IRRIGATION FOR DAIRY PASTURES

August 14, 2013


2012 was a dry year for most of us in the Northeast. This was a problem for organic dairies that are required to provide 30% of the cowâ??s diet from pasture for 120 days. Last summer Chandler Benson struggled to find fresh pasture for his 350 milking animals. His solution for the future was to have his father, Chuck Benson, dig a 5 million gallon pond in the middle of their grazing system. For those attending this event we will see the irrigation system and how it can be used to mitigate the risk of drought to a grazing system.  Chandler also planted Sanfoin, a legume used in Russia and Saskatchewan Canada. We will take a tour of the plot to see how it works in Central New York.