UVM Extension - Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture TeamNOVEMBER 2012 
News and Events
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FARMS & CROPS
SOIL, WATER & NUTRIENTS
PASTURE & LIVESTOCK
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Contact a Member of the TEAM!!
Jeff Carter
Extension Agronomist
(802) 388-4969 ext.332
[email protected]

Rico Balzano
Agronomy Outreach Professional
(802) 388-4969 ext.338
[email protected]

Kirsten Workman
Agronomy Outreach Professional
(802) 388-4969 ext.347
[email protected]


Cheryl Cesario
Grazing Outreach Professional 
(802) 388-4969 ext. 346 

Poultney Mettowee NRCD
(802) 558-6470
CV Crop Soil Pasture Team
UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work.

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  Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. 

 

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University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

ELSIEAsk ELSIE 
?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

Q: ELSIE...What is Conservation Tillage and how does it improve my soils and water quality?

Ask ELSIE

 

A: Conservation tillage is a crop production system that uses little (if any) tillage. This system increases crop residue starting after harvest until the next planting. This increased biomass leads to an increase in the natural recycling of these crop residues. Some conservation tillage methods include: reduced till, mulch till, zone/strip/ridge till, and complete no-till. Often cover crops are used in conjunction with conservation tillage practices to add biomass, further erosion control, create the 'rotation effect', provide nutrient management, and help with insect, pest and disease control.

 

This type of tillage (or non-tillage) can increase the quality of your soil. By leaving crop residues undisturbed, microbial and biological activity is increased which can then improve the amount of organic matter in your soil. This improves soil tilth and productivity.  The better your soil tilth, the better it is able to retain moisture during droughty periods, the better water infiltrates during wet periods, and the better its structure/aggregation is maintained. Improved soil tilth leads to improved crop production and yields. Tillage is often used to increase soil tilth initially. However, continued tillage can actually have the opposite effect by 'burning up' organic matter and mineralizing nutrients too quickly. Conservation tillage is aimed and improving soil health, quality and tilth, and ultimately crop production.

 

Conservation tillage also protects water quality. By leaving crop residues on the surface, you slow down the impact of individual raindrops and decrease erosion significantly - in the range of 75 to 95% reductions in soil loss have been seen with these methods. With decreased erosion, you see decreased phosphorus and pesticide losses to surface water and an increase in the nutrient availability to plants.

 

When utilized correctly (like most things in farming), conservation tillage can also lead to increased profits. By reducing risks (from droughts, floods, etc.) an d labor, equipment and fuel costs; you  can see benefits in your farm's bottom line.

 


LINKS to more information:

 no till soybean

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If you would like to Ask ELSIE? a question, please email her by clicking  HERE.
































 
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UVM Extension
Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture
Newsletter
Greetings!

The last of the crops are being harvested, pastures are going dormant, deer season is here...and despite this week's July-like weather, winter is indeed on its way.  As you and your family prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a great time to reflect on this year's growing season.  What worked went well, what would you like to improve, what didn't work at all?  As winter draws near, we turn from 'doing' things in the field to 'thinking' about what we'll do in our fields next season.  This winter will bring plenty of opportunities for that, so be sure and stay tuned as we will be announcing many opportunities to learn and think about crops and pastures for next year, plan it out, and be ready for next spring. 

Take a look in this newsletter for information about frost seeding, feeding barley fodder, and that pesky Tall Fescue in your pastures.  As you empty your manure pits, consider your impact on water quality.  And don't forget to take a minute and see what ELSIE has to say about conservation tillage.

And as always...let us know what YOU want to know about, and feel free to share our newsletter with your friends and neighbors.

Jeff
News and Events
For Vermont Farmers in the Lake Champlain Watershed
FARMS & CROPS
frostseed
FROST SEEDING: Simple, but Not Foolproof

by Rico Balzano, Agronomy Outreach Professional

 

Click HERE for an expanded version of this article with more information and resources on our blog page. 

 

Frost seeding can be an efficient and cost effective way to reseed or introduce new forage species to pastures and hay meadows. However, frost seeding is not right for every situation and not every year presents the ideal conditions. The basic idea behind frost seeding is the freeze-thaw cycle and rain of early spring will help incorporate seed broadcast over the surface. Timing is critical: seed too early and seed may die, seed too late and there is no frost to do the work. In Vermont, most frost seeding  happens in late February or March. But now is the time to start planning.

