Donald R. WildDonald R. Wild

Conservation Agronomist / Area Grazing Conservation Agronomist / Area Grazing Lands Management Specialist, UDSA, Lands Management Specialist, UDSA,

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 756, Ellicottville, N.Y. 14731P.O. Box 756, Ellicottville, N.Y. 14731

Grazing as a Tool to Reduce the Grazing as a Tool to Reduce the Cost of Milk Production Cost of Milk Production (and more) in Dairies(and more) in Dairies

How effective are we on reducing How effective are we on reducing the costs of milk production on the costs of milk production on dairies by using management dairies by using management intensive grazing principles as a part intensive grazing principles as a part of the operation? of the operation?

And are these lower costs of milk And are these lower costs of milk production the only significant production the only significant change or are there other changes change or are there other changes that are occurring, often times that are occurring, often times unknown to us, or taken for granted?unknown to us, or taken for granted?

How much thought and merit do we How much thought and merit do we attribute to the attribute to the otherother benefits of benefits of management intensive grazing?management intensive grazing?

Successful small, medium, and large sized Successful small, medium, and large sized dairies maybe financially sound due to their dairies maybe financially sound due to their management skills and grazing principles. management skills and grazing principles. Many of our dairy producers have been able to Many of our dairy producers have been able to become successful by applying principles that become successful by applying principles that are not in any of our grazing manuals. At the are not in any of our grazing manuals. At the same time these producers have been reaping same time these producers have been reaping the benefits of grazing the benefits of grazing beyondbeyond the costs of the costs of production issues and so called profit margins.production issues and so called profit margins.

Now how can we place a dollar on Now how can we place a dollar on this type of family value?this type of family value?

The world wants us to equate The world wants us to equate everything with dollars and cents!!everything with dollars and cents!!

What values do we place on:What values do we place on: Family?Family? Self Satisfaction and worth?Self Satisfaction and worth? Community Involument?Community Involument? Reduced Stress?Reduced Stress? Children now taking an interest and possibly making Children now taking an interest and possibly making

future career choices?future career choices?

Adopting grazing principles for this manager probably Adopting grazing principles for this manager probably saved this marriage.saved this marriage.

If so, what value can be placed on that?If so, what value can be placed on that?

Once again, What value can we Once again, What value can we place onplace on this?this?

Are profits only measured in dollars Are profits only measured in dollars and cents? and cents?

What are the other measurable What are the other measurable successes of the farm and the successes of the farm and the family?family?

We may measure success as being We may measure success as being able to ride the flow of low milk prices, able to ride the flow of low milk prices, weather extremes, and mini disasters. weather extremes, and mini disasters.

With adoptive grazing principles all With adoptive grazing principles all sized dairy and livestock producers sized dairy and livestock producers have been able to place a value on have been able to place a value on more than dollars and cents:more than dollars and cents:

Family time Family time Reduced stress Reduced stress Involvement in the community Involvement in the community Time to devote toward other interest.Time to devote toward other interest. Less dependency on equipment. Less dependency on equipment.

has changed the farm operator from being on the has changed the farm operator from being on the edge of major health issues to one of ease and edge of major health issues to one of ease and looking forward to each new day the good Lord looking forward to each new day the good Lord provides us. provides us.