|
| |||
|
|
||||
|
For Consumers  Meat Sources Meat Recipes Farmer Markets For Farmers Recent News Grazing Practices Meat Sources Meat Recipes Services, Resources and Markets For Agricultural Products Program Partners Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Heifer International Weston A Price Foundation ANCA Regional Map Join Us Contact Us Recent News Newsletter Program Highlights Annual Report Board Members Publications Project Partners Staff History Strategic Plan |
Services, Resources and Markets For Agricultural ProductsFor Consumers Interested in Pasture Fed Meat and Milk Products Local Meat Sources Meat Recipes Adirondack Farmers Market Adirondack Harvest Scenic Byways Arts, Crafts and Food Regional Show Listings Looking for A Gift For Farmers What is ANCA’s involvement with farmers? Grazing Management What is grazing management? What is a grazing plan? Why do I need a grazing plan? Does it cost money? What educational programs does ANCA do for farmers? Where can I find other farmers that are grazing in my area? FAQ’s about grazing management Articles Related to Grazing Management Funding Where can I find grants for implementing grazing practices? Marketing What is the difference between grass fed, pasture raised and organic? How can I “sell” my products to customers? Where can I market my products locally? Where can I market my products online? Further Reading What are some popular grazing periodicals? What is a good grazing publication for New York State? What are some popular books about grazing? What are some popular informational websites for grazing farms? What is ANCA’s involvement with farmers? The Adirondack North Country Association’s (ANCA) and New York State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) have been working in partnership for seven years. The main objectives of the partnership are to provide technical field outreach in the development of grazing plans, field contacts and educational seminars. Grazing Management What is grazing management? Pasture is one of the most economical sources of nutrients that can be provided to livestock. When properly managed, it is also higher in feeding value than any other forage crop. Grazing management involves monitoring and controlling the pasture plants and the grazing animals. In order for pasture to be effective, we must first ensure that the pasture is, by definition, quality feed and not a brush, swamp or weed lot that we are calling pasture. A quality pasture is a grass, grass-legume or other forage combination utilized with a sufficient level of management to meet the nutritional requirements of the livestock. What is a grazing plan? The grazing plan is the result of technical assistance services provided by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) to ensure appropriate management guidelines for your farm. Our grazing plan work is done as a voluntary partnership between ANCA and the farmer to develop a fluid management document that can change in accordance with your farm’s growth, diversification and economic status. The cooperative planning approach is done to ensure grazing management strategies are in line with your visions and goals for your operation. Why do I need a grazing plan? A grazing plan is a cooperative effort between the farmer and a trained grazing technician. Whether you are new to farming or switching from a conventional system there is a large learning curve when you begin managing your pastures as your main source of forage. A grazing technician is trained to give you a general idea of how big your paddocks should be, how often your animals should be moved and what type of fencing, laneway and watering systems might work best for your farm. Grazing technicians work with a lot of different farms in a large geographic area and are able to incorporate ideas from other farms as well as provide a fresh perspective to your operation. Does having a grazing plan done cost money? No, ANCA is a not-for-profit organization and this is a free service. What educational programs does ANCA offer? Pasture walks are held at grazing farms in the region in the spring and summer. This is a time for the farmer to show off their grazing operation and answer questions about grazing strategies. Grazing workshops are usually held in the winter and early spring. The workshops can cover topics ranging from the basics of grazing; marketing grass fed products and more advanced grazing topics. The graziers in the area usually request the topics and guest speakers. Where can I find other farmers that are grazing in my area? The Adirondack North Country Association has announced the receipt of $94,250 in funding from Heifer Project International. After a year-long group-building process, Heifer International accepted the Northern New York Farmers Partnership (NNYFP) as a Project Partner. The group’s mission is to promote three major objectives: farmer-to-farmer networking, farmer-to-community education and improved farming resources and practices. ANCA administers the project through a contractual agreement with Heifer International. ANCA’s Grazing Program Coordinator, Martha Pickard, provides staff support to the NNYFP partnership. The Heifer funding enables ANCA to send farm members to conferences and assists them