UVM Extension -
Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture Newsletter

AUGUST 2013   

 

News and Events
Ask ELSIE?
GRAZING
COVER CROPS
ACAP
CV Farmer Coalition
Conservation Partners
FARM NEWS
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Contact a Member of the TEAM!!
UVM Extension Agronomist
(802) 388-4969 ext.332
Agronomy Outreach Professional
ACAP Program
(802) 388-4969 ext.338
Agronomy Outreach Professional
SWAT Program
(802) 388-4969 ext.347
Grazing Outreach Professional 
SWAT Program
(802) 388-4969 ext. 346 
[email protected]

John Roberts
Agronomy Outreach Professional
 
(802) 388-4969 ext. 348

John Kuehne 
Dan Infurna 
Research Field Technicians
(802) 388-4969 ext. 348

Agronomy Outreach Professional
ACAP Program
(802) 558-6470
CV Crop, Soil & Pasture Team
UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work.

ELSIEAsk ELSIE 
?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

 
Q: ELSIE...
What are BUFFER ZONES and why do the AAPs require them?

Ask ELSIE

A: 


 The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) enforces the state's Accepted Agricultural Practices (AAP) law.  This law sets forth minimum standards for all farms designed to reduce non-point source pollutant discharges through implementation of improved farming techniques.  That is to say ensure farms are not impacting water quality.

One of the ways they do this is to require farms to maintain 'buffer zones', defined as
A vegetative buffer zone of perennial vegetation that shall be maintained between annual croplands and the top of the bank of adjoining surface waters in order
to filter out sediments, nutrients, and agricultural chemicals and to protect the surface waters from erosion of streambanks due to excessive tillage. Vegetative buffer zones are not required along intermittent stream channels such as those occurring in annual croplands or along drainage ditches. The following management parameters are outlined within these areas:
  • Maintain 10' buffers of vegetation, 25' at runoff points*
  • no manure shall be applied
  • Tillage and the use of fertilizer for the establishment and maintenance of the vegetative buffer is
    allowed.
  • harvesting the vegetative buffer as a perennial crop is allowed
*One exception is that medium and large farms are required to abide by larger buffer zones...25-feet along stream banks.

Useful Links:
VAAFM's AAP Website
VACD's AAP Website
VACD AAP Brochure 
 

 

For questions about using these programs, contact us at a UVM Extension Office.
(802) 388-4969-Middlebury
(802) 524-6501-St. Albans

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Funding for the Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture Team and the programs and resources we offer is provided by the following organizations:

  • UVM Extension
  • Lake Champlain Basin Program
  • Great Lakes Fishery Commission  
  • USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • VT Agency of Natural Resources
  • VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
  • USDA-Risk Management Agency  
  • NE-SARE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 * 

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. 
 
* 
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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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newsletter masthead
Greetings
Thank you to all the farms that brought samples of their crops to the Addison County Fair & Field Days Crop Contest this year. We use this crop display as a backdrop to talk with hundreds of non-farmers about common farm practices in the area. The crop samples and poster exhibits help us as we talk with them. I know it helps them to better understand why you do certain farm practices.

Best of Show - Elgin Spring Farm, New Haven

Best of Class

Corn Plants  - Kayhart Brothers, Addison

Soybean Plants - Kennland Farm - Addison

Wheat, Barley, Oat Plants  - Adams Farm, Panton

Corn Silage - Gosliga Farm, Addison

Haylage - Foster Brothers Farm, Middlebury

Corn Grain - Champlainside Farm, Bridport

Soybean Grain - Elgin Spring Farm, New Haven

Wheat, Barley, Oat Grain - Plouffe Family Farm, Bridport

Dry Hay - Grass - Dykstra Farm, New Haven

Dry Hay - Mixed Grass & Legume - Sutton Family Farm, Vergennes

Dry Hay - Legume - Elgin Spring Farm, New Haven

Wrapped Baled Hay (Baleage) - VanDerWey Brothers, Ferrisburgh  

 

 

 

  

Galaxy IV Conference

In September I am headed to Pittsburgh with Rico and Kirsten to the National Extension meeting. We have been invited to present at two agriculture super-seminars to report on our Extension program success in Middlebury. The two talks will be about our Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture Team, and Reducing Soil and Phosphorus Loss Using a No-Till Grain Drill. I will post the presentations after the Conference so you can see why I am so excited to be a part of this UVM Extension Team in Middlebury.

 

Small Farm Rules - Could this impact You?

