Welcome to Broome County

1
Welcome to Broome County
HELLO
click your way through a tour of grazing in the
county
2
Introduction Background
Broome Co. is a mix of urban, suburban, and rural
communities land uses. Broome County
Information Landbase 707 square miles
Population 200,000 Income from
Agricultural Sales 24 million
Farmed Acres 85,800 Number of Farms 610
(65 dairy, 230 beef, 90 small ruminant, 170
horse, 45 tree/produce, 10 other)
3
What is Graze NY?
Graze NY is a multi-county, multi-agency
partnership in central NY dedicated to promoting
rotational grazing and assisting producers with
planning, design, and implementation of
rotational grazing systems. It includes
personnel from Soil Water Conservation
Districts, Cornell Cooperative Extension agents,
Natural Resources Conservation Service staff
from Broome, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga,
Tompkins Counties ( incorporates Tioga
Seneca Co.). This effort is made possible by
Congressman James T. Walsh.
4
GRAZE NY in Broome County
Graze NY allows Broome Co. to place a priority on
rotational grazing and make a concerted effort to
implement viable grazing systems in the county.
It began 10 years ago and now consists of a
partnership between Broome Co. SWCD Cornell
Cooperative Extension. We provide technical
assistance (planning, design, layout, nutritional
agronomic consultation, etc.), as well as,
offer many other outreach, financial,
programmatic assistance that will be detailed
later in the tour.
Since its inception, Graze NY has assisted over
300 producers. Currently, we are actively
working with more than 60 producers, helping them
start, improve, manage their grazing systems.
Additionally, over 200 contacts 100 farm visits
are made each year to deliver the required
assistance.
5
Livestock Grazing in the County
6
We work with many types of livestock across the
county. Consisting of different species,
once a relatively large dairy county, there has
been a shift to more beef small ruminant farms
there also seems to be an an increasing number of
horse owners in the county
7
...breeds,...
8
..shapes,...
there are a few bison alpaca farms in the area
9
.colors,..
10
. sizes.
11
many farms we assist tend to be relatively small
(15-30 head)
160 cow dairy
6 custom grazed beefers
Our clientele includes both large and small
farms..
a 450 cow dairy, grazing their 80-100 dry cows
heifers
4 cow Highland herd
12
same Highland herd, started this past year, now
the herd is at 6 head growing
several dairy beef graziers in the county have
multiple years experience
as well as, new experienced graziers.
buffalo herd started just this fall
13
System Design
As in most areas throughout the Northeast,
systems are designed based on animal size, class,
numbers, as well as, forage quality
production. In most cases we use 1/2 - 1 day
residency periods for dairy cows 3.5 days for
beef herds, dry cows, small ruminants and 7
days for horses alternative livestock.
14
break wire moved every 4-12 hours to maximize
intake minimize wastage
strip-grazing excess forage
Alternate Grazing Strategies
stockpiled forage
animals were strip-grazed through stockpiled
orchardgrass/clover MaxQ fescue/clover
12/1/03
10/28/03
15
Grazing Challenges - never seem to have a
normal year
1) Spring Flush - Like most of the Northeast, we
can grow a lot of grass. The problem is, the
majority of it comes in a 2-3 month timespan. 2)
Upland Soils - A large percentage of the grazing
in the county occurs on hill ground, which tends
have the poorest soils. (heavy, wet soils high
silt/clay content low pH rocky or shallow to
bedrock). Therefore, production is hampered and
amendments are needed. 3) Excessive Rainfall -
Can make grazing messy at best and impossible
at worst. Both lowland (flooding) upland
(water retention) soils can be troublesome. 4)
Drought - Grass goes from green to brown, then
there is no grass. 5) Combination of Excessive
Rain Drought - Seems to be the case more and
more. Worst of both worlds. 6) Improving Native
Pastures Pasture Renovation - Many graziers
start on old pastures or fallow ground which
needs to be improved (lime, fertilizer, seed).
This can be both time consuming costly. 7)
Early Winters Late Springs
16
WET, WET, WET
2003 was one of the most continually wet years
in the recent past - one producer recorded the
following rain totals for the year Apr. -
1.5 May - 4.1 June - 3.4 July - 7.3
Aug. - 2.9 Sept. - 7.8 Oct. - 5.8 Nov. -
2.8 (snow)
Problems - accessibility - health concerns -
decreased pasture quality - decreased production
heavy rains really put a damper on this grazing
system back in 1999
17
Wet weather also presents problems like this,
that are common on many farms when the rains come
(and dont stop!).
18
Drought
This pasture was looking pretty good in June,
but.
19
..here is the same pasture after 2 months with
little to no rain
It is certainly difficult to graze properly in
conditions like these.
20
Converting Idle Ground Into Viable Pasture
with a combination of grazing, mowing, liming,
seeding, idle fields in the area can again become
productive
21
Equipment, Outreach, Programs, Projects, Funding,
Special Events
Along with the technical assistance that Graze NY
provides, several other benefits, assistance,
outreach are available.
22
Outreach
The Grass is Greener (written by the Broome Co.
SWCD) goes out 3-4 times per year.
Forms of outreach include a newsletter,...
23
pasture walks,.
We generally try to have 2-4 pasture walks in the
county every year. They are excellent ways to
provide information and expose producers to new
different things. All types of topics are
showcased discussed.
