New Penn State Project Studies Dairies Utilizing Mob Grazing in the Northeast
Posted: September 16, 2012
Mob grazing is a practice that is being evaluated and used by experienced and new grazing dairy farmers. As grazing management can be highly variable on farms due to many factors, the goal of this project is to create “snapshots” or case studies of five farms and use the case studies to encourage a holistic discussion among learners.
Mena Hautau and her colleague Brian Moyer are currently interviewing farmers and measuring soil and forage quality on farms. Pastures will be sampled at least three times. After the study, case studies will be created in print and on the website for use with grazing groups, organizations and individuals. Look out for a field day for grazers, where farmers will share their knowledge and lead discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of mob grazing.
Project partners include: USDA-ARS-Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, NRCS (New York) and PASA.