If you operate a small farm (more than 1 horse up to 200 dairy cows) you may want to keep an eye out for changes to Vermont laws that affect your farm. Currently the Accepted Agriculture Practices (AAP) law applies to all livestock farms in the state. Not everyone follows the AAP rules, and certainly larger farms are held to a much stricter standard for their farming operations. The Vermont Agricultural Working Group has been meeting for nearly a year and many recommendations have been forwarded to the Agency of Agriculture, Agency of Natural Resources and the Vermont Legislature on how the agriculture community will comply with the TMDL plan for reducing Phosphorus runoff into Lake Champlain. This fall there will be opportunity for you to have input into some proposed changes for state and federal incentive programs, requirements for small farm nutrient management plans and reporting, fencing livestock out of streams, and quite a few more topics. We will let you know when any meetings are planned in the area so you are not caught unaware of the scope of these proposed changes to how your farm operates in Vermont.  

http://www.emcenter.org/lake-champlain-phosphorous-pollution-initiative/ 

http://www.emcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AWGRecommendations.pdf 

These are contacts for website information. 

 

Jeff Carter

UVM Extension Agronomy Specialist

http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

https://www.facebook.com/ChamplainCropSoilPasture

News and Events
For Vermont Farmers in the Lake Champlain Watershed
GRAZING GREENER
 

No-Till Annual Trials in Pasture Systems - Results!

Cheryl Cesario, Grazing Outreach Specialist

Strategic Watershed Action Team  

 

In last month's newsletter, we discussed a new no-till trial we were going to  conduct planting warm-season annual millet and a millet/brassica mix into existing pasture stands. The goal was that these annuals would grow and thrive when the cool-season perennial grasses were slowing down, resulting in a dry matter boost in pastures. The farmers we know who are having success with millet in particular, are plowing and then seeding down with millet for the season, before re-planting with a pasture, hay or grain crop in early fall. Because of the challenges of tilling heavy clay soil, we wanted to experiment with using a no-till drill to incorporate annuals into the pasture system.

 

We planted 'Wonderleaf' pearl millet and 'Summer Feast' mix (which contains both pearl millet and forage brassica).  We conducted the trials at 4 locations - Richmond, Williston, Cornwall, and Tinmouth. Both the 'Wonderleaf' millet and the 'Summer Feast' millet/ brassica mix were no-till planted at 5, 10 and 15 pounds to the acre on one acre plots. On the Tinmouth farm, we also planted a one acre area at 25 pounds to the acre. In Richmond we planted at 20 and 30 pounds to the acre and also planted Japanese Millet.

 

millet
A lonely millet plant: the results of drilling into pasture

The optimal planting time would have been between June 1st and July 1st. Due to endless rainy days, not all of our plantings were completed in this window. Our plantings occurred on June 24th, July 16th, and July 22nd. No-till planted areas were evaluated for germination and growth soon after planting. Overall we were disappointed with the germination in these pastures. On the Cornwall and Tinmouth farms, we noted only a handful of millet plants and no brassica plants. Similar results were found in Richmond and Williston in the no-till plots, although some brassicas were observed at those sites.

 

In Richmond, we also repeated all plantings in a tilled section for comparison.  Even with the late planting date, we saw good results.  There was germination within two days.  After four weeks, those plantings were being grazed by dairy heifers.  Forage samples and yield measurements were taken on all plots.  These results will be compiled and shared soon.  In addition to the millets, we also planted a mixture of radish, sunn hemp and millet as well as some sunn hemp by itself.  We will talk more about those later.

 

A dairy heifer grazing some millet in the tilled side of the demonstration four weeks after planting

Overall, we did not find it beneficial to no-till millet into existing pasture stands. However, we will continue to experiment with planting annuals into pastures to find a crop that would help boost dry matter yields and increase the number of grazing days. We are going back to these same sites and trying some additional plantings including:  winter rye, winter triticale, oats, cow peas, winter peas, tillage radish, and forage brassicas in single species plantings.  In addition, we have a tillage radish trial in a pasture in Weybridge.    

 

 

We will keep you posted on the results...and stay tuned for some upcoming Field Days to come observe the results for yourself.

   

COVER CROP CORNER

 

When to Plant Your Cover Crops...the Earlier the BETTER!! 

Kirsten Workman, Agronomy Outreach Professional
Strategic Watershed Action Team

  

These two pictures were taken the same week in December in the same watershed at similar seeding rates on similar soils. The one on the left was seeded in early September with a helicopter. The one on the right was seeded on October 15th with a grain drill. The earlier planted rye is definitely providing more benefit, and a better crop the next spring.  


