WSARE 2000 Farmer/Rancher Grants-FW00-008
TITLE: Tracking costs and returns in a transition to grass-based dairying
| Producers: Dean and Anjanette Martin | Phone: (530) 934-COWS |
| Technical Advisor: Barbara Reed | Phone: (530) 865-1107 |
 Cows graze on a pasture |
Dean and Anjanette Martin have received a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher Research grant for their proposal to transition their dairy from a silage/hay mixed ration and supplemental grazing operation to an intensively grazed based dairy operation with minimum use of hay commodities. They plan to compare production, nutritional value, and costs and returns of the grazing system with the hay system. The Martins hope that by using available pasture forage, they will be able to minimize off-farm feed purchases.
To complete the project, they will first prepare their 50-acre pasture for the 100 head of cattle they own. By adding fences, lanes, and water troughs, they will establish the infrastructure they need. They will sample the forage monthly to test its nutritional value. They will also track 2-3 years of transition production, returns, and feed purchase records and compare them with those of the previous two years. Finally, they will record this information and share it with farmers and other interested parties.