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The Center's Pasture Team (Jenn, Kimberly and Juan) is here to help Vermont's livestock farmers. Whether you've got a new farm and your first animals and are seeking to get started on grass farming right, or you're a seasoned farmer looking to convert to or improve your grass-based operations, we are here for you.

We know that every situation is unique and hope you will feel free to get in touch for help in addressing your farm's needs.Ìý

In the meantime, here are some practices and knowledge we find especially useful.Ìý

• Start Your Grazing Plan Here
• Addressing Pasture Compaction (includes information on Forage Radishes & Keyline Plowing)
• Introduction to Management-intensive Grazing (PDF download)
• Teaching Livestock to Become Weed Managers
• Bedded Pack as a Tool for Your Farm

Well-managed pasture means profitable farms, clean water, healthy soils, healthier animals and healthier food for the human community.Ìý Soil that's rich in organic matter is the foundation for all of this.Ìý Healthy soil is more resilient to water and temperature extremes, and able to sequester atmospheric carbon.Ìý It acts as a sponge for water and nutrients, keeping critical waterways cleaner too.

Most of our work is ultimately around healthy soil, and we're glad to talk with you about how to work towards your own soil health goals for your farm.Ìý In the meantime, please find the below information on practices and knowledge we find especially useful.

• Pasture Management & Soil Conservation
• Pasture Management & Water Quality
• Soil Compaction
• Introduction to Management-intensive Grazing (PDF download)
• Why Management-intensive Grazing? I already have animals on grass (PDF download)
• Using Grazing Animals to Control Invasive Plants
• Soil Compaction (includes information on forage radishes & keyline plowing)
• Bedded Pack as a Tool for Your Farm

We investigate and share information about approaches that preserve financial profitability while building healthy soil and clean water, providing for animals' health and comfort, andÌý supporting farmers' social and family goals..

Below are links to research, reports, and other forms of information that may be helpful for farmers, ag. service providers and research colleagues about specific elements of sustainability and livestock farming.Ìý Please contact us if you've got further questions, ways we can help or collaborate, or are seeking other information.

• Guide to Farm-Friendly Solar
• The Vermont Wool Project
• Biodiversity & Cattle Wellbeing
• Community Biomass Project
• Agricultural Water Quality

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The Center's Pasture Program was established in 1996, as a partner in the with and the . The Pasture Program provides staff support to Network activities, as well as pursuing independent research and education.

Our primary purpose is to carry out research to help farmers stay at the leading edge of sustainable practices. We support farmers by offering practical guidance, various forms of technical assistance, education, and outreach. As you'd expect, research is primarily situated on farms throughout the state, matching leading-edge practices and inquiries with innovative farmers.Ìý

We strongly feel that most livestock farms could benefit from at least some level of pasturing.Ìý This would reduce cthe ost of production, help animal health, andÌý also improve their land.Ìý We know that livestock farms at every size and scale may not be able to go to a full pasture-based system, but we know we can findÌý a system to help every farm move towards more pasture-based production.

Read more about both current and completed research here.

Can we help your farm? Do you have pasture-related research to propose? Contact Jennifer Colby, Pasture Program Coordinator, at (802) 656-0858 or via email.