Profitable Pastures

By Christina Papenfuss

Soil Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Pasturing livestock can be profitable. The costs of feed and fertilizer have gone up, leaving little money left over. The highest cost in most, if not all, livestock production systems is feed. Many producers use grazing to reduce costs for their operations. Properly managed pasture-based systems use land efficiently and provide high production per acre. Rotational grazing is a management technique that can help make a profit from pastures. With rotational grazing, only a portion of the pasture is grazed at a time, while the rest “rests.” Well-managed pastures can reduce the need for fertilizer and time spent spreading manure.

Rotational grazing can produce healthier livestock. Better nutrition and lower stress levels can lead to healthier livestock that live longer, which can increase income. Healthier livestock can lead to lower veterinary bills.

Not all land can grow row crops. Converting some of the steeper, inefficient cropland acres into pasture will help in reducing the costs of planting a crop each year. Grazing is a way to grow a crop (grass) on land unsuitable for traditional row crops such as corn and beans. Livestock can use the grass and make otherwise unproductive land productive.   

Grazing benefits the land itself. Pastures improve soil tilth and fertility as well as reduce compaction and erosion. Pastures can improve water drainage, reducing standing water after rain and make the land more resilient to drought. Pastures can reduce the number of weeds, including noxious and poisonous weeds. Studies have shown the benefit of grazing as a tool for conserving wildlife habitat and keeping prairie healthy.

A profitable pasture can be developed by considering goals and taking steps to achieve them. The NRCS staff can assist you with developing a plan to expand grazing land and maximize forage yield.