Our upcoming Pasture Walk and Events schedule includes the following events for 2017 listed below along with the full pdf of the schedule at the bottom of the page. If you’d like to be on an email list for future KGI activities or are interested in talking with our grazing specialists about your farm operation, please contact KGI Project Director, Cynthia Olmstead through our contact page.
2017 Events
Monday, March 13th (6:30-8:00 pm) New Gays Mills Community Center, 16381 Wisconsin Hwy 131
Tuesday, March 14th (6:30-8:00 pm) Viroqua American Legion, 120 N Rusk Ave, Viroqua
Kickapoo Landowners: Conservation Options for Your Land and Programs to fund this work!
The Kickapoo Boots-on-the-Ground Collaborative, a network of grassroots conservation organizations, focuses on promoting a wide variety of conservation practices that will conserve soil and reduce runoff on your land and in your watershed. Our staff from Southwest Badger RC&D, the Kickapoo Grazing Initiative and Valley Stewardship Network will evaluate the resources on your land and help you access programs you need to make it happen. We have information about the new NRCS Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) funding within the Kickapoo as well as general Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding. Staff from NRCS will be attending both events. See full workshop flyer here for speakers and info (click here)
Tuesday, May 2: 10:30 am Mike Lind 47664 Aspen Rd, Soldiers Grove, WI Topic: Silvopasture establishment research on converting degraded woodlots to intensively managed silvopasture. GUEST SPEAKER: Keefe Keely of The Savanna Institute. Directions: From Gays Mills: Hwy 131 N, approx. 7 mi. Left on Co Rd. C. Approx. 1 mi., slight Right onto Norwegian Hollow Rd. Travel approx. 2 mi, Left onto Aspen Rd. Fire # 47664
Friday, May 19: 10:30 am - 1 pm (you may also stay for the afternoon auction). Topic: KGI/GRG co-sponsored Seminar on Buying Cattle and Field Trip to Matthes Auction Barn in Viola, WI. Meet at the Kellogg Pavilion in Bankers Park, Viola (near the intersection of 56 and 131). Speakers include: Longtime grass fed beef farmer, Jim Munch; Former Driftless Meats & More, General Manager, Tim Rehbein & Richland County Agriculture Agent, Adam Hady. RSVP to KGI Project Director Cynthia Olmstead by May 12th (click here to register).
Tuesday, June 6: 10:30 am Christopher Baird, 12241 State Hwy 27, Ferryville, WI. Topic: Exploring facilities and/or equipment upgrade for supplementing cattle off pasture (feeding shed/feed lane or alley options) on a limited budget & reviewing current pastures & soil tests. Directions: From Seneca: Hwy 27 N approx. 10 mi. on Left. You’ll travel past Co Rd C intersection - go approx. 3/4 mi. N. Farm on the Left. From Ferryville: Co Rd C approx. 9 mi. Left on WI 27 N, 3/4 mi. N. Farm on the Left.
Tuesday, June 20: 10:30 am Wandy Peralta, 48210 Lewig Ln, Wauzeka, WI Topic: 4th year of berry production on a 25+ year rotationally grazed farm (Black Current-30 acres, Aronia Berries-4 acres, Elderberries-4 acres) with silvopasturing among the berry crops. Directions: From Steuben: Hwy. 131 S approx. 4 mi. Left on Hilldale Road. Travel approx. 1 mil Left on Lewig Ln. Follow to the end of the lane. (Levy’s Ln for GPS) Guest Speaker Invited
Tuesday, July 11: 10:30 am Jim Bassett, E8021 Solverson RD, Viroqua, WI KGI/GRG Topic: Lessons learned in starting a small beef cattle operation, sourcing cattle & selling beef retail. Jim’s “Ladder” rotational grazing and water system. Directions: From Viroqua: US14 E/61 S approx. 2.5 mi. Turn right/west on Hwy 27 S/ 82 W 1 mi. Left on Co Rd J exactly 5 mi. At intersection of J & Solverson. (Red–roofed Old Folsom School House) turn right onto Solverson Rd, farm is on the left. Enter first gravel driveway on the left back to the hay shed.
