Definition of Grass Farmer from USDA's sustainable agriculture site
Grass-based production relies on pasture or rangeland to supply the protein and energy requirements of livestock. Grazing and forage feeding replace high grain diets, close confinement and feedlot-finishing during most or all of an animal's lifetime. The producer focuses on pasture plant and soil management, and proper stocking density and rotational grazing. "An acceptable level of production can be attained as the ecological connections between ruminants, the soil, and the pasture plants is naturally maintained… Pasture-based animal agriculture promotes environmental stewardship and community development owing to the following management practices:
Use of off-farm inputs, such as diesel, fertilizer, and purchased feed, are minimized.
Use of toxic substances, such as herbicides and soluble fertilizers, is minimized or sometimes eliminated.
Limited tillage and use of perennial pastures, which store carbon in the soil while building soil organic matter, conserves soil.
Water and energy resources are conserved through monitoring and appropriate technologies, such as irrigation monitoring, solar and wind technologies, and biofuel development and use, where applicable.
Proper plant and animal genetics, such as locally-adapted pasture grasses and low-maintenance animals, are selected.
Planned grazing systems that favor grass growth contribute to biological diversity.
Marketing food to local communities, reducing the distance food travels from farm to plate, provisions the community with better, fresher food.
The development of local processing plants is fostered, which adds value to local animal products while providing employment and economic development.
A management philosophy is developed that values health in people, animals, plants, and soil." Lee Rinehart, Pasture, Rangeland, and Grazing Management. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 2006. Available at ATTRA Website:
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/past_ran ... html#final (8/23/07)]