Winter rye drilled into corn on October 15th (picture taken in December).
Winter rye aerially seeded in early September (picture taken in December).
The bare strip is where manure was injected following corn harvest













  

When to plant your cover crop is a more important question than you might think. Depending on the crop you are planting, a difference of even a week, can make a big difference - on germination, biomass, nutrient uptake, harvestability, and nitrogen credits. In most cases, earlier is better. The challenge is how to get your cover crop established in a field crop system where your main crop may not get harvested until October. In research conducted by UVM Extension Agronomist, Dr. Heather Darby, in Alburgh, VT; winter rye biomass measured in the spring can decline from rates as high as 4 tons of dry matter/acre for winter rye planted in early September down to less than a ton of dry matter/acre when planted after the 1st of October. Ground cover measurements similarly decline with later planting dates from more than 80% ground cover to less than 40% ground cover. So how do we meet the challenge of early cover crop establishment in field crop systems where harvest of the main crop often happens after the ideal planting window for cover crops and when soils are at less than ideal working conditions? Will cover crops make your spring field management even more complex? There is no easy answer, but we are working hard to come up with some good information to make those decisions. Whether it is planting your cover crops before your cash crop harvest, or selecting a cover crop other than winter rye, we are working with farms across the Lake Champlain Basin to figure out some practical answers to these questions, while collecting data to share with you as you make decisions on your farm.

  

 Planting Windows
There are several time frames in which planting cover crops is desirable in a field crop system. Whether you're growing corn, small grains, hay, and even pasture; there are several opportunities to get cover crops established.  
  • Frost Seeding & Early Spring (February to mid-May) 
  • Spring (mid-March to early June) 
  • Summer (May to mid-July) 
  • Late Summer/Early Fall (mid-July to September)
  • Fall (August to October)

Establishment Options

Just like when to plant, there are several options for how to get your cover crop planted.  Depending on what you're planting, what your cash crop is, and when you're planting, you can choose one of these (or other) establishment methods: 

  • Interseeding
  • Aerial Seeding
  • Broadcast after harvest
  • Drill after harvest  

Considerations 

There are lots of questions to answer when deciding if, when, and how to plant a cover crop.

  • What is the best time to plant cover crops in Vermont?
  • What cover crops grow well here?
  • Just how early can I plant my cover crop?
  • Can I grow a cover crop that won't become a management issue in the spring?
  • I have really heavy clay soil, can I grow cover crops?

The Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture Team is working to answer many of those questions. With the help of a Northeast SARE grant, we recently started a research and demonstration project on four farms in Addison and Chittenden counties looking at many of the complex issues surrounding growing cover crops in Vermont. The project is designed to look at two different cover crop mixes seeded at two different dates (one before harvest and one after harvest) and two different dates (a high rate and a lower rate). One mix is made up of winter hardy annuals (winter triticale/winter pea/winter rape). The other is made up of cover crops that will die over the winter (oat/pea/radish). We are hoping this project gives us some insight as we move forward looking into the practice of cover cropping in the Champlain Valley. What would you like to know about growing cover crops? Let us know, so that we can continue to keep our work pertinent.

 

Conclusions
winter rye
This winter rye is defintely providing some great erosion prevention. It was planted in early September before the corn was harvested.

 Although there are many kinds of cover crops, many ways of planting cover crops, and many ways of terminating or harvesting cover crops...in the end, when you plant may play the most important role in establishing a successful cover crop. We know earlier is better and we know winter rye is a reliable cover crop in Vermont. However, as we all know, having many options to choose from is the best way to grow any crop successfully. Finding strategies to get cover crops established early, and identifying alternative crops to grow in Vermont will help you find a system (or systems) that work on your farm. We are working hard to figure out some of these factors. As we proceed, we will keep you posted through our newsletter articles, our facebook page, and some upcoming field days. If you are interested in being notified directly about our results and conclusions or in participating in a field day at one of our on-farm demonstrations sites, please feel free to contact us to make sure we get you that information in a timely manner. 

  

More Reading:

UVM Extension Research Report: 2012 Cover Crop Trials

UVM Extension Research Report: 2011 Cover Crop Trials

UVM Fact Sheet: Cover Crops for Corn Silage

Midwest Cover Crop Council

Midwest Cover Crop Council: Cover Crop Decision Tool 

SARE Handbook: Managing Cover Crops Profitably

Purdue Agriculture: Midwest Cover Crop Field Guide

   


STAY TUNED FOR NEXT MONTH'S COVER CROP CORNER...
Mixing it Up with Cover Crop Cocktails
Agronomy & Conservation Assistance Program

Double Crop Trials Update   

Rico Balzano, UVM Agronomy Outreach

 

The double crop project is coming along nicely, especially considering the delay caused by the wet weather in June.Triticale planted last September and harvested for baleage on June 20 tested 14% protein and 0.62 NEL. BMR sudangrass was then no-till drilled into the triticale stubble on June 25. More wet weather (!) delayed the fertilizer being applied until mid-July.  Ideally, two cuts should be expected from sudangrass planted in early June and fertilized in mid to late June.

