Grazing planning with a personal twist
CHAZY, NY – “Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” – Jean Luc Godard
When a grazing planning workshop gets mentioned, there’s usually an eye roll because it suggests brain-crunching goal setting, too much math and scenario-building toward some future outcome. Many scoff, “I like doing way more than this mind game.”
But what if the planning process was integrated with a series of true stories from farmers giving context from the outcome of strategic decisions? Would there be fewer scrunched faces?
That was the premise of “Grazing Planning Towards What YOU Want,” an event at the prestigious William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute for 25 pasture-based farmers and conservation professionals. It was headlined by grazing practitioners Brian and Kim Maloney of Brylee Farm from Thurso, Quebec; Cheryl Bruce, American Farmland Trust’s senior livestock and grazing specialist from Cornwall, VT; Pete Hagar from Hager Hill Beef Farm and Clinton County SWCD manager; and Troy Bishopp from the National Grazing Lands Coalition.
The cohort led conversations on doing practical grazing math that balances animal needs with the forage inventory while considering a prudent stocking rate against the goals within their operations.
“Planning works,” echoed the Maloneys.
“Between the planning tools and the grazing chart, it keeps us focused on observing the changes on the ground so we can pivot our decision-making around weather, growth patterns, finances, cattle performance and life goals. The monitoring process takes the surprises out as we graze succinctly with more awareness,” said Kim.
Remembering last year’s drought period, the group talked extensively about recovery periods and residual heights as guests chimed in on how they managed through the season and how that tough time will influence 2026 grazing decisions.
“Breaking old paradigms and revisiting goals with a financial lens is always a good refresher,” said Bruce. “The plan you create will likely be wrong, but the value is in the thinking process.
“We are often comfortable with things as they are because they are known. It’s called ‘status quo bias.’ When we can effectively evaluate risk and minimize it, making change becomes less daunting. That’s how we start to break certain paradigms. Instead of ‘that won’t work here,’ we can reframe it to ‘how could that work here?’” Bruce also highlighted her experiences and key tools and practices for resiliency while providing mentoring support to farmers, who have a rough year coming up.
Each farmer talked about their use of paper grazing charts that match their grazing plans and maps in keeping track of where the paddock moves are going and where they’ve been.
“I like having a simple visual tool I can use in pencil to keep me informed on a weekly basis and plotting out scenarios, usually around the weather, work or vacation opportunities,” said Hagar.
“NatGLC supports these peer-to-peer gatherings because it’s the real conversations and perspectives that drive thoughtful future grazing decisions for producers,” Bishopp said.
Agronomist Myra Lawler added, “The Lake Champlain Basin Program is grateful to producers who work diligently on their farms to promote and improve good grazing practices that protect the vital waters of Lake Champlain and the TMDL watershed goals.”
The robust meeting ended with a tour of Miner’s world-renowned dairy facilities. The workshop was sponsored by the Northeastern Region National Grazing Lands Coalition, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, Clinton and Essex Soil & Water Conservation Districts, American Farmland Trust (New England) and Ferme Brylee.
by Troy Bishopp
