For flexibility, use temporary interior fences. The Hertzlers are not alone in their love of grazing. They are positive while many other farmers are not. One reason to smile is profit. Grazing is less labor intense than conventional dairying and makes most sense on farms that rely on family labor, says Fales.
Grazing has social dimensions as well as economical.
Fits their farm Besides the cost savings, the Hertzlers looked at cow health and topography as part of the decision to switch to grazing. For 16 years they'd managed a conventional dairy and farmed 1,000 acres of row crops. Five different droughts made corn farming unprofitable. With hay, it comes back when it rains. Today the Hertzlers buy corn using the futures market and store it, as well as stockpile hay.