What’s in a Pasture Walk?
There’s a lot to be gained aside from a free meal by attending a local event and rubbing shoulders with other farmers and agricultural professionals.
If you’ve been to one pasture walk or field day, you’ve almost certainly been to more because field days are like potato chips – once you try them, you can’t stop. They’re incredibly valuable. Many farmers find these events to be the absolute best way to learn the tricks of the trade. However, getting to a field day or pasture walk can be tough with so many competing priorities in life. This year, in particular, there is a VERY robust pasture walk season happening all over Wisconsin, providing fantastic farmer-focused resources to help improve both operations and bottom lines. Even farms not actively looking to improve their operations often use these events as an opportunity to talk shop and hear what other farmers are up to.
This is why so many local farmer-led groups invest their time in field days and pasture walks. There’s no better way to see and learn than by visiting other farms and hearing diverse perspectives. This article will walk you through what a typical event looks like and share insights from a recent pasture walk at the Conards’ Heaven on Earth Farm, located just north of Baldwin, Wisconsin, in the Dry Run watershed.
The Conards implemented the winter-feeding practice of bale grazing for the first time last winter. With bale grazing, bales are set in a grid pattern before winter, and cattle are given access to a few bales at a time. This minimizes the use of equipment during the winter months and distributes nutrients to improve forage production and soil health in subsequent years. The purpose of the pasture walk was for attendees to learn why the Conards decided to bale graze, how it fits their farm goals, and what they learned in their first year of implementation. In the remainder of this article, we will describe the Anatomy of the Pasture Walk – the different components of the event.
Meet the Farm
Kevin Conard explained that before purchasing the farm, it was managed under continuous corn and was left eroded, compacted, and performing poorly under row crops. He deep-ripped the land and began transitioning it to pasture. For the past six years, winter management meant feeding cattle in a sacrifice area. Now, utilizing bale grazing, Conard explained how he and his wife opened access to seven new bales every 5 to 6 days once pastured forage was no longer available. The 5’x6’ bales were placed 25 to 30 feet apart and fenced off in groups of seven in early December. The timing of bale placement can be tricky. Several farmers mentioned they try to get their bales placed before deer season, as they’ve grown tired of getting caught in snowstorms every year when pushing the task into December.
Conard talked about the lay of the land and the factors he’s had to consider, especially slope and wind exposure. He chooses to keep bales wrapped until feeding to avoid the risk of hay blowing away. Because of this, he still needs to bring his tractor into the pasture weekly to lift and unwrap the bales. UW-Madison Extension Grazing Specialist Jason Cavadini noted that some farmers prefer to unwrap bales while setting them up, so they can avoid using equipment during the winter. It depends on which management practices work best for the farm.
Practical Problem-Solving
One dairy farmer in attendance told the group he was considering bale grazing but had concerns about cows escaping. Conard gave the same advice many other grazers give: “Buy the best fencer you can afford.” He uses a 24-jewel fencer with six ground rods, energizing five strands of wire year-round. The farmers then had a general discussion about fencing preferences and experiences, how to control weeds along fence lines, and how they manage snow to keep their fences working. One attendee noted that he turns off his bottom two wires as snow builds up. His bottom strands are only 6 inches off the ground, which he said has been extremely effective for predator control, as he also raises poultry and smaller livestock.
Cavadini shared his approach, keeping three strands on around the whole farm and leaving the bottom fourth wire un-electrified. He mows the inside and outside of his fences once in the spring and “convinces” his kids to weed whack the fence lines as needed in the summer. He’s changed his philosophy on hot fences—he used to turn off any sections the cattle weren’t in but now leaves them all on throughout the grazing season to avoid dealing with shorts due to weed growth when turning the next section on.
Research Presentation
Cavadini then presented data collected from a statewide on-farm bale grazing project. As part of the project, forage quality samples were collected from hay, and nutrient values were calculated. The data showed that the manure and residue left after bale grazing were worth $610 of nutrients per acre. Jason noted that very few farmers would apply nutrients at such high rates, which is why rotating bale grazing sites across the farm from year to year is so important and valuable. Conard pointed out a different pasture where he plans to place bales next winter.
A common concern with bale grazing is soil compaction. The project found no significant difference in soil compaction between bale-grazed and non-bale-grazed sites. The farmers discussed compaction and why it’s a challenge. Ideally, silt loam soil should be about 25% air. When compaction is high, there isn’t enough oxygen for plants to grow, and hard soil becomes a physical barrier to roots. Cavadini noted that the main goal after bale grazing is to get forage re-established, as growing roots are the best way to break up compaction. Many farmers present, including several experienced bale grazers, agreed that a light discing might be needed to establish a good forage stand the following year.
Sharing Experiences and Ideas
One farmer who had visited Cavadini’s farm at another field day years ago noted that seeing a farm 2-3 years after bale grazing had occurred was helpful. The pasture recovery from winter was exceptional and convinced him to start bale grazing on his own farm. Cavadini noted that the trend continues—his pastures that received bale grazing in previous years are holding up better during this wet grazing season. Conard mentioned that the mild winter last year “made it hard to get stuff done.” He adjusted his routine to open the bales early in the morning, using the nighttime frost to avoid getting stuck in the mud.
There was also some disagreement about using bale feeders. However, most farmers agreed that the loss of hay without feeders makes them well worth the investment. One farmer thought he would need twice as much hay without feeders, and others agreed that 20-30% would easily be lost without them. Conard saw this firsthand last winter, as the two bales he routinely fed without feeders disappeared quickly, with the lead cow climbing on top and using them as bedding.
Food & Connection
On the walk back from the pasture toward the grill and farm-fresh burgers and veggies, the group discussed cleaning up hay remnants after bale grazing. One farmer noted that dragging created more clumps to deal with, while another shared their experience burning the remnants in the pasture. Over dinner, conversations continued about what to try next, with fencing labels and pricing information being exchanged, along with neighborhood news.
As you can see, there’s a lot of valuable information shared and learned at field days, with practical discussions and ideas happening all the time. If you’re interested in attending a field event but aren’t sure where to find information, reach out to your local farming community. Your Extension agent, Farmers Union chapter, or local Farmer-Led Watershed Council will all have plenty to share. If you prefer to find out online, follow @farmerledwatershedcouncil on Facebook to see notices for upcoming events.
The Dry Run Farmer-Led event was hosted with research and planning support from UW-Madison Extension, the Dry Run Farmer-Led Watershed Council, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, and the Department of Agricultural Trade & Consumer Protection. These groups are working together to promote farm successes that are sustainable for our local communities. For more information on upcoming events hosted by local farmer-led councils, you can follow four councils on Facebook at Facebook.com/farmerledwatershed or visit us online at farmerledwatershed.org.
Tara Greiman is the Director of Conservation & Stewardship for the Wisconsin Farmers Union. She works with farmers to promote and share the benefits of soil health practices and intentional resource management throughout the state. She can be reached with questions or feedback at 715-492-0329 or tdaun@wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
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