The BMR sudangrass is growing fast and will be ready for harvest within the next two weeks. We will be taking samples for yield and quality. As soon as possible after the sudangrass is off, we will no-till more triticale at 100 lb/acre and 150 lb/acre. And to try something new, we will add winter peas at 25 lb/acre to both triticale rates to try increase protein and reduce NDF in next year's harvest.  There will be four treatments: triticale at 100 lb/ac, triticale at 100 lb/ac triticale + winter peas at 25 lb/ac, triticale at 150 lb/ac, triticale at  150 lb/ac + winter peas at 25 lb/ac. Stayed tuned for complete yield and forage analysis data later this fall.

   

CVFC
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FARMER COALITION NEWS
Building Partnerships for Farmers
John Roberts, President,  Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition Inc.
CVFC Field Days
CVFC President, John Roberts, manning the booth at Addison County Field Days


The Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition had a booth at Addison County Field Days for the first time this year. Not really knowing what to expect,  it was actually quite an interesting experience. I split my time between manning the booth and walking through the grounds finding farmers to talk to. My sense was that most farmers do not frequent the booths in the Paquette building, but can be found at the cow barns, the cow show ring, the pulling arena, the draft horse show, the sheep barns or the historic farm area. These were good areas to meet and talk to farmers; in addition, the crop display area for Extension was also another good gathering point.

 

As part of the of the CVFC display we had a drawing, chocolates donated by Daily Chocolate in Vergennes, all the participants had to do was fill out a card with their contact information and if they wanted, they could submit a question about agriculture that I would answer on line. A summary will appear on our website soon. The vast majority of the questions submitted were, I suspect, from non-farmers and ran the gamut from the basic, "How do you milk a cow" through the animal welfare, the crop production to concerns over the health of Lake Champlain. Answering these questions, even though not directly related to helping our member farmers does fulfill the outreach to the public which is a necessary component of building a sense of understanding and support within the community which is an essential component of the Coalition.

 

I did give away a fair number of pamphlets for the Coalition and spoke with a number of non-members, both large and small, courting them to become active in our organization. All in all I felt it was worth my effort to be at Field days, and we have hopefully started laying the ground work for future active participation in the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition.

   

And don't forget to visit our website: www.champlainvalleyfarmercoaltion.com  

  
ConPartCONSERVATION PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
 

Navigating the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Farmers and agricultural landowners in Addison and Rutland Counties continue to take advantage of FSA's opportunity to make conservation pay through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP is a voluntary, incentive-based program that helps landowners protect water quality by installing forested buffers or grass filter strips along streams on agricultural land. These streamside or "riparian" buffers filter runoff from adjacent fields, act as sinks for nutrients and sediment and help stabilize stream banks.  

We know that often it is these riparian areas that grow the best crops or provide essential water for your pastured animals. CREP will compensate you for taking land out of production for a period of 15 or 30 years and help you construct alternatives for your pastures. Payment for enrolling land into CREP is disbursed first in upfront incentive payments once the state and federal contracts are signed, and then in annual rental payments for the contract period.  A
CREP stone ford
A stream crossing and fence installed as part of a CREP project.
nnual rental payments are based on soil type and field history with figures ranging from $74 to $131 per acre in Addison County.
 
Federal cost-share and incentive payments are available to cover 90% of the implementation costs associated with fencing, alternative water systems, stream crossings, and buffer establishment.  In some instances the costs may be 100% covered. 

 

Michelle Smith, with the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, is here in Rutland to help you navigate the details of this program and help yo

u meet your production and conservation goals for your pastures and cropland.  

 

 

To learn more and find out if your land is eligible, contact  

Michelle at 775-8034 ext. 113, e-mail at [email protected]  

Craig Miner, FSA at 388-6748 ext 115, e-mail at [email protected].

 
FARM NEWS & EVENTS 
IMPORTANT EQIP Deadline...September 1st
If you are interested in signing up for the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), you should contact your local NRCS office NOW.  The new round of funding for FY 2014 has started, and the first deadline to sign up, have your application ranked, and potentially have a project