 

Site Selection: Thin grass stands work better than thick, vigorous stands because there is less competition for legume seedlings. Soils that have natural moisture through the early summer, such as loam and clay soil, work best for frost seeding. Sandy soils should be avoided.

 

Soil Test, Lime, and Fertilizer: If possible, apply any needed lime a year in advance. Nitrogen should be avoided the year before and the year of seeding. This only stimulates grasses and weeds making them too competitive. Legumes need phosphorus and potassium, however, to compete with grasses.

 

Preparing the fall before seeding: Grazing or clipping pastures and hay meadows down to about 2" the previous fall or winter opens the canopy and allows broadcast seed to reach the soil. Grazing tightly will also reduce the vigor of the existing forages the following spring, helping the new seedlings to better compete.

 

Seed Selection, Legumes: Alfalfa should be frost-seeded on well drained soils with near neutral pH and adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium. Avoid fields where alfalfa already exists. Autotoxicity will prevent new alfalfa plants from becoming established. Clovers have better success on poorly drained and with less lime and fertilizer. Although birdsfoot trefoil is slow to establish, it is long lived, improves with time, and can become the dominant legume as red clover dies out. Be sure to inoculate all legume seed.

 

Seed Selection, Grasses: Most grasses tend not to be as successful as legumes when frost seeded. However, research from the University of Wisconsin has shown that perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass have the best success in years when moisture is adequate for growth. However, perennial ryegrass is not as winter hardy as other cool season grasses so persistence may be a problem.

 

Grazing management after seeding: Immediately after seeding, but before emergence, animals can be used to control early spring growth. Hoof action will assist the freeze-thaw cycle to incorporate seed. Cattle should be removed before emergence to prevent seedling damage. After legume emergence, moderate but quick grazing, not shorter than 3-4", after the grass starts growing will give legume seedlings a chance.

 

 For more information about frost seeding, contact Rico Balzano at (802) 388-4969 x338 or

 

 

RISK MANAGEMENT FOR CROPS  

by Alan Curler, Farm Management Consultant 

  

Well, it is that time of year to start thinking about crops for next year and reviewing crop insurance coverage. There has been a substantial increase in feed costs this past year and it may make sense to consider stepping up the basis on your farm operation. If you have a loss that is not covered by crop insurance, it means replacement costs have to come out of cash flow. Does the operation have the cash reserves or cash profits to cover this additional forage cost?

 

For the purposes of this newsletter we will be looking at corn silage only and I have provided some different scenario coverages. We will use figures for Addison County, the county wide average corn silage yield of 15 tons/acre and average acres planted is 190. We will consider the following coverages, CAT, 50%, 65%, 70%, 75% and corn silage at $50/ton insurance rate. We will estimate a 50% loss.

 

crop insurance table

In Addison County we tend to have more poor years than good years for corn silage. In closing, it might be worth your while to sit down to review your yields over the past few years and get together with your crop insurance agent to review your coverages on all insurable crops.  

 

For further information or questions contact Pam Smith at

802-349-2966 or [email protected]  

 

 

 

Save a Farmers' Life:
Save a Farmers' Life: "VT Rebates for Roll Bars Program"

35 Vermont Farm Families Need Our Help

The Vermont Rebates for Roll Bars Program is seeking to raise $23,100 by December 10 to prevent 35 Vermont farm families from the leading cause of death and serious injury - the tractor rollover. Rebate funds will enable these families, currently on a wait list, to install life-saving roll bar kits that provide 99% protection from crushing tractor rollovers. Visit their crowdfunding site to learn more and donate today.   

 

Click on the link on the right to see a video about the project. 

 

 

For more information, to donate, or to sign up to receive a ROPS rebate contact Matt Myers at (802-888-4972 x404) or [email protected]  

 

SOIL, WATER & NUTRIENTS

waterqualityWORKING TOGETHER FOR CLEAN WATER  

by Kirsten Workman, Agronomy Outreach Professional

 

This article was written for the WAgN Blog on November 7, 2012...click HERE to visit their blog and see it in its unabridged format complete with links and more detailed information and read posts by other WAgN bloggers!! 

