Grazing System Information  -  Vermont NRCS 

This web page provides tools to help the conservation planner, farmer, and consumer understand and promote the vitality of grass-based farming in Vermont. 

This webpage is intended to promote the concept that grazing should be a first management choice, not a last resort.  The page will be continually updated to include tools such as online grazing courses, websites that focus on grazing and innovations in grassland agriculture, example grazing plans and maps, as well as information about availability of grants and financial assistance to apply and promote grass based farming.   Links, references and facts about current policy and rules in USDA NRCS programs will also be included.  New links and information will be added to this page on a routine basis. 

Contact Kevin.kaija@vt.usda.gov if you have comments about content of the site.

Vermont NRCS Grazing Management Planning Tools

The following documents require either Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Excel

Vermont Grazing Plan (2,065 kb)   This tool is used to estimate the number of pasture acres and paddocks which will be necessary for a rotational grazing system.  This workbook also provides a format for final documentation of the prescribed grazing plan.

Pasture/Hayland/Livestock Inventory Sheet (552 kb) This field sheet provides a method for capturing necessary farm management data during the grazing plan development process .

Vermont Pasture Condition Score Sheet (35 kb)   Excel format of the Vermont NRCS Pasture Condition Score Sheet.

Vermont Pasture Condition Score Sheet (130 kb) Adobe Acrobat format of the Vermont NRCS Pasture Condition Score Sheet.

Example Grazing Plan

The following documents require  Adobe Acrobat .

Example Grazing Plan 1 (98 kb)   Map 1 (163 kb)   Map 2 (143 kb)   Map 3 (132 kb) 

More Grazing Management Tools and information

The following documents require  Adobe Acrobat .

Pasture Estimating Device (11 kb) PED is a tool that has been developed by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New York State to help producers evaluate the amount of forage that is available for grazing in pastures that are between 6 and 12 inches tall.

Some Grasses of the Northeast (Large File - 11.3 mb) (University of Delaware) A key for grass identification by vegetative characteristics.  This field manual is useful for keying out lesser known grasses often found in pastures or old meadows.

Guide to Pasture Condition Scoring (Large File - 5.32 mb) (Grazing Lands Technology Institute)

Pasture Condition Scoring Sheet (56 kb)  (Grazing Lands Technology Institute)

Protecting Riparian Areas (709 kb)  (ATTRA-Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas)

Managed Grazing in Riparian Areas (501 kb) (ATTRA-Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural  Areas)

Cost Share Assistance For Grazing Systems (634 kb) Information regarding cost share assistance for implementation of eligible conservation practices through USDA conservation programs.

FREE sources of information and publications

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (University of Vermont)

This website offers a multitude of publications and other information sources available for purchase and or available as free downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF documents.

Links To Other Grazing Information Websites and Publications

Center for Sustainable Agriculture (University of Vermont)

The Center for Sustainable Agriculture was established in 1994 as a unit within the University of Vermont to integrate university and community expertise to promote sustainable farming systems throughout Vermont and the region.

grassfarmer.com

A comprehensive information site on grass-based farming systems from American Farmland Trust.

Grazing Lands Technology Institute web site (NRCS)

The Grazing Lands Technology Institute (GLTI) provides technical excellence to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other appropriate customers in the acquisition, development, coordination, and transfer of technology that meets the needs of grazing land resources, landowners and managers, and the public.

Grazing Lands Technology Institute Photo Gallery

Grazing Lands Technology Institute Technical Publications

National Organic Program

National Range and Pasture Handbook

The National Range and Pasture Handbook (NRPH) constitutes Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) basic policy and procedures for assisting farmers, ranchers, groups, organizations, units of government, and others working through conservation districts in planning and applying resource conservation on non-Federal grazing lands throughout the United States. This handbook may also serve as a general reference for grazing lands resource information. It was prepared primarily for NRCS use, but others who are interested in grazing lands conservation may find it useful.

Northeast Grazing Guide

This site was developed as part of the Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium. The site gives you access to Research Summaries, Extension Resources, Farmer Projects, and Links to other grazing websites.

Pasture and Grazing Management

Grazing information and resources from the University of Vermont Crops and Soils website.

Vermont New Farmer Networks

The 'Resource Guide for Vermont's New and Aspiring Farmers' is an effort among members of the Vermont New Farmer Network, a collaboration of agricultural organizations, to better serve new and aspiring farmers.

Pasture For Profit

The following agencies and organizations cooperated in the development and publication of this pamphlet:

    * Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Sustainable Agriculture Program

    * Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Wildlife Management

    * Wisconsin Nutrient and Pest Management program with the Center for Integrated Agricultural 

       Systems, University of Wisconsin, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

    * University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension

    * University of Minnesota-Extension

Links To Plant and Forage Websites

Forages.org

The Forage Species Selection Tool is made up of several programs which access numerous databases to provide forage species suggestions for New York State, taking into consideration both the available soil type and the intended forage use.  Soil type can be selected from a list, or the program can estimate soil type based on zip code, county, and basic soil characteristics.

VegSpec 

Vegspec is a web-based decision support system that assists land managers in the planning and design of vegetative establishment practices.  VegSpec utilizes soil, plant, and climate data to select plant species that are (1) site-specifically adapted, (2) suitable for the selected practice, and (3) appropriate for the purposes and objectives for which the planting is intended.

Links To Grants and Financial Assistance Program Sites

Grassland Reserve Program Information  (Vermont)

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property.   The GRP was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill with the intent of protecting grasslands which play a vital role in protecting water quality and providing wildlife habitat.  Priority grasslands targeted include grasslands threatened by both agricultural and non-agricultural development, grasslands that provide habitat to threatened and endangered plant and animal species, and grasslands currently used for grazing operations.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
The Grazing Land Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is a nationwide collaborative process of individuals and organizations working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and the health of the nation's privately owned grazing land.

Also visit The Vermont Pasture Network.

Conservation Programs

Conservation programs administered through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Vermont.

Last Modified: October 01, 2007

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