Project

Southern Indiana Farmer-to-Farmer Grazing Project

Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Project Timeline: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028

With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Wallace Center at Winrock International is working closely with local partners to expand a farmer‑led grazing transition model in southern Indiana to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff across the Blue‑Sinking Watershed, which drains into the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Gulf of America. The project builds on existing locally led conservation efforts, scaling support from one county to a four‑county region and focusing on practical, regenerative grazing practices that reduce erosion and sedimentation while strengthening farm viability.

Through this project, the Wallace Center and partners will provide participating farmers with financial incentives, technical assistance and peer‑to‑peer learning opportunities, including cost share support, one‑on‑one advising and farmer field days. Key partners include the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District, which will lead the expansion of the financial and technical assistance program, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, which will collaborate to adapt the Grazescape decision‑support tool to local soils and climate conditions. Together, these efforts aim to advance scalable, farmer‑driven solutions that protect waterways while supporting resilient agricultural systems across the region.