Algal blooms and other water quality concerns continue to challenge the Great Lakes, agriculture being a significant contributor to nutrient loading. At the same time, small-and medium-sized dairy farms in the Great Lakes region are heavily indebted, struggling to compete, and closing at an unprecedented rate.
This project explores how low-overhead regenerative dairy grazing can reverse this trend by offering a scalable solution for farmers, the environment, and Great Lakes communities. Low-overhead regenerative dairy grazing cuts both variable and fixed costs of production which can allow farms to be profitable even at very low milk prices. Through the project, the Wallace Center team and agricultural economist Dr. Jon Winsten (Winrock International) will work with Food System 6, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, and other partners to map out the barriers as well as the potential financial, social, and environmental impacts of this system.
For Farmers
This project will help dairy farmers in the Great Lakes Basin to create the necessary technical and business plans to create larger-herd, low-overhead dairy grazing operations. We will provide a range of services customized to each farm.
For Allied Organizations
We’re also eager to partner with organizations and companies working in regenerative agriculture, water quality, rural development, policy, and more to help make profitable dairy grazing possible for more farmers.
Years Active: 2024-2027
Low-overhead dairy grazing: A specific solution to a vexing problem
This article, written by Dr. Jon Winsten and published in 2024 by the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, describes how low-overhead dairy grazing can help producers achieve competitive profitability without exacerbating water quality and climate change problems by having their land in permanent vegetative cover.
Grazing: Economies of scale to lower overhead costs >>
This article, published in 2023 in Progressive Forage, describes Dr. Jon Winsten’s work on dairy grazing systems and the efficiencies of the large herd, low overhead model.
Facilitating Low-Overhead Dairy Grazing for the Upper Midwest: Profitable, Environmental, and Prosocial Farming >>
Low-overhead dairy grazing can give farmers greater flexibility and profitability, as well as contribute to quantifiable environmental and social benefits. This document provides an overview of the context of dairy in the Upper Midwest and a brief description of the benefits of low-overhead dairy grazing.
How can regenerative grazing for dairy production provide wins for cows, farmers and climate change? >>
In this article, Dr. Jon Winsten discusses Winrock International’s domestic and global initiatives focused on climate-smart dairy production and the importance of regenerative grazing.