Rotational Grazing Adoption in Ohio and Missouri

Commodities

Practices

Rotational grazing, also referred to as management-intensive rotational grazing (MIRG), regenerative grazing or adaptive multipaddock grazing is a transformative livestock management practice that seeks to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing soil health, optimizing forage utilization, producing nutrient-dense food, and bolstering economic and climate resilience. Despite its myriad benefits, adoption rates remain disappointingly low due to a complex web of socioeconomic, environmental, and policy barriers. This groundbreaking study aims to unravel these obstacles and identify the key drivers and constraints behind the adoption of rotational grazing in Ohio and Missouri-two states with rich agricultural diversity and distinct policy landscapes. Leveraging data from the 2025 Ohio Farm Poll and 2025 Missouri Farm Poll, alongside in-depth semi-structured interviews and field observations with graziers, this research employs a robust mixed-methods approach. The initial phase involves a comprehensive quantitative analysis of survey data to uncover relationships between farmer practices and a range of predictors: farmer demographics, farm characteristics, health and well-being, financial status, environmental perceptions, and engagement with institutions and policies. This will be complemented by qualitative insights from on-farm interviews and observations, providing a nuanced understanding of the intricate factors influencing grazier decision-making. Open-ended interview questions with rotational and continuous graziers will delve into themes and factors that surveys might miss, revealing the hidden dynamics at play. Lastly, this mixed-methods analysis will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of environmental and rural sociology, by synthesizing findings with a holistic analysis that bridges ecological, economic, and sociological-behavioral dimensions of rotational grazing management. By centering farmer stakeholders as equal partners in shaping future best practices, scientific research, policy support, and knowledge dissemination, this study aims to uncover the elusive paths to adoption. The findings will pave the way for diffusing agricultural innovations that enhance the resilience of the U.S. agricultural and food systems.

This project will address critical knowledge gaps regarding the drivers and barriers to adopting rotational grazing-based systems in the Midwest. Farmers, extension agents, and community leaders will increase their knowledge of rotational grazing's benefits for quality of life, soil health, animal welfare, and farm resilience. They will better understand the region-specific barriers and policy challenges that limit adoption, while gaining skills to assess grazing feasibility and adapt practices to local conditions. Attitudes toward rotational grazing will shift as participants recognize it as a viable and beneficial practice for both economic and ecological sustainability. These outcomes will lead to changes in behavior: farmers will adopt or expand rotational grazing practices, integrating them into their existing operations. Extension agents will incorporate rotational grazing insights into educational programs and technical assistance, tailoring them to the identified barriers and opportunities. Policymakers will use this information to inform program development and incentives that support adoption. Together, these changes aim to strengthen farmer-led innovation and community resilience, ensuring that research findings are directly translated into meaningful action for sustainable agricultural systems. This research will also engage with the popular debate surrounding the sustainability of beef production, specifically by highlighting how rotational grazing systems can address common concerns about sustainability, scalability, soil health, nutrition, and resource use while promoting ecological and economic resilience.