Range & Pasture | NRCS Illinois
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Natural Resources Conservation Service

Illinois


United States Department of Agriculture
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Grazing in Illinois

Grazing in Illinois

  • Grazing Features
  • Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!
  • Publications & Other Information
  • Computer Based Grazing Programs and Excel Workbooks
  • NRCS Grass Land Contacts

Grazing Features

NRCS Knows Grazing
Illinois NRCS values the benefits good grazing management offers Illinois producers and their natural resources. We offer conservation programs and practices specifically designed to help graziers find success in sustainable and profitable operations. NRCS grazing assistance is targeted to all types of livestock operation s—beef, dairy, sheep, goats, bison, etc.

NRCS works alongside many Illinois partners committed to grazing—The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition (GLC), University of Illinois Extension specialists, and others who value grass and forage production, good grazing management techniques, and planning. NRCS has support staff—two Grass Lands Specialists—who work with all county level Field Office staff, partners and clients to create quality grazing systems.

Grazing Programs & Practices
NRCS programs most relevant to graziers include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Organic EQIP options. In addition, NRCS offers valuable resources and guidance such as the Illinois Grazing Manual (see information and link below).

For information on Grazing with the Conservation Stewardship Program

“Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!”


Back in 2010, NRCS and GLCI launched an effort to promote the art and science of good grazing management through a campaign called “Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!” To learn more about these new educational materials or to speak to someone about using these materials to promote grazing at a local field day, demonstration site or workshop, please contact your local NRCS District Conservationist.

Photo of the four grazing bannersWith feed costs always on the rise, Illinois livestock operators might be ready to consider the benefits of a GRAZING MANAGEMENT PLAN. “Good Grazing Makes Good $ense!” is Illinois NRCS’ newest information campaign. These materials detail benefits and options of sustainable and profitable grazing systems and they tell you how to make it work on your ground.

Below are grazing resources and helpful information. For more information contact your local NRCS county office.

The following documents require either Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word.

  • NRCS grazing programs & conservation practices (PDF 594kb)
  • Illinois Grazing Manual
  • Illinois Grazier profiles & success stories
  • Radio Public Service Announcements (DOC 33kb)
        (Contact Paige.buck@il.usda.gov (217) 353-6606 to obtain CD or mp3 files of PSAs)
  • Grazing solution ‘how-to’ videos  (NRCS & U of SC)
Publications on Grazing

Cover of Illinois Grazing manual

Cover of grazing and reduced storage feed document

Illinois Grazing Manual
Pages from Illinois Grazing Manual are available to downloaded as a PDF

Extending Grazing and Reducing Stored Feed Needs
(PDF, 3.66 MB)

Illinois NRCS 2021 Grazing Planner
(PDF, 7MB)

Other Grazing Information Web Sites and Organizations

  • Grazing Lands Technology Institute
  • NRCS Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
  • GLC Newsletter
  • Events, Pasture and Livestock
  • Illinois Forage and Grassland Council
  • Information of Illinois GLC
Computer Based Grazing Programs and Excel Workbooks
Document Name File Type and Size

Pasture/Hayland/Livestock Inventory Worksheet

528il_sws_11-29_2012.docx (shortened form)
528il_lws_11-29-2012.docx (full form) 

Microsoft Word

[DOCX, 88 kb]
[DOCX, 77 kb]

Planning for Grazing System (Graze4 Link) - Field Office Technical Guide (usda.gov)

Illinois Fence Design  - Field Office Technical Guide (usda.gov)

 


 

 

 

 


NRCS Illinois Grass Land Contact:

Matt Bunger, State Grazing Land Specialist
2118 W. Park Court
Champaign, IL 61821
217-353-6641
E-Mail: matt.bunger@usda.gov

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