These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

Check out the news from the land grant university in your area.

Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts

WSU Receives $81,000 Ag Pilots Grant

Last Updated: January 14, 2008 | Related resource areas: Beef Cattle

Print


A Washington State University Extension beef specialist has received a grant to test the feasibility and replicability of converting land into a vertically integrated grass-fed beef production system.


Released Jan. 8, 2008

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Don Nelson, Washington State University Extension beef specialist, has received a two-year $81,000 Ag Pilot grant from the state to test the feasibility and replicability of converting land coming out of the Conservation Reserve Program into a vertically integrated grass-fed beef production system.

The Conservation Reserve Program was created by the 1985 Farm Bill to remove highly erodible crop and pasture land from production for 10 to 15 years. Farmers receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance for practices to protect the land in exchange for voluntary agreements to remove designated acres out of production for 10 to 15 years. More than 1 million acres of land in Washington is enrolled in CRP.

“This pilot seeks to test a holistic approach to the profitable production of value-added natural or organic grass-fed beef by becoming an integral part of the production chain based on cooperation of the segments from conception to consumption,” Nelson said.

“We seek to develop a replicable strategy to help farmers make the transition from conventional dryland wheat production to sustainable alternatives that are profitable, good for the environment and that allow farmers to remain on the land and support rural communities.”

The study will take place at G & L Farms in the southeast corner of Adams County. Gregg Beckley, owner of the farm, will be co-project manager.

The Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network will serve as the fiscal agent for this project. The WSFFN is a grassroots, statewide advocacy organization for sustainable agriculture and family farms in Washington.

The Agricultural Pilots Projects program was created to develop and test regional programs and management practices that could reconcile conflicts between existing agricultural land uses and protection of critical areas.

-30-

http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/reportertools/news/2008/nelson-beef-2008-01.html

Contacts: Dennis Brown, (509) 335-2930, brownd@wsu.edu

Don Nelson, (509) 335-2922, nelsond@wsu.edu


Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.

Comments

Subscribe to this page's comments

Post a comment about this topic

Please keep comments on topic. To ask a question, please use Ask an Expert. All comments are held for moderation. Comments that include profanity, personal attacks or other inappropriate material will not be posted to the site.

Did you find this page useful?

No one has rated this article yet. Why not be the first? what is this?
not useful
very useful
 1  2  3  4  5

This resource area was created by the:

Beef Cattle Specialists

community

Copad_beef_cattle

Resource Area Feeds

In This Resource Area

Beef Tips:


Glossary:

Resource Area Tags

animal manure management biosecurity corn cotton industry dairy cattle disasters diversity entrepreneurship environment family caregiving field crops fire ants genetics geospatial technology glossary Herd Health horses horticulture integrated pest management management nutrition organic production parenting personal finance reproduction science soybeans swine Technology wildlife damage management