      

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A buffer between a corn field and the Winooski River.

Protecting water quality is everyone's job; it just so happens it's also my day job.  As farmers, we manage a multitude of tasks on a daily basis.  The To Do List always seems to get longer, not shorter.  Have you ever walked out the door, a general plan for the day in place, and found yourself doing what I call 'spinning'?  You wander from unfinished task to unfinished task and finally sit down and profess, "I just don't know where to start."  That happens to the best of us.  As I work with Vermont farmers, I am always amazed by how many details they keep straight...in their heads, on scraps of paper, in their cell phones and otherwise.  As  a UVM Extension Agronomy Outreach Professional tasked with assisting farmers implement practices to protect water quality in Lake Champlain, I only add to that list of details.  I show up in farmers' fields and barns and ask them about Best Management Practices (BMPs) and how they protect water quality.  I ask them about crop rotations, how much manure or fertilizer they have spread on a particular field, and how they maintain buffers to comply with our state's Accepted Agricultural Practices.  And there is ALWAYS records to keep and forms to sign and submit.

 

We are working together to get the job done. Vermont farms are in a very challenging position.  Well managed farmland is a vital resource for our State and can benefit water quality.  That said, farming has been identified by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the EPA as a major contributor (along with waste water treatment facilities, urban stormwater runoff and forestry).  The main farm pollutants are eroding soil and nutrients, as well as pathogens, pesticides, metals and salts.  Not all farms do contribute to water pollution, however all farms have the potential to contribute to water pollution.

A short list of things you can do on your farm to protect water quality:

  • Properly manage nutrient applications.  
  • Incorporation. Not your business, but your nutrients!   
  • Rotate your crops.   
  • Exclude livestock from surface water.  
  • Manage pastures for healthy plants (and animals).  
  • Locate your manure and compost stacking sites appropriately.   
  • Abide by buffers and setbacks.   
  • Utilize Conservation Tillage.  
  • Plant cover crops!  
  • Timing is everything.  

As you can see, there are a lot of things we can do to benefit water quality on Vermont farms.  Luckily there are a multitude of resources to help us get the job done.  Here are just a few:

For more information, you can contact Kirsten Workman at (802) 388-4969 x347 or [email protected]

 

USDA-NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE UPDATE

NRCS PRESS RELEASE -  COLCHESTER, VERMONT,October 29, 2012

 

Agriculture or forest landowners and operators in Vermont: If you are interested in protecting,conserving, or restoring the natural resources on your property through technical or financial assistance,contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office to begin the conservation planning process.

 

Once an NRCS Conservation Plan is developed,you can work with NRCS to determine which programs best suit your conservation needs.  Applications for NRCS programs and initiatives may be submitted at anytime year-round; however, the next application cut-off date is November 15, 2012. Landowners /operators must submit a complete application package, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) eligibility paperwork, in order to be considered eligible for Farm Bill conservation programs by the February 15 batching date*.

 

"NRCS conservation programs help farmers and forest landowners promote stewardship and environmental quality on farm and forest land, address water quality and quantity challenges, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitat," said Vicky M. Drew, NRCS State Conservationist for Vermont. "NRCS conservation professionals will discuss with you your conservation objectives, help you identify resource concerns, and suggest options and alternatives for treatment."

 

Examples of eligible lands in Vermont include privately owned: 

  •          Agricultural land
  •          Non-industrial private forest lands

Emphasis resource areas in Vermont are:

  •          Agricultural Waste Issues and Water Quality
  •          Livestock and grazing issues
  •          Cropland - orchards, specialty crops, high tunnel and greenhouse operations
  •          Forestry
  •          Organic Agriculture
  •          Fish and Wildlife Habitat- including native pollinator habitat
  •          Energy Conservation

 

Application Cutoff Date                    *Batching Date            
(2nd Round) November 15, 2012    
  February 15, 2013            
(3rd Round) February 15, 2012        
April 19, 2013                   

(4th Round) April 1, 2013                  May 17, 2013   

 

*All applications received by the application cutoff date, and are determined eligible by the associated batching date, will be ranked by NRCS and considered for funding. Minimum ranking threshold scores will be established by NRCS to target projects with the highest environmental impacts in earlier rounds. Unfunded applications will be rolled into the next batching period.

