Private Grazing Land Assistance

Overview

NRCS and our conservation partners are providing accelerated assistance to increase the quality and quantity of forage production to sustain farms, reduce erosion, and protect water quality. NRCS, in partnership with the West Virginia Conservation Agency, is staffing 14 grassland technicians to provide assistance to farmers statewide. Activities are coordinated through the West Virginia Grazing Lands Steering Committee, in accordance with a strategic plan.

NRCS and our conservation partners are providing accelerated assistance to increase the quality and quantity of forage production to sustain farms, reduce erosion, and protect water quality. NRCS, in partnership with the West Virginia Conservation Agency, is staffing 14 grassland technicians to provide assistance to farmers statewide. Activities are coordinated through the West Virginia Grazing Lands Steering Committee, in accordance with a strategic plan.

2004 Accomplishments

In 2004, Resource Management Systems (RMS) grazing plans were developed on 37,939 acres and installed on 38,263 acres of grassland. Nearly 3,220 people participated in 59 grazing land activities including field days, pasture walks, and grazing schools. There were 33 active demonstration projects.

In the second year of the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) seventy landowners requested assistance to preserve 7,490 acres of grassland. Two were chosen for contracts which encompassed 308 acres.

West Virginia is in the planning stages for the second Appalachian Grazing Conference being held the first part of March in Morgantown.

West Virginia held its fourth annual Grassland Evaluation Contest in Jackson’s Mill in April. The contest hosted 14 teams from West Virginia and Ohio. Monroe County 4-H won the contest and competed in the Mid America Contest in Missouri, in which they won the 4-H division and placed fourth overall.

Success Story

A Monroe County beef farmer raises angus cross cattle. In August 2004, he began a winter feeding pilot project. After removing two cuttings of hay, the producer applied 50 pounds of actual nitrogen to the hayfields and began stockpiling the grass.

Polywire and step-in posts were used as a temporary fence to allocate only enough forage for fourteen yearling heifers for 3 days. This field was 9 acres of mainly fescue forage. Grazing began December 1 and continued through March 22 without any additional forages fed. Hay feeding costs were cut tremendously. The only hay fed was from March 22 until spring turnout April 15.

Special Projects

The Appalachian Small Farmer Pasture-Based Beef Systems Outreach Program is funded through Conservation Operations. This initiative assists West Virginia livestock producers in being economically competitive with the changing market, and to ensures quality of product. Sound economic grazing systems, marketing strategies and uniformity of production quality ensures the competitiveness of livestock operations and help maintain small farm enterprises. This initiative will provide access to the needed one-on-one technical assistance.

The NRCS will continue working cooperatively with ARS Appalachian Soil and Water Research Laboratory and the WV Conservation Partnership. This effort is complimentary to the regional program of WVU, VPI and the Appalachian Soil and Water Research Laboratory for the development of Pasture-based beef systems for Appalachia. This cooperative effort delivers programs and assistance to preserve and enhance rural Appalachian small farm communities.

The critical issues addressed are: Economic viability of small farms Environmental Water Quality

• West Virginia has the highest grassland erosion in the United States. Sediment and nutrients are a water quality concern.
• Many small farmers have feeding areas along streams. Accelerated outreach is needed to continue to provide technical assistance to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Action Plan.
• Continuation and evaluation of riparian grazing and winter-feeding demonstrations

The WV Grazing Land Steering Committee has developed a strategic plan and is providing leadership for its implementation. NRCS in partnership with the WVCA has staffed 14 grassland technicians to provide assistance to producers statewide.

Grassland work groups are providing direction within the local Conservation Districts.

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