The Work to Support Grazers in WI

Good News from Chuck Anderas, MFAI Associate Policy Director:

There’s an exciting bill making its way through the Wisconsin State Legislature right now that, if passed, would fund technical support and grants to help farmers adopt managed grazing —a practice that’s good for the land, animals, farmer well-being, and rural economics. This is a proposal we have been working on for some time with a broad coalition of bipartisan partners.

MFAI Associate Policy Director Chuck Anderas at the Wisconsin State Capital April 3rd, testifying in favor of the Transition to Grazing Bill.

The Transition to Grazing Pilot Program has already gained bipartisan support in both the State Assembly and Senate as part of biannual state budget negotiations. The agriculture committees in both chambers have held hearings this April on their budget priorities and the bill has garnered positive support not only from legislators on both sides of the aisle, but also from a broad range of farm industry and environmental groups. Supporters include Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Clean Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Land+Water, and the Dairy Grazing Alliance.

If signed into law, the Transition to Grazing Pilot Program would provide grants of up to $40,000 to help farmers shift to managed grazing systems over three years. The money could be used to pay for a number of conservation practices like fencing and water lines,  technical assistance, seed and pasture establishment, or other costs for making the transition. 

Michael Dolan, founding member of the Iowa Country Uplands Producer-Led Watershed Group, at the Wisconsin State Capital testifying in favor of the Transition to Grazing Bill.

Farmers showed up in force at the Capitol to testify in favor of the bill this month. Among them was Michael Dolan, a seventh-generation farmer and founding member of MFAI's Iowa County Uplands Watershed Group.  Michael currently farms with his younger brother, who recently graduated from college. He testified that managed grazing was the reason he decided to come back to the farm - because of the financial benefits of the system. Other farmers in attendance also testified to the financial, environmental, and social benefits of grazing: healthier soil, more weather resilient farms, a more peaceful, positive environment for humans and livestock, and stronger rural communities.

Grazing is the reason I came back to the farm because it provides a certain lifestyle and profitability on the farm. Today, there's not much profitability on farms in Wisconsin so this is a very important bill to pass... Over 85% of grass-fed beef sold in this country is imported, from places like Australia and New Zealand. So they receive the premiums on their beef, and all of the ecological benefits that come with managed grazing. Here in the Driftless Region we have highly erodible land that is well-suited for grazing. -Michael Dolan, Seven Seeds Farm

Michael Dolan explains managed grazing at a field day touring his Seven Seeds Farm in Spring Green WI. Four generations currently live and work there. Michael and his younger brother use regenerative design and grazing practices to raise grass-fed organic beef, pastured pork and chicken.

I had the opportunity to testify as well, focusing on the broader societal benefits. Grazing helps the land infiltrate water, rather than letting it run off, which is crucial in the face of increasing climate-related disasters.

Chuck Anderas, MFAI Associate Policy Director, at the Wisconsin State Capital testifying in favor of the Transition to Grazing Bill.

Consider this:

• In the 1980s, Wisconsin had 5 billion-dollar weather disasters.

• In the 1990s, there were 4.

• In the 2000s, that number jumped to 13.

• In the 2010s, it was 16.

• Between 2019 and 2023 alone, we’ve had 21.

  
  

That means that we’re now averaging the same amount of billion-dollar disasters per year as we used to average in a decade. 

Farming systems can play a huge role in how much water is either infiltrated or runs off. Managed grazing, like supported in this bill, is one of the best ways for a farmer to make a good living while infiltrating a lot of water and helping the state to mitigate those disasters downstream. 

From a fiscal perspective, this is one of the most cost-effective water quality investments Wisconsin can make.

• Reducing phosphorus at municipal wastewater treatment plants can cost $500–$1,500 per pound.

• In contrast, transitioning 40 acres from corn and soybeans to managed grazing can reduce phosphorus at just $30–$50 per pound.

  
  

That’s as little as 3% of the cost of other strategies. It’s a textbook example of prevention being far more cost-effective than remediation.

Iowa Country Uplands Producer-Led Watershed group member Michael Dolan and Chuck Anderas, MFAI Associate Policy Director, at the Wisconsin State Capital last week, testifying in support funding for managed grazing across Wisconsin.

There’s still a lot to be done in support of the bill. Although the bill has received hearings, the next big step is ensuring it’s included in the state’s biennial budget.

You can help. Sign up for action alerts to stay informed about the bill’s progress and to receive timely opportunities to participate.

Managed grazing supports healthy farms, clean water, and a climate-prepared Wisconsin. Let’s make sure this bill becomes law.