What is the GRAZE NY Program?

The GRAZE NY Program was developed in 1995 with the assistance of Congressman James Walsh. Six counties in New York State were given the opportunity to provide technical assistance about Prescribed Grazing to interested livestock producers.

Participating counties continue to focus their efforts on informing producers about the benefits associated with Prescribed Grazing. This is accomplished through pasture training workshops, informational farm tours, on-site fam visits and personal contacts with interested producers.

Prescribed Grazing?

The term "Prescribed Grazing" is defined as the controlled harvest of vegetation with grazing or browsing animals managed with the intent to achieve a planned objective(s).



In order to effectively utilize the prescribed grazing concept, the management objectives for a particular plant, plant community, or animal production enterprise must first be clearly identified. Once this has been done, the frequency, intensity, timing, and duration of grazing events can be prescribed along with the method of stocking, and the kind, number, and class of animals required to meet the stated objective(s).

Cayuga County GRAZE NY Program Goals

To improve water quality of the Finger Lakes and Great Lakes Basin by reducing the inflow of sediments, pathogens and nutrients into Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles Lakes, the Seneca River and Lake Ontario, via nonpoint source pollution, through the implementation of Intesive Rotational Grazing Systems.

To organize the efforts of local, regional and federal agencies/organizations that are concerned with controlling nonpoint source pollution through the practice of rotational grazing.

To hold regular workshops, informational meetings, farm visits and farm tours to inform farmers about the environmental and finanacial benefits related to rotational grazing.

Grazing Animals Can Include:

• Dairy Cows
  
• Beef Cattle
  
• Sheep and Goats
  
• Fallow Deer
  
• Pastured Poultry
  
• Llamas and Alpacas
  
• Pigs

Why Protect Grasslands?

Although we know that grassland management is a sustainable and environmentally sound management practice for livestock, agricultural grasslands, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are also extremely valuable to ground nesting birds.

They constitute and abundant resource of large, contiguous blocks of open grassland habitat that satisfy avian life requirements and minimum home range size.

They provide suitable nesting substrate and dense nesting cover throughout the egg-laying, incubation and spring nesting season.

They provide accessible grassland habitat for the duration of the nesting season and into the crucial summer period.

For Further Information

The USDA Service Center and Soil & Water Conservation District for Cayuga County is located in Auburn. For more information relating to Prescribed Grazing and the GRAZE NY Program, contact Jason Cuddeback (CCSWCD) at (315) 252-4171 or e-mail him at jcuddeback@cayugaswcd.org

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.



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Page updated on February 3, 2012