 

NRCS Offices in the Champlain Basin:

Berlin - (802) 828-4493NRCS Logo

Middlebury - (802) 388-6748 

St. Albans - (802)  527-1296 

Williston - (802) 865-7895

online:
www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov

  

PASTURE & LIVESTOCK

barleryfodderWEBINAR: Barley Fodder Feeding for Organic Dairies

Join eOrganic for a new webinar on feeding barley fodder in organic dairy and other livestock production systems.  Feeding barley fodder or sprouts is another way to get a living plant material into the rumen, even in the winter. Barley fodder can have the nutrient density of grains without the detrimental aspects of starch.  Organic dairy farmer John Stoltzfus has worked over the past few years to perfect his method of growing barley fodder on his New York farm. In this webinar, John and Cornell's Fay Benson will discuss the benefits and challenges of growing and feeding fodder to dairy animals. Other animals (from horses to chickens) also have benefited from the practice and their owners may be able to adopt the principles addressed in this webinar.  

eXtension logo  

Tuesday, November 27  

2:00 PM ET  

The webinar is free and open to the public.   

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Click HERE for more information, to register, and get the link to the webinar.   

 

 

fescueTALL FESCUE: A Problematic Pasture Grass

  by Cheryl Cesario, Grazing Outreach Professional 

  

 tall fescue

Tall fescue is a pasture grass that is relatively easy to identify late in the season - just look for the grass that your animals have refused all season. Typically livestock will avoid tall fescue if given other options. That is because this tall bunch grass is quite unpalatable. The leaves, which are quite broad, are very coarse and leathery. The edges can be quite sharp as well. Rub a leaf between your fingers and you'll see why your animals would choose not to eat it.  

 

Besides the physical attributes that make it unappetizing, tall fescue can be toxic as pasture, hay or haylage due to endophyte alkaloids. Endophytes are fungi which live within the plant and produce alkaloid chemicals. Fescue toxicosis can result in various production-related issues ranging from foot problems to reproduction issues. There are endophyte-free varieties of tall fescue, but these have alkaloids as well, and although less toxic than their endophyte-infected counterparts, they still upset rumen function and therefore reduce animal performance. Toxicity is a measure of the overall percentage of tall fescue plants in the pasture and decreases if animals are in a diverse sward with many other grass and legume species.

 

Some producers have noticed this past year more tall fescue in their pastures than ever before. What is going on? The reason tall fescue is the grass of choice in the Southeast is that it is very drought resistant. It will grow when nothing else will. In a dry year like 2012, when our cool-season grasses went dormant in the heat of summer with little to no rain, tall fescue will take the opportunity to grow and spread.  

 

Some tall fescue is seeded intentionally. For example, when ditches and roadsides are seeded with 'conservation mixes', these typically contain tall fescue as it will establish with little effort. The seed then spreads into neighboring fields and pastures. Interestingly, many commercial pasture seed mixes on the market also contain tall fescue. This is a sign that the seed mix was developed for other regions of the country where the climate is not conducive to the cool-season grasses we can grow so well here. We have so many better options for cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, ryegrass, and orchardgrass, to name a few, that tall fescue is a plant best to avoid.  

 

If you are finding that tall fescue is spreading and becoming a problem what do you do? Unfortunately, tall fescue is hard to get rid of without an herbicide, so if you are an organic producer it will depend on how much of a problem it is. One option is to seed plants with high tannin content such as forage chicory or birdsfoot trefoil. When animals eat both the tannins and the alkaloids together, the tannins bind the alkaloids and reduce toxicity problems. For a real problem stand, plowing and tilling would kill most of the existing plants. Following with an annual crop such as a small grain, and then seeding down to a pasture/hay crop would increase the chances of eliminating the tall fescue plants.

 

 

 If you're having trouble with tall fescue, contact Cheryl Cesario at (802) 388-4969 x346 or [email protected]. 


 

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Sincerely,

 


Jeff Carter,
Extension Agronomist
UVM Extension- Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture Team