Livestock farmers can cut their feed bills, boost the size of their earnings and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay by taking their animals out of the barn and letting them graze on grass.
This is the message from the Maryland Grazer's Network, a recently established farmer-to-farmer mentoring program set up to promote the economic and environmental benefits of an agriculture process called rotational grazing.
The network - the first of its kind - will help innovative farmers spread bay-friendly farming practices among their peers while bringing healthy, grass-fed livestock to consumers.
"We are responding to the public's desire to purchase locally grown products that are raised in environmentally friendly ways," said Michael Heller. He is the leader of the network and manager of Clagett Farm, a demonstration farm operated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation near Upper Marlboro.
"A beef farmer can double his profit by switching to a grazing operation, where the cows feed on grass as opposed to feed grains," said Heller.
He said a grazing operation reduces the energy costs required in planting and harvesting grain for livestock feed.
"Let the cows do the harvesting," he said. "Let the cows spread the manure."
Heller said the demand for grass-fed beef is growing in Maryland and farmers can double the price they receive for their beef by selling directly to consumers.
He said few, if any, supermarkets carry grass-fed beef, which is lower in saturated fats and considerably more healthy than beef from cows fattened in stockyard operations.
Grazing is more prevalent in the dairy industry where farmers say grass-fed cows give 30 percent less milk, but this decline is more than offset by cuts in production costs.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network are sponsoring the program.
They contributed $425,500 to operate the Grazer's Network for the next three years. The bulk of the funding will be used to pay farmers to teach other farmers about the practices and benefits of raising livestock on grass.
"To reduce agricultural runoff from reaching the bay, we need to encourage new practices and partnerships that make both economic and environmental sense," said Allen Hance, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust and co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network.
"By investing in these types of programs, we are helping spread ideas that will benefit farmers and the bay in the future," Hance said.
Heller said grazing operations could also be used by farmers raising sheep and goats.
He said that between a third and a half of all the farms in Maryland raise beef cows. Only about 5 percent of these farms raise grass-fed beef.
"The mentors will be our teachers," Heller said. "They are farmers that have been doing it for years. They know the mistakes that people can make. They do it well.
"Their primary job will be teaching farmers to do a better job of growing grass," he said. "If you grow good grass, you get great beef cows."
Also, Heller said, having fields in grass is second only to forest in preventing runoff into the bay.
The grazing mentor program will get off to a modest start.
"We will start with eight members this year," said Heller. "Four beef farmers, three dairy farmers and a goat farmer.
"This is a three-year project," he said. "Hopefully, by the end of three years, we will have 30 or 40 farmers involved."
Heller expressed hope that the state or the U.S. Department of Agriculture would pick up the cost of the program at the end of the three years.
The network is operated by representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the University of Maryland Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Future Harvest - Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is taking its own action to promote consumer purchases of fresh-from-the-farm meat products, including beef, pork, poultry, lamb and emu.
It has designated March as local meat month in its Maryland's Best program, which offers a Web site to link growers and buyers of state farm products.
"Maryland livestock producers raise some of the best and freshest meats available," said Agriculture Secretary Roger L. Richardson. "Maryland Department of Agriculture is encouraging consumers to continue buying locally produced meats and other farm products."
During March, some farms are offering coupons for 10 percent off purchases of up to $100.
For a list of participating farms or to download the coupon, visit: http--www.marylandsbest.net.