Section 50.80. Prescribed grazing.

 

(1)   Definition. In this section, "prescribed grazing" or "rotational grazing" means a grazing system which divides pastures into multiple cells, each of which is grazed intensively for a short period and then protected from grazing until its vegetative cover is restored.

(2)   Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse the cost of replacing animal lots or pastures, or establishing a prescribed grazing system on croplands, that contribute sediments, nutrients, or pesticides to a water resource. This may include any of the following costs:

(a) The cost to establish or repair livestock access lanes and stream crossings to prevent instability and erosion.

(b) The cost to establish permanent boundary and main paddock fences. This may include perimeter fencing, lane fencing, portable fencing, and gates.

(c) The cost to establish good seeding stands for pasture and hayland planting.

(d) The cost to establish a livestock watering facility. This may include pipeline and pasture watering systems, wells, spring developments, and portable watering systems such as pumps, pipes, and tanks.

(e) The costs for practices that would remediate streambank erosion and streambank habitat degradation.

(f) The costs for practices that would exclude livestock from woodlands, sensitive wildlife habitat, and recreational lands.

(3)   Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse prescribed grazing costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The prescribed grazing practices comply with all of the following that apply:

1. NRCS technical guide critical area planting standard 342 (January, 2013).

2. NRCS technical guide forage and biomass planting standard 512 (January, 2013).

3. NRCS technical guide access control standard 472 (October, 2008).

4. NRCS technical guide streambank and shoreline protection standard 580 (August, 2013).

5. NRCS technical guide heavy use area protection standard 561 (August, 2015).

6. NRCS technical guide prescribed grazing standard (managed grazing-Wisconsin) 528 (December, 2008).

7. Guidelines specified in " Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing ," published by the University of Wisconsin-Extension (2002).

8. NRCS technical guide trails and walkways standard 575 (October, 2014).

9. Standards for livestock watering facilities specified under s. ATCP 50.76 .

(b) The landowner agrees to maintain the prescribed grazing system for 10 years unless farming operations on the affected land are discontinued.

CR 01-090 : cr. Register September 2002 No. 561 , eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075 : am. (3) (a) 1. to 8. Register April 2009 No. 640 , eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016 : am. (3) (a) 1. to 6., 8. Register February 2014 No. 698 , eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047 : am. (3) (a) 4., 5., 8. Register May 2015 No. 713 , eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012 : am. (3) (a) 5., 8. Register August 2016 No. 728 , eff. 9-1-16.

Note

Prescribed grazing systems can prevent degradation resulting from other pasturing practices. Prescribed grazing systems should replace summer dirt lots when they result in water quality degradation. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Copies of " Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing " are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau. Copies may be obtained from the University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX Pub. No. A3529). Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1