Now in its fourth year, the Kickapoo Grazing Initiative is an exciting new public/private conservation partnership that focuses on promoting economic and environmental incentives for farmers and landowners to adopt managed grazing of Grass-fed Beef in the Kickapoo Valley in southwest Wisconsin. “Because of the benefits of increased soil organic matter, reduced runoff, and value-added healthy food
production, the KGI believes that managed rotational grazing can help protect water quality while sustaining our small farmers in the area,” remarked Cynthia Olmstead, KGI Project Director. Not surprisingly , this promotion of a healthier food alternative has been welcomed by consumers and commercial food buyers as well—with help from local marketing initiatives like the Wisconsin Grass-Fed Beef Cooperative (www.wisconsingrassfed.coop). The KGI is a partnership of Trout Unlimited, Valley Stewardship Network, Vernon County Land and Water Conservation (Ben Wojahn), and UW-Extension:Crawford County (Vance Haugen) begun in June of 2012. The newest partner to join KGI in 2013 is the Mississippi Valley Conservancy land trust based in La Crosse. In Year 4, the Kickapoo Grazing Initiative is focusing on additional outreach through pasture walks and events with partner organizations as well as direct technical assistance through our grazing specialists. KGI’s funding will help farmers and landowners develop managed rotational grazing plans with one of our grazing specialists as well as work with Natural Resource Conservation Service’s EQIP program to help offset the costs of implementing grazing management practices such as fencing and providing water sources.
