Armyworm, Black Cutworm in VT 

Last week heavy populations of Armyworm  were reported in western New York and early this week we have observed significant damage to several corn and grass fields in Franklin, Grand Isle, and Chittenden Counties of Vermont. Damage to second cut grass hay, field corn, and sweet corn has been reported in these areas.

July 12 - Value-Added Grains  (New Haven)
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm...Wood's Market Garden 

Jon Satz will describe how they have integrated oilseed production into their vegetable operation, and the benefits and challenges they have had in doing so.  Satz harvested about 5 acres of sunflowers for oil and meal in 2011, and will  talk about some of the production, management, harvesting, and processing issues that are specific to his operation.

More Information, including where to register HERE. 

FARM AGRONOMIC PRACTICES (FAP) UPDATE - VAAFM

by Nate Sands, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets  

Claims for payments for practices implemented between April 1 and July 1, 2012  

are due by July 15.

Applications deadline July 1, 2012*:  

We are accepting applications for the following program practices that will be implemented July 1, 2011 - December 15, 2011. The practices include: conservation crop rotation, summer and nurse crop cover cropping, alternative manure incorporation, aeration tillage, conservation tillage, strip cropping, and cross-slope tillage.  

*Funding is likely available for applications received after the July 1 deadline, but funding levels for these practices may be at reduced rates. Our goal is to receive and review applications prior to the practices being implemented.

Winter Cover Cropping deadline:  

Applications for fall 2012 are due by August 1. Applications received after August 1 will be funded at $15/acre instead of the full $30/acre payment.

Please contact Nate Sands at (802) 224-6850 or nathaniel.sands@state.vt.us prior to implementing any practices to verify whether or not funding is available.  

Applications and information are available online HERE. 

  by Cheryl Cesario, Grazing Outreach Professional 

Well-managed pasture can be high quality forage, when the stand is dense, at least 6-8 inches tall, and a mix of grasses, legumes, and herbs. To maintain a pasture-based dairy ration, dry matter intake from pasture must remain high. When this intake is limited, milk production decreases. So what influences how much pasture forage an animal will consume? For starters, a high plant density in the pasture leads to higher intake because the animals don't have to spend time walking around and nibbling for forage. Instead, they can stand in one spot, taking several bites from a diversity of plants before moving on. With each bite, the cow will be grabbing large mouthfuls of pasture plants. This equates to more rapid rumen fill. Why is this important? There is a limit to how much time a cow will spend grazing each day. Cows also need time for rest and rumination. The less energy a cow has to expend finding food, the better. If she can only take so many bites per day, then those bites need to be as full as possible. Ideally, ruminants will be provided with an abundant, nutrient-dense 'salad' each time they go out to graze.  

A: Low Density Pasture = less intake

B: High Density Pasture = faster rumen fill

Would you like to get from A to B to maximize your pasture potential? With funding from NRCS, resources are available NOW for grazing system planning. If you would like assistance developing a grazing management plan, contact Cheryl Cesario at 388-4969 x 346.