Rotational grazing on A-Plus Farms
By Matt SabasPosted June 11, 2025
Tim Alderson and his family strive to implement conservation practices on their 210-acre cattle farm in Pittsylvania County by improving surrounding water quality, an effort made possible through the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share (VACS) Program.
Mr. Alderson’s first conservation cost-share project with Pittsylvania Soil and Water Conservation District in 2010 completed a total of four stream exclusion and grazing land management projects. With assistance from the VACS program through Pittsylvania SWCD, Mr. Alderson has now implemented extensive livestock stream exclusion and alternative watering system practices across A-Plus Farms, installing over 12,000 feet of stream bank fencing and 15 watering troughs. His exceptional use of best management practices earned him a Grand Basin Clean Water Farm Award in 2023.
Rotational grazing
Mr. Alderson implements rotational grazing by separating cattle into two herds. A-Plus Farms created 19 smaller paddocks by installing cross fence to implement their rotational grazing system. Each paddock consists of 10 to 13 acres. He moves cattle every week to different paddocks so that each paddock has time to rest and regrow before being grazed again.
“We rotate about every three days, maybe less than that in the summer, and then typically feeding in two or three paddocks in the winter,” said Mr. Alderson. “But in the spring and fall, when grass is really growing, about three days of grazing gives us almost 60 days of growth. We have better herd health. Our resources are extended more with rotational grazing. Creeks are clear and ponds are not red with sediment.
Rotational grazing is a grazing management system that has numerous environmental and economic benefits. By dividing grazing areas into smaller paddocks and rotating livestock through them, farmers allow pastures time to regenerate. This improves forage quality and quantity, facilitates deeper root systems and enhances soil structure, leading to more resilient pastures and increased productivity over time.
By preventing overgrazing, rotational grazing helps reduce soil erosion, enhances water infiltration and decreases runoff into nearby streams and rivers, all of which protect water quality. It supports better manure distribution, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and contributing to healthier soil microbial life. Rotational grazing can also increase carbon sequestration in soil.
Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District
For information on implementing best management practices like rotational grazing on your operation, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcdlist.
Pittsylvania Soil and Water Conservation District contributed to this post.
Categories
Soil and Water Conservation
Department of Conservation and Recreation
