2. Educate dairy farmers on pasture-based dairy farming methods.
3. Develop an aggressive economic development program to encourage establishment of pasture-based dairies in North Carolina.
2. Establish a seasonal, grazing-based demonstration herd at NCA&T.
3. Develop a farm-scale grazing-based dairy system at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in Wayne County.
2. Demonstration herd at NCA&T has started setting up pastures.
3. Pasture-based dairy at the CEFS funded.
4. Advisory group for CEFS dairy has been established.
The Regional Center for Sustainable Dairy Farming Systems received funding from USDA and EPA in 1994 to convert the NCSU Lake Wheeler Field Laboratory to a pasture-based system. Currently, about half the milking herd ia being handled in the traditional free-stall/dry lot system with feed provided at the milking center. The other half of the herd is maintained on about 75 acres of pasture to reduce feed and labor costs and waste- storage and handling requirements. The systems will be monitored to determine the feasibility of the pasture-based system for implementation by NC dairy farmers. A mayor part of the monitoring will include impacts on manure management, nutrient cycles, and water quality. In 1997, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Wayne County will receive a new pasture-based dairy farm to be evaluated under Coastal Plain conditions. The educational programs for these sites will consist of tours, newsletters, and demonstrations of facilities.
2. Establish a broad-based economic development committee to pursue establishment of pasture-based dairies.
3. Actively seek interested individuals to locate pasture-based dairy systems in North Carolina.