Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF)

Emphasizing Business Planning and Pasture-Based Farm Management

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Staff
  • Former Students
  • Program Offerings
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Apply

A Pasture-Based Approach

September 11, 2015 by mattraboin

WSBDF is the first school in the country to teach Management-Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG or “managed grazing” for short).  The profitability of managed grazing systems has proven very competitive compared with confinement systems. Grazing is the approach to farming that we know best, and we also believe that it is a perfectly tailored system for beginning farmers.

A Managed Grazing System in Southwest Wisconsin
A Managed Grazing System in Southwest Wisconsin

In a managed grazing system, a farmer divides his or her pasture into sections called paddocks and moves animals from one paddock to another with the object of moving into each paddock when the grasses are most nutritious and palatable.  WSBDF students learn how to plan for herd size, paddock size, paddock layout, and grazing periods in order to maximize efficiency in a grazing system.  Students also have ample opportunities to learn from experienced grazers who have made it work on their own farms.

The managed grazing model fits beginning farmers because of its relatively low startup costs compared with investing in heavy machinery for growing grain as feed.  The environmental benefits of managed grazing also make it an attractive system that lends itself to emerging markets and price premiums for organic or grass fed livestock.

According to Michael Klinker, a graduate of the program who started a pasture-based dairy farm, “I knew very little about grazing when I went to Madison, and now after I’ve done it on my operation for three and a half years, I wouldn’t do it any other way. I firmly believe that grass-based is a very competitive way to succeed in the dairy industry.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Support WSBDF:

Support WSBDF

The support of our many sponsors is what makes our work possible. Click the logo above to learn more about how you can support WSBDF.

Student Testimonials

“The most beneficial thing by far was…the network of people I met – classmates and mentors – that are actively farming…to learn from what they are doing and compare [these things] to what I’m doing.”

“The School made me think outside of the box…and look at the many ways to approach a farm business.”

“I took the grazing courses [with WSBDF]…and this is the best crash course I’m ever going to get.”

"The quality and depth of the presenters for the WSBDF has given our family a top notch how-to manual for entering into a grazing based business and life."

“The School opened my eyes up to a different direction of farming that has worked out very well for me. WSBDF was very important in my decision to start a grass-based dairy farm.”

“I really enjoyed all the speakers we had and all the real life experiences they were able to share.”

"I'm by nature a cynic who doesn't often run into programs, meetings, or groups that truly embody optimism and change, but WSBDF manages to accomplish that in a humble and practical way."

“You have the opportunity to make lifelong friends; you have so many people there that have the same interests and the same drive.”

"We came away with a barn-full of inspiration, and the solid ground-under-our-feet feeling of having been shown 'how it is' with all the beauty and the sweat right there."

“The business plan put it all into reality. It gave me confidence."

“My fears were primarily financial. The WSBDF showed me that there were different institutions…to loan me money and that is what really got me started."

"I can sincerely say that the WSBDF course was everything I had hoped for, and then some. I met a lot of great people, learned an incredible amount, and came out of the experience feeling inspired"

<< Prev
Next >>

Read more about

  • Now Available Online!
  • Learning from the Experts
  • A Business Planning Emphasis
  • A Pasture-Based Approach

Ride to Farm

Link to Ride to Farm Website

Each year the WSBDF hosts Ride to Farm, a 100K bike ride with rest stops at local farms. All proceeds from this amazing event support the WSBDF endowment. Click the Ride to Farm logo above to learn more.

Barn Dance

Barn Dance

The Partnering for Progress’s Barn Dance & Chautauqua celebrates Wisconsin’s working lands, and raises funds to support the important work of the nonprofit partner organizations, including WSBDF. And it's a lot of fun! Click on the image above to learn more!

WSBDF

Sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and by Badgerland Financial, Culver’s Restaurants, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Wisconsin Farmers Union; with additional support from the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and individual and corporate contributions to the UW Foundation WSBDF Endowment Fund. A full list of each year's contributors is available in our newsletter, available through the link below:

2015 Newsletter

Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

The WSBDF office is located in the Soil Science Building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.

Mailing Address:

1535 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone:

608-265-6437

Copyright © 2019 · Outreach Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in