MDARD announces investment in dairy grazing-driven nonprofit

By Max Kappel

Report for America

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it’s awarding $276,490 grant to nonprofit Wallace Center at Winrock International, leaning heavily on a message to assist small and medium sized dairy farmers “boost profitability and improve resiliency” with grazing.

In announcing the award, MDARD touted ongoing work with Wallace Center to devise resources for farmers transitioning to increased dairy grazing. Wallace Center, according to its website, champions “low-overhead grazing” and improving feed, labor, and capital efficiency. The grant naturally comes amid the state’s ongoing longtime shift in its dairy farming landscape.

“Grazing gives dairy producers an opportunity to reduce input costs and strengthen the long-term profitability of their operations,” MDARD Director Tim Boring said in the release, noting his awareness of the pressure on small and medium operators to expand or fold. 

Between the 2002 and 2022 agriculture censuses, Michigan lost nearly 3,000 dairy farms. Total numbers of dairy cows, however, grew roughly 45%. 

Looking locally over the same timeframe, the counties of St. Clair, Sanilac, and Lapeer combined lost 249 farms while growing in herds by nearly 12%.

Some in the industry, including Wallace Center, say the loss of small farms has adverse impacts on rural economies, and has pushed remaining dairy farms to greatly increase in size and expect more production per cow.  To combat this trend, some are looking deeper into farm economics, like minimizing feed costs. 

“Dairy grazing focuses on maximizing the herd’s nutrient intake from grazed pasture, which is one of the lowest cost sources of nutrient intake,” Jon Winsten, a researcher Wallace Center is working with on implementing “low-overhead grazing,” wrote in an article published in 2024.

While the typical grazing season stretches from May through October, stockpiling forage for later grazing during the winter months could maximize value.