The Dairy Grazing Alliance, dedicated to advancing all aspects of the dairy grazing sector, officially launched today at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Minneapolis, which runs through November 21.
This initiative builds on a pivotal meeting held in late spring 2024, where over 35 industry leaders—ranging from dairy farmers and technical organizations to government agencies and financial institutions—gathered to strategize the future of U.S. dairy grazing. The consensus? For the sector to reach its full potential, every segment of the value chain must grow. The Alliance emerged as the organization best suited to spearhead this growth.
Alliance stakeholders are committed to fostering innovation and collaboration across the dairy grazing value chain, including farming operations, consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, and research institutions. Their mission is to create new markets and develop the resources needed to elevate the entire sector.
“Since its founding in 2010, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship has made tremendous strides,” said Joe Tomandl, founder of both Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and Dairy Grazing Alliance. A fourth-generation dairy farmer from Wisconsin, Tomandl emphasized the growing consumer demand for pasture-raised dairy. “With the Alliance, we’re building on that foundation to ensure the entire value chain keeps pace. This marks an exciting new chapter for dairy grazing.”
The global market for grass-fed milk is projected to grow by 22.4% over the next decade, according to MMR Research. However, the U.S. dairy grazing sector has lagged behind this trend. The Dairy Grazing Alliance aims to close this gap by aligning stakeholders and addressing barriers like financing, research, and technical assistance, helping producers scale their operations to meet emerging market demands.
Three Key Focus Areas
The Alliance will prioritize three main pillars to drive progress:
- Enhancing Economic Viability: Improving profitability and sustainability for managed grazing farms.
- Expanding Resources and Education: Providing producers with access to training, technical support, and innovative tools.
- Building a Unified Movement: Convening stakeholders to foster collaboration, market development, and policy advocacy.
A core component of the Alliance’s mission will be to advocate for research that highlights the environmental benefits of managed dairy grazing. These practices offer powerful solutions to climate challenges, from improving soil health and water quality to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Eric Sheffer, board president of the Dairy Grazing Alliance, highlighted the broader impact of the organization. “The Alliance brings together the right expertise, connections, and strategies to drive both economic and environmental benefits,” Sheffer said. “By supporting farmers and expanding markets, we’ll demonstrate how dairy grazing can mitigate climate change, revitalize rural communities, and regenerate ecosystems.”
With a comprehensive vision and strong leadership, the Dairy Grazing Alliance is poised to transform the sector, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for dairy grazing farmers across the U.S.
