Heisners Return to Grazing Based Dairy Farming
Mineral Point couple Jim and Jane Heisner swap confinement farming for a Voisin rotational grazing system on their 322 acre Iowa County farm. They moved from 500 acre annual plowings and chemical weed control to pasture based dairy and sheep operations with 90 acres in permanent pasture. They started with three paddocks in 1984, expanding to eight and planning 18 in three years to enable rapid rest periods. The approach aims to improve pasture quality, reduce feed needs, and raise milk yields from about 11 000 to over 14 000 pounds per cow with higher butterfat, while building 4 acre paddocks and temporary fences for 36 units soon.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim
Jane Heisner
Mineral Point Farm
Mr. Heisner
Heisners adopt Voisin grazing to revitalize Wisconsin pasture
The Heisners switch from traditional farming to mob grazing across a rented Waldwick farm in southern Iowa County. They replace hay harvesting with cattle driven pasture restoration, reduce costs, and advocate the system as a practical, common-sense approach.
Wisconsin Farm Counts Fall Below Eighty Thousand
Wisconsin faces a continuing farm decline with figures indicating the number of farms may dip under 80,000 this year, the era of rapid consolidation and mechanization driving the dwindling counts. Dairy operations employ more than 44,000 farmers as foreclosures loom for thousands while lawmakers debate a temporary moratorium to ease financial strain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wisconsin
Russell Feingold
D Middleton
Rodney Moen
Whitehall
Congress
Sustainable agriculture urged by Vermont professor at extension meeting
Professor Bill Murphy of the University of Vermont argues for sustainable or alternative agriculture, urging a return to pastures and mixed farming. He predicts strong demand for graduates, cites Voisin grazing, paddock rotation, and reduced confinement as ways to save soil, lower costs, and reconnect farmers with their land.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bill Murphy
Plant and Soil Science
University of Vermont
Murphy
University of Wisconsin
Vermont
Also Mentioned on This Page
Mineral Point
Iowa County
Heisner
Heisners
Illinois
SCS
Mrs. Heisner
Jim Massey
Madison
Carrol Spencer
The
Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service
Mr. Spencer
Sen. Feingold
American Motors Corp
Kenosha
Chrysler
Senate
Assembly Agriculture Committees
Capitol
Sen. Moen
Anthony S. Earl
al Fish
Federal Credit System
Farmers Home Administration
United States
Alaska
Hawaii
Mr. Murphy
New Zealand
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