Study Examines How and Where U.S. Cow-Calf Operations Use Rotational Grazing

Rotational grazing is a livestock management practice in which livestock are cycled through fenced grazing areas known as paddocks. Producers use it to manage the amount and quality of forage, animal health, and water quality. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other organizations promote rotational grazing as a way to support the environment and increase farm income. NRCS includes rotational grazing in its larger package of grazing practices and has long provided livestock-related financial assistance through USDA working lands programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). In 2018, about 40 percent of all cow-calf operations adopted some form of rotational grazing, according to a recent study by USDA, Economic Research Service.