Deadlines for grant applications are Aug. 1 and Sept. 1
Contact: Robin Engel 608-224-5002 or Laura Paine 608-224-5120
MADISON – State Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen today invited grant proposals for $960,106 in federal funds for grazing education and research. Grazing networks and farmers using managed intensive grazing on their operations are among those eligible and encouraged to apply. Other groups eligible to apply include county, state and federal agriculture and natural resource agencies; colleges and universities; and nonprofit organizations.
“These grazing grants are part of a comprehensive plan to re-invigorate dairy and livestock agriculture,” said Nilsestuen, secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “The grants help provide the research, education and technical assistance many farmers are asking for. I want to thank Senator Kohl and Congressman Obey for their continued support of this important program.”
Growing numbers of Wisconsin farmers are looking to grass to nourish their livestock, but these pastures are not like grandfather’s. Intensively managed grazing-based operations offer producers another option, helping reduce costs, develop niche markets, and protect the environment.
About half of the state’s beginning dairy farmers are using grazing as a strategy for getting started because it requires less capital outlay. More than 40 percent of the state’s dairy farmers feed pasture to their milk cows.
“Grazing research is key to moving the industry forward,” said Laura Paine, DATCP’s new grazing specialist and grant program coordinator.
The grant funds are part of the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, a national effort begun in 1991. Funds come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The 2006 grazing grant program is strongly focused on farmer involvement.
* $378,725 for grazing technical assistance
* $189,362 for grazing education and on-farm demonstration projects
* $392,019 for research projects
DATCP is coordinating the Technical Assistance and Education Grant applications with an Aug. 1 deadline. The University of Wisconsin – Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems is coordinating the Research Grant applications with a Sept. 1 deadline.
Materials for all of the 2006 grant applications will be available on DATCP’s Web site the week of June 12. Visit http://www.datcp.state.wi.us and search for “grazing grants”. All grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
