Book in print; partially available online. - Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing (PDF)
- Pastures of Plenty: Financial performance of Wisconsin grazing dairy farms. Kriegl, T. and R. McNair. February 2005. Madison: UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
Forage Selector Tools
- Cornell University has a web-based forage selector tool to help farmers choose the appropriate forage plants for their site.
- Penn State also has a forage selector tool, where you can chose your soil type/land type by selecting a region on a map.
Grazing Planning Tools
- The Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation service (WI NRCS) has links to a variety of grazing planning tools, including a rotational grazing worksheet.
Soil Health, Carbon Sequestration & Other Regen Ag Resources
- Dirt Rich Podcast
- Fact Sheets
Grazing Educator Webinar Series, 2015
2015 Webinars:
- Teaching the Basics of Grazing
- Grass-Based Farm Financials
- Adaptive High Stock Density Grazing
- Integrating Livestock into Cropping Systems
- Grazing for Conservation and Soil Health
- Teaching Resources Roundtable
Contacts for more information about the webinars:
- Jane Jewett jewet006@umn.edu
- Warren King w.king@wellspringltd.com
Are you a grazing specialist, land manager, or grazing educator? Want to be involved in the development of grazing education? Join the Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group!
We meet approximately quarterly by conference call and once or twice per year in person.
Co-Chairs are Laura Paine of Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and Jim Paulson, grazing consultant.
Contact the co-chairs:
Laura Paine | lkpaine@gmail.com | 608-338-9039
Jim Paulson | jcp@umn.edu
Slide Library
Related Image Collections
Sponsors:
Conference Sessions
The Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group has organized perennial forage and grazing sessions at Green Lands Blue Waters conferences.
Proceedings of those conference sessions are available online:
Slide Library
Grazing Educator Slide Library
Slide Collections:
*We are currently working on updating the Slide Library to our new platform. We apologize for any inconvenience.
2015 Webinars:
- Teaching the Basics of Grazing
- Grass-Based Farm Financials
- Adaptive High Stock Density Grazing
- Integrating Livestock into Cropping Systems
- Grazing for Conservation and Soil Health
- Teaching Resources Roundtable
Are you a grazing specialist, land manager, or grazing educator?
Want to be involved in the development of grazing education?
Join the Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group!
We meet approximately quarterly by conference call and once or twice per year in person.
Co-Chairs are Laura Paine of Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and Jim Paulson, grazing consultant.
Contact the co-chairs:
Laura Paine, lkpaine@gmail.com, 608-338-9039
Jim Paulson, jcp@umn.edu