with livestock purchases. Contact Martha Pickard for more information or to join the group. Funding Where can I find grants for implementing grazing practices? ANCA works in partnership with county Natural Resource Conservation Services and Farm Service Agencies to provide the technical support for projects funded by federal grants. Producers that ANCA has worked with have received funding through: Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA), EQUIP, Grassland Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Program. Contact your county office for more information. www.nrcs.usda.gov Marketing What is the difference between grass fed, pasture raised and organic? There is no clear definition or enforcement of marketing your product as grass fed or pasture raised. Unofficially, pasture raised is used to convey to the consumer that pasture was the main food source for the animals but they may have been fed some grain, especially during the finishing process. Grass fed has a more strict meaning. The American Grassfed Association defines grassfed products from ruminants, including cattle, bison, goats and sheep, as those food products from animals that have eaten nothing but their mother’s milk and fresh grass or grass-type hay from birth to harvest – all their lives. For grassfed non-ruminants, including pigs and poultry, grass is a significant part of their diets, but not the entirety of their diets, since these animals need to consume grains. Many products have been, and continue to be, marketed as “grassfed”, when grass is only a part of their diet. This lack of standardization on grassfed products is just one of the reasons the American Grassfed Assocation is pushing hard for strict U.S. Department of Agriculture guides on grassfed marketing claims. www.americangrassfed.org Organic is a Labeling Term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole. http://www.optco.com/usda_act.html Benefits to Consumers of Grass Fed Meat and Milk Products Recent scientific research is showing many health benefits to grass fed meat and milk products. There is growing number of the population that is interested in buying food raised with ecologically sound agricultural practices. It is important to know these findings and be able to speak about them with your clientele. Weston A Price Foundation and www.eatwild.com are good resources for health benefit information. ANCA strives to connect consumers and grass-based producers. ANCA has recently organized the Adirondack North Country Chapter of Weston A. Price Foundation. Where can consumers find my products online? 1. “At Hardwick Beef, we provide the very best beef from animals that are raised on grass, without any antibiotics or added hormones. There is an increasing demand for safe and healthy food, and a demand for an ability to track a cow from birth onward. With mad cow disease an ever growing concern, consumers want to know if their food is safe. www.hardwickbeef.com 2. North East Livestock Alliance Where can consumers buy my products locally? ANCA has compiled a listing of farms that raise their animals on pasture. The Pasture Fed Meat Recipes and the Farm Directory serve as educational tools to consumers as well as to advertise area farms. Regional markets for grass–based farmers with value added products with shelf life: Buyer Days AdirondackCraft.com Adirondack Craft Center Mailing Lists Regional markets for grass-based farmers with food stands and/or products to sell directly to consumers: Adirondack Farmers Market Adirondack Harvest Scenic Byways Arts, Crafts and Food Regional Show Listings Looking for A Gift Regional Logos/Branding Initiatives Made in the Adirondack North Country Adirondack Harvest Marketing Workshops and Toolkits Workshops and Marketing Packets Wood Suppliers and Producers Online Database Resource AdirondackWood.com Further Reading What are some popular grazing periodicals? The Stockman Grass Farmer edited by Allan Nation and Graze Magazine are two popular periodicals. What is a good grazing publication for New York State? Prescribed Grazing and Feeding Management for Lactating Dairy Cows by Karen Hoffman Sullivan, Robert Declue and Darrell Emmick is a good publication for anyone interested in grazing. It is written specifically for grazing dairy animals but provides good solid information for any grazing set up. This publication is written for the New York State climate. This publication is available through the ANCA office and the Cortland NRCS office (607)758-3236 What are some popular grazing books? Chicken Tractor, Andy Lee and Pat Foreman Quality Pasture, Allan Nation Salad Bar Beef, Joel Salatin Why Grassfed is Best, Jo Robinson You Can Farm, Joel Salatin Farm Fresh, Allan Nation What are some popular informational websites for grazing farms? Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Heifer International Weston A Price Foundation The Meatrix www.eatwild.com www.acresusa.com www.attra.org Contact: Grazing Program Coordinator Martha V. Pickard anca-pickard@northnet.org Adirondack North Country Association 28 St. Bernard Street Saranac Lake NY 12983 518.891.6200 f518.891.6203 www.adirondack.org |
|||
|
Copyright© 2008 Adirondack North County Association/ANCA. All rights reserved. Report a problem with this page. |
|