Tuesday, July 25: 10:30 am Chad Sime, 16451 Freeman Rd, Gays Mills, WI Fine Tuning pasture productivity with varied paddock breaks and rotation of cattle movement. Possible EQIP improvements. Directions: Mt. Sterling: 171 E. about 0.5 mi. to Freeman Rd. (first road to the left). Travel N approx. 1 mi. to the farm which is Just past the intersection of Freeman & Roller Coaster Rd. Farm is 3rd place on left.
Tuesday, August 8: 10:30 am Amy Fenn, 12041 Severson Rd, Ferryville, WI Topic: Pasture soil health, contract grazing, & grazing planning on a first year farm. Guest Speaker: Robert Bauer, Grazing Broker SW Badger RC&D Council Directions: From Ferryville: W. on Co. Rd. C 11.1 mi. Turn Left on Severson Rd. 1.1 mi.
Tuesday, August 22: 10:30 am Dennis & Amy Zweber, 10030 State Hwy 27 Soldiers Grove WI KGI/GRG: Topic: Conversion of cropland to pasture under the EQIP Pollinator program: discussion of species planted, lessons learned & experience with the EQIP program. Directions: Soldiers Grove: W on Co. Rd. C/Main Street 6.2 mi. Turn Right onto Co. Rd. B 4.7 mi. Left onto WI- 27S. Driveway less than .25 mi.; house on the left. If you pass Fargo Junction Bar to your right, you’ve gone too far. (NO outbuildings)
Saturday, September 9: 10:30 am Ethan & Jade Proksch, S3830 Newton Rd, Genoa WI Topic: 6th year Dairy Goat producers will highlight a new milking facility, kid barn & dry shed & steadily improved paddocks in a 22 acre, 400 goat farm. Directions: Genoa: E on 56 approx. 5 mi. Bear left on Newton Rd. 2.8 mi. to farm.
Tuesday, September 19: 10:30 am Don Austin, 1503 Austin Rd, Platteville, WI Topic: Third generation dairy farmer; started basic rotational grazing in 1987 and certified organic in 2000. Reviewing and reflecting on shade options and methods. Critique of mechanically harvested sorghum used as part of cropping rotations/renovation. Pros and cons of wood shaving bedding. Directions: From Fennimore: From Hwy. 18, Right on F 3.3 mi. Left on Commercial Street/E approx. 7 mi. Right on D 3.7 mi. Left on Austin Rd. to farm on Right.
Tuesday, October 10: 10:30 am Don Boland, 18732 State Hwy 27, Gays Mills, WI Topic: Stretching the pasture in the last fall and early winter. Re-calibrating out wintering sites and calving areas based on current soil tests. Directions: From Seneca: Hwy 27 N. Travel approx. 3 mi. Don’s farm is on the right side of Hwy 27.
Tuesday, October 24: 10:30 am Olaf Haugen, 12620 Deer Rd, Canton, MN Topic: Review of the last 6 yrs of pasture management and what the future holds. Young stock heifer management. Directions: Fillmore County: From Decorah, IA, Hwy 52 N 17 mi. to the intersection of Hwy 44 & 52. Through intersection on to Dove Road .5 mi. E on Deer 1.5 mi. Farm on E side of road.
Tuesday, November 14: 10:30 am with lunch Mike & Susan Mueller (Pastured Pork Co-op), E10581 Old Hwy 56 Viola, WI KGI/GRG: Topic: Introduction to Pasture Pork and the newly forming Pastured Pork Cooperative. Directions: From Readstown: Hwy 131 W approx. 7.37 mi. Right onto 56/131 1/4 mi. turning into Hwy. 56 approx. 1 3/4 mi. Right on Hwy G a little over 1/2 mi. RSVP to KGI Project Director Cynthia Olmstead by Nov 7th (click here to register).
Our full KGI and Great River Graziers 2017 outreach schedule (TBA) is available as a pdf here.
