CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — The Prindle family will host a July 18 pasture walk on their Alma Center farm. The event, which kicks off at 7:30pm, is part of the Graze River Country series presented by River Country RC&D and Wisconsin Farmers Union.
Jordan and Adam Prindle returned to the family farm in 2012 and run it in partnership with their dad, Theron. They transitioned to organic in 2016 and ship milk from their 150-cow herd to Organic Valley. The Prindles have been crossbreeding from Holsteins to now mostly Jersey cattle.
Highlights of this walk include cost-shared lanes funded in part by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a bridge cattle crossing, new pasture seedings and irrigated pasture with a center pivot. The farm is also home to the first commercial black walnut orchard of improved variety nut production in Wisconsin. Heifers are grazed in alleyways between the trees.
The Prindles use cover crops, mostly winter rye after corn silage, but also radish, sweet clover and sudan grass for hay and grazing. Attendees will also see the compost barn where sawdust is stirred twice daily. The compost is spread with amendments onto pastures on the farm.
The farm address is W11245 Prindle Road, Alma Center. To get there, travel 1.5 miles south of Alma Center, turn east on Prindle Road and go 2 miles. The farm is on the south side of the road across from the brick schoolhouse.
RSVP at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com/events or to Mary at 715-579-2206.
Other upcoming Graze River Country pasture walks include:
DEER PARK — July 24, 6:30pm, Cylon Rolling Acres, 1956 240th St., raising meat goats on pasture.
TAYLOR — Aug. 16, 1-3pm, Nathan Kling Farm, W15503 Kelly Rd., adding acres and organic production.
WHEELER — Aug. 22, 6:30pm, Blue Ox Farm, N11253 St. Rd. 25, restorative grazing with sheep and beef.
COLFAX — Aug. 24, 12:30pm, John Richmond Farm, 12454 20th St., farm transition and dairy.
BALDWIN — Sept. 15, 3pm, Scott & Marie Belz, 1063 230th St., grazing beef, handling facility and River Country RC&D Annual Picnic.
HOLMEN — Sept. 22, 1pm, Todd & Tonia Wright, W7091 Gaarder Rd., working with a journeyman graduate.
COLFAX — Oct. 22, 12:30pm, Ken & Laurie Schmitt, 4988 120th Ave., rotational grazing with beef, affordable chute and alley demonstration.
GILMAN — Oct. TBD, Kevin Mahalko Farm, 34717 Highway 64, grazing dairy for grass milk.
COLFAX — Nov. TBD, Brad & Melissa Larson, N10688 Cty. M, fall cover crops & how they fit in a grazing operation.
— Wisconsin Farmers Union
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