HOKKAIDO, July 9 — Farmage Co., a pasturing equipment seller in the town of Tobetsu, Hokkaido, started selling Grass Money Story, a board game simulating the economics of grazing dairy farming.
The board game was developed based on the company’s knowledge and expertise accumulated through its history of supporting the spread of grazing dairy farming for over 40 years.
People from various age groups can enjoy playing the game and learn the basics of dairy farm management and the benefits of grazing.
The board game, put on sale on July 1, lets players act as dairy farmers, making decisions on pasturing plans, grassland management, cattle management and balance management.
Rules are simply designed and no specialized knowledge is necessary to play the game.
In a setting of a business cycle of 30 turns in five years, players face a wide range of problems including price fluctuations in the market, climate change impacts and emergence of rival farms.
Players are required to come up with a business strategy as a dairy farmer seeking to find the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth.
The firm hopes the board game will be used as a learning material at educational institutions and at home, as well as during training sessions of companies and municipalities.
The game can be played by two or three people, lasting 40 to 60 minutes.
The recommended age range for the board game is set at elementary school upper-graders or older.
“We hope high school and college students aspiring to become farmers, as well as consumers living in urban areas who have few chances to get involved with dairy farming, will learn about pasturing through this game,” said a Farmage official.
Grass Money Story is a board game that allows players to simulate dairy farm management. PHOTO COURTESY OF FARMAGE CO.