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VPN's goal is to work cooperatively with farmers, other state and regional organizations, and agency personnel to promote and enhance successful grass-based livestock production throughout Vermont.

Our project objectives are to:

1. Implement surface water runoff monitoring stations in tandem with existing subsurface tile drainage monitoring stations on paired micro-watersheds in an agricultural field in Addison County, Vermont.

2. Monitor surface and subsurface flow rates and volumes and P (phosphorus) loss from the paired watersheds to compare (control vs. treatment) the effect of the implementation of a suite of selected soil health best management practices (specifically no-till and drilled cover crop) during corn silage production.Ìý

VAAFM can provide participating livestock farmers with financial assistance towards approved conservation
practice implementation. These include:

Planned sessions include:Ìý

Reducing mastitis is an opportunity for increased profitability for organic dairy farmers, healthier animals, improved animal welfare, and a better product for consumers.Ìý Bedding and housing management can impact mastitis risk, although the extent of the impact is poorly understood -- especially on organic dairy farms.

The team is seeking to hear from organic dairy farms using a variety of types of housing for their cows with a

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is the only accredited apprenticeship for farming in the country. Its mission is to provide a guided pathway to independent farm ownership, to develop grazing careers, and to strengthen the economic and environmental well- being of rural communities and the dairy industry.