Elmark Farms is a 4th generation 230-acre family farm. It began as a conventional 40 cow dairy farm and now produces pastured poultry (chickens and turkeys) as well as pork, lamb, beef, and eggs. The rotational grazing system also includes custom grazing of cattle and horses from other farms.
Dan is passionate about intensive grazing and its benefits. Intensive grazing is a method of rotational pasturing that has a high animal-to-acreage ratio. When managed properly, the animals are moved every 12 to 24 hours to a new plot so as not to be detrimental to either the land or the animals. In addition, since most worms are species-specific (i.e. horse worms have no impact on cattle), by grazing different animals over the same ground, less harmful worms are ingested. Organic matter in the soil also increases which translates into increased water holding capacity. This is especially important in Elmark Farms' shallow soils. And finally, this method of husbandry allows the animals to be in their natural habitat while being protected from predators. As a result, Dan finds that the land is able to give the same production value without the inputs he used to need, and the nutrients stay—or increase--in the soil.
Modeling his methods after those of Joel Salatin, a pioneer in grass based farming and people friendly food, Dan believes strongly that in allowing animals to behave in the way nature intended produces healthier, more contented animals. For example, chickens love to scratch in the dirt to find bugs, horses like to continuously graze, and cows find comfort in lying down in a grassy pasture.
In the end, rotational grazing produces a better product and the animals, environment, and families benefit.