Current methods to estimate forage intakes for grazing cattle on pasture-based dairy farms, including organic farms, are labor intensive and inaccurate. They generally do not provide sufficient information to allow producers to understand intake in real time, or to be able to respond rapidly to optimize productivity and profitability.
Through this work the team is coordinating the development and implementation of a comprehensive working lands program with a key focus on:
Previous studies revealed that timing of supplementation can potentially increase milk production. For example, by just changing the time of day that corn silage was offered to cows relative to their pasture allowance, researchers in New Zealand were able to increase milk yield by over 6 lbs. per cow per day. Participating farms are year-round organic operations with more than 25 Jersey and/or Holstein milking cows.
Here's how!
The latest nutritional research indicates that forage-based diets are the best option for horses.Ìý However, horses’ high energy levels, reliance on flight as a primary defense,Ìý hooves, teeth, and their need for low protein, high fiber forage, combine to make equine pasture management a challenging goal.
Together these components can create long-lasting sustainable farmingÌý practices which can provide short-, medium-, and long-range economic, environmental and social benefits for farmers.ÌýÌý With so many Vermont farms on wooded hillsides and involving marginal lands, agroforestry approaches like maple sugaring and shiitake mushroom cultivation can present important opportunities for wooded areas to provide both environmental benefits and a cash crop to keep farms viable.
Bedded pack is a strategy for providing for animal health and comfort and managing manure, during the winter months.Ìý It refers to accumulated bedding materials and manure under covered housing.Ìý The pack is then composted after winter ends and the animals are back on pasture, and helps build soil fertility
Two decades of research at Utah State University has shown animals choose what to eat based on what they learn from mother and herd mates, and from their own internal feedback from nutrients and toxins in plants. Based on this research, animal behavior expert Kathy Voth developed a process to teach cattle, sheep and goats to eat weeds, giving farmers a new tool to manage advancing weed populations and livestock expanded access to high-quality forage.
We work one on one with farmers looking to acquire or lease land, and land owners interested in making their land available for farmers. For farmers we assist with exploring farm access and financing possibilities, and navigating through various options and considerations for farm acquisition. For landowners we provide information on ways to partner with farmers, lease land, or transition ownership of farmland and/or farm businesses.