24
fencing workshops
..workshops,..
annual workshops
grazier panel
25
..demonstrations,..
2000 High-Tensile Fence Demo
2001 No-Till Drill Demo
26
2002 No-Till Demonstration Monitoring Project
day of seeding - 9/21/02
germination - 10/22/02
11/5/02
3/9/03
27
5/5/03
6/8/03
12/1/03
weeds beginning to emerge - 6/19/03
needs to be hayed, clipped, grazed - 8/14/03
more from the 2002 no-till demo
28
.. special events.
Empire State Pasture Day - 2002
a day of speakers, demonstrations, exhibitors
The GNY staff organized held a state-wide
pasture field day. We also assist with other
regional events (like Grasstravaganza 2004)
29
a fencing kit is also available to help producers
get started rotationally grazing
the District has a Truax no-till drill that can
be rented by any area landowners or producers
kit includes plastic fiberglass posts,
polywire, reels,
handles, and a charger
Equipment Tools
fencing tools that can be used by producers
- spinning jenny - wire cutter - crimping tool -
SmartFix fence tester - measuring wheels
these materials are available for producers
reference
this ATV seeder can be used for frost seeding
30
Funding Sources Programs
A large component of Graze NY in Broome Co. is
securing funding and utilizing programs to assist
producers with the implementation of sound,
sustainable grazing systems
31
State Agricultural Grant Funding
The Broome Co. SWCD has been rather successful in
securing State funding (Agricultural Water
Quality Grants) for grazing system
implementation. These grants are generally based
on a 75-25 cost share, where participating
landowners provide the 25 in time, labor, and/or
money.
1999 - awarded a 67,000 grant for implementation
on 10 grazing farms
2000 - awarded a 210,000 grant for
implementation on 24 farms participated in
another large grant (590,000) with 34,500
allocated to 5 Broome Co. farms
2003 - submitted 2 grazing grants
1) 450,000 (27 farms) - for 160,000 of
high-tensile fence, 16 alternate water supplies,
350 ac. of pasture improvements, 6 laneway
projects (in total, it would affect 1600 ac.
2300 animal units)

2) 240,000 (19 farms) - for
64,000 high-tensile fence, 7 alt. water
supplies, 340 ac. of pasture improvements, 3
laneway projects (affecting 1000 ac. 1600
animal units)
currently, both appear to have a very good
probability of being funded
32
USDA Programs
Broome Co. has also utilized federal funding to
assist producers with grazing related
implementation and, in many cases, help protect
the environment improve wildlife habitat.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Buffer
Initiative
Nearly 40 producers (many more have shown
interest) have taken advantage of this program,
which rewards landowners for creating buffers
around waterbodies on their farms. To date,
250,000 has been spent on BMP implementation
rental payments and an additional 300,000 has
been allocated.
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
In its first 2 years this program funded 13
grazing contracts in Broome Co. 53,800 was
allocated to assist with 72,000 worth of
projects.
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
Five producers (11 contracts total) signed up for
this easement program to protect grasslands.
Unfortunately, no contracts were awarded in
Broome Co.
33
Typical CRP Buffer Project
pond
pasture cows grazing
stream xing
fence
stream
buffer
34
BMP Implementation
Pasture Improvement - lime, fertilizer, planting,
no-till frost seeding Alternate Water - ponds,
wells, springs, solar powered
Laneway Stabilization - stone lifts, geotextiles
Fencing - mostly
high-tensile
With the technical support Graze NY provides and
by combining multiple funding sources programs,
producers have been able to implement many Best
Management Practices (BMPs) that have helped them
begin, improve, and expand their grazing systems.
35
Fencing
Nearly 220,000 of high-tensile fence has been
installed in the county over the past 4 years.
100,000 funded through grazing grants, 65,000
funded through CRP, over 14,000 through AMA, and
nearly 40,000 installed through other programs
and/or by landowners on their own.
36
Most of the fencing has been installed by
contractors, but...
37
.some producers have been buying/using
equipment and constructing the fence themselves.
38
Alternate Water Supplies
39
Sources
well
ponds
water wagon
40
Gravity Water System
pond
buried water lines
waterer
lane
water connection points
41
Dispensing
42
Solar Technology
although there are no solar watering systems in
Broome Co. currently, several farms are exploring
this type of system as a viable option
43
Pasture Improvements
44
We want to go from pastures like these and
convert them.
45
into something more like this.
46
Laneway Improvements
stone lift laneway in Chenango Co.
47
Situations we want to avoid and fix.
48
AgriwebTM
The Broome Co. SWCD has assisted with three
projects utilizing this cellular, geosynthetic
product. All projects have worked well and the
producers have been extremely pleased.
49
after grading and during installation - 12/5/01
before installation - 11/29/01
1 year later - 11/26/02
functioning well - 6/28/03
50
before - 12/19/01
after construction - 12/29/01
11/26/02
51
As you have seen, grazing is alive and well in
Broome Co. and we deal with a wide variety of
producers, livestock, projects, programs.
There is much more that can be done and we will
continue to assist producers with beginning
improving their grazing systems.
Goodbye
If you have any questions about anything you have
seen in this presentation, feel free to talk with
Dan Vredenburgh during the conference or contact
him at the office. (607-724-9268 or
broomesoil_at_juno.com)
52
The End
Thank you for joining us on this tour of grazing
and Graze NY in Broome County.