Bob and Karen Breneman, Rio, are the latest agricultural producers to join the Discovery Farms Program. The Brenemans milk 70 cows and have been rotationally grazing their cattle since 1993.

Bob”s parents purchased their farm in the late ”40s. In 1970 Bob began farming with his two brothers. They installed a manure pit, a 200-cow freestall barn and a milking parlor – the latest technology in the early ”70s. Over the next decade Bob”s brothers left the dairy operation, leaving Bob and Karen with a major labor shortage. Not enough hours in the day to manage their dairy the way they wanted, maintain their equipment, manage their crops and have a little time left over for themselves.

Bob, exploring alternatives to their labor- and time-intensive situation, attended a statewide grazing conference in the early ”90s. There he met grazers from all over the state who shared their experiences. He came home from the conference knowing grazing was something he wanted to try. “It was all over after that,” Bob laughs, remembering his doubts about whether or not grazing would work for them.

In 1993 Bob and Karen started rotationally grazing their cattle. It took three years to fence the whole farm. They”ve never regretted changing from freestall to rotational grazing, and actually wish they”d gone to grazing sooner. From their initial state-of-the-art investment, today they only use the milking parlor, a maternity area, and a herd health area.

“This is a healthier lifestyle,” Karen says. “There is a high level of management with rotational grazing, but we also have time to pursue other interests besides farming.” Karen is an avid gardener and Bob enjoys woodworking and making furniture.

Today the Brenemans” entire farm, about 200 tillable acres, is in grass. They try to put up 80 acres of first cutting and 60 acres of second cutting grass to use in winter, but this varies according to weather and paddock productivity. The Brenemans have sweet corn silage available nearby, a cheap feed source they”re happy to utilize. Their paddocks are mostly orchard grass, with some canary grass and brome grass. These grasses do well on the Brenemans” sandy soil.

The Brenemans say there is no grazing management template that will fit every farm. Every farm is different, and you”ve got to analyze your operation and take advantage of opportunities in your individual situation. “We”re on sandy soil, which is not as productive for crops, but it handles cattle grazing quite well,” Bob says. The Brenemans also have some natural wind breaks around areas of unproductive land that work well for overwintering areas.

The Brenemans” herd has evolved from all Holsteins to today”s mixed bag of Jerseys, Normandes, a few Milking Shorthorns and Dutch Belteds, and various Holstein crosses. Bob and Karen want cattle that produce high milk solids volume and they need cattle that will produce milk without a lot of grain. They say they”ve enjoyed working with the Normande cattle most, as they have an easy-going temperament and are hardy animals that shine during winter months.

The Brenemans are looking forward to Discovery Farms research projects getting underway on their farm. “We feel strongly that grazing is an environmentally sound way of farming,” say Bob and Karen. “We want to be part of the solution,” and help affect environmental regulations in a positive way. “Grazing is a way to stay profitable and farm in an environmentally sustainable way. It”s a better way of life for families, and safer,” Karen says.

Bob and Karen are looking to Discovery Farms as a way to get agriculture and environmental groups together – something that could solve a lot of problems. “We need to understand one another,” Karen says of the gap between environmentalists and agriculture. “We need to realize where they”re coming from and they need to understand what we need to do to make a living.” “There are a lot of responsible people farming that are just trying to make a living,” Bob says.

Discovery Farms is planning several research projects for the Breneman farm, which will provide valuable information for many grazers in Wisconsin and other states. “Intensive rotational grazing has long been touted as a highly sustainable and environmentally sound farming practice,” says Fred Madison, co-director for Discovery Farms. “It”s time we do the research to either prove or disprove that theory.”

Discovery Farms research at the Breneman farm will include evaluating rotational grazing”s economic and environmental sustainability, and trying to improve on some of the “hot spots” these systems have, such as overwintering areas and their effect on nutrient leaching and runoff, and how that affects groundwater quality in long-term grazing systems. The Brenemans will also be involved in a project that tracks farm nutrients and the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering and leaving the farm, a study evaluating farm energy usage, and a study evaluating the volume and quality of forage produced in grazing paddocks.

Bob and Karen enjoy sharing their grazing experience with other producers, especially young producers. “This is really the only way left for a single family to start dairying and not hire help or incur a large capital investment,” Bob says.

It”s important to realize, Bob says, that rotational grazing is not as easy as some producers may think. “Many producers don”t realize that this isn”t just pasture.” You can”t just put the cows out on some grass and expect to be successful, he says. “You have to be thinking ahead all the time. Managing grass is the most important thing to learn.” He says it”s not uncommon for a grazer to run out of feed quite early their first season. “You learn and adjust each year and feed lasts a little longer each year.”

The Brenemans are members of the Columbia County Grazing Network, which offers a chance to share with and learn from other producers, along with mentoring opportunities for beginning grazers. Bob and Karen say they have a lot of fun with their grass-based dairy, and feel especially good when they”ve been able to share their experiences with new grazers and see them begin to have fun with it, too.

Discovery Farms is working to assure a healthy farm economy and a healthy environment through research with privately owned farms. This research is done in real-world situations, resulting in real-world answers. For more information on Discovery Farms go to www.discoveryfarms.org or call (715) 983-5668.

The Discovery Farms Program is part of the Wisconsin Agriculture Stewardship Initiative, which also includes UW-Platteville”s Pioneer Farm, adaptive research on individual Discovery Farms and component research conducted at UW institutions. The Discovery Farms Program is in partnership with and may receive funding, support and/or services through UW-Extension, UW-Madison, UW-Stevens Point, UW-River Falls, DATCP, DNR, NRCS, USGS, ag industry organizations (such as WMMB, PDPW and WPPA), county land conservation departments, and county Extension offices.