Click here to download the 2008 Grasslands Utilization Bulletin
Work Team Contact
Fay Benson, CCE Cortland County
607-753-5213, afb3@cornell.edu
The Opportunity
The emphasis of U.S. agricultural research and extension in recent decades has been on confinement livestock systems based on a high percentage of grain in the animals’ diet, as opposed to grass-based systems which are independent of, or minimally reliant on grain for feed. Some areas of NYS, however, lack the soil resources best suited for grain production. Fortunately, our topography, climate, rainfall and soils make many of these same areas ideal for grazing, including those left behind by corn-based agriculture.
The current resurgence in grass-based agriculture is driven by four key factors: 1) profitability and other benefits of grazing systems for the farmer; 2) environmental benefits of grazing; 3) rising consumer demand for alternatives to confinement reared animal products; 3) availability of land suitable for grazing; and most recently, 4) rising grain prices from the competition for tillable cropland for energy crops. Many small livestock and dairy farms are capitalizing on these trends by reducing their reliance on grain for feed and adopting “management intensive grazing” systems. For the state as a whole, and all NY livestock farms, these trends represent a significant opportunity for enhancing rural economic development and environmental protection through better utilization of our grasslands resources.
In addition, the landscape of rural New York has seen an increase of goldenrod and brush, as farm use of land is on the decline with only the most productive land being used for production. Latest numbers show that there are 3 million acres of under-utilized land in the state. Productive management of these idle and under-utilized land resources can potentially contribute significantly to the social and economic health of rural areas of the state. The NY Grassland Utilization Team was organized in the summer and fall of 2007 to identify strategies to increase livestock utilization of the grasslands of New York State.
Work Team Goals
This work team will provide a venue to discuss and develop strategies to increase livestock utilization of the grasslands of New York State. This dialogue will help clarify opportunities and the barriers for existing and future livestock based industry. Based on these discussions the Work Team will identify and advocate for needed communication, education, research and policy initiatives to expand the production and marketing of livestock products which utilize New York’s grasslands in a fashion which is financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable.
Work Team Members
Chuck Blood, Farmer
Fred Griffen, Farmer
John Kiechle, Farmer
Mike Thonney, Cornell Animal Science
Chanda Lindsay, Black River RC& D
Mike Baker, NYS Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
Fay Benson, Cornell Small Farms Program/CCE Cortland County
Jim Grace, CCE Steuben County
Martha Pickard, Adirondack North Country Association
Karen Sullivan, USDA NRCS, Norwich
Activities to date, April, 2008
For our first project, the team reviewed data on the ownership of underutilized acreage in the state. One major land-use survey shows the following breakdown:
By far the largest portion of this acreage is the “Residential vacant land over 10 acres” This portion is land that is being unused and is most likely waiting for a development opportunity. The Work Team believes this is the critical area where work is needed, for the following reasons:
Team members participated in the Northeast Grasstravaganza held in Binghamton NY on March 27&28th. Many topics were relevant to the team’s mission. The team is now gathering information about projects and programs that are related to its mission:
Upcoming activities
A spring/summer meeting is being scheduled. Agenda will include the “Grassland Utilization Resource Manual.” Content of the Grassland Utilization Resource Manual will include:
