While the 2023 legislative session ended without passage of the Transition to Grass Pilot Program legislation, Clean Wisconsin’s advocacy for the “Grazing Bill” hasn’t stopped.
On May 10th, Clean Wisconsin and the Schoepp Family hosted a grazing tour at Schoepp Farms in Lodi, WI for members of the Senate and Assembly agriculture committees. Seven legislative offices attended as well as members of the farm banking community, World Dairy Expo staff, and several statewide experts in soil health, water quality, and managed grazing. Since the 1950’s, the Schoepp family has been farming over 500 acres of land overlooking Lake Wisconsin. The Schoepp’s custom raise dairy heifers and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa for personal use and off-farm sale.
The grazing tour gave legislators and attendees the opportunity to see sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship in action. Participants gained insights into the principles of rotational grazing, observing firsthand how it promotes soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. Through guided tours of managed pasturelands and the eye-opening rainfall simulator experience that Sauk County Land Conservation Staff provided for the tour, attendees learned about the symbiotic relationship between livestock and land, and the positive impact of regenerative grazing practices on animal welfare, water quality and soil health. Moreover, the tour provided a platform for discussions on holistic land management techniques, water conservation strategies, and the role of grazing in mitigating climate change.
By immersing themselves in this educational experience, attendees not only deepened their understanding of sustainable livestock production but also cultivated a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of agriculture and the natural world. Attendees walked away recognizing the opportunity for policy to strengthen agricultural conservation in Wisconsin.
