Match Made in Heaven, Livestock + Crops is a three-year venture that aims to bring livestock back into cropping operations. The goal is to boost soil health and the farm’s bottom line.
Co-director of the project, Laura Paine, says that they’re in their second leg of the project. They’re surveying farmers about the opportunities and challenges in integrating livestock into crops. She says it’s easy to be a part of that through their website: https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/match-made-in-heaven-livestock-crops/
Paine says Match Made in Heaven: Livestock + Crops is based on the premise that there’s increased interest in soil health and protecting water. She explains as agriculture becomes more specialized in one operation, such as cash cropping, the benefits of livestock are lost. This project aims to help farmers think of ways to reintegrate livestock into systems that may not currently have them.
She says farming practices that integrate crops and livestock, such as grazing cover crops or crop residue, can create mutual benefits. Crop enterprises can save on fertilizer costs, break pest and disease cycle and market their cover crop as forages. Livestock enterprises can use cover crops and crop aftermath to stretch the grazing season into winter.
The first order of business for ‘Match Made in Heaven’ was an infographic that depicts those benefits: https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/match-made-in-heaven-livestock-crops/#infographic
‘Match Made In Heaven’ will span three years across six states. Next year, each state will identify a case study farm that has successfully integrated crops/livestock into its operation. A financial study of these farms will guide the creation of a calculator-type tool. Also, it will recommend protocols that other farms can use. Each farm will host a field day. Finally, the project will create a resource library with tools for both educators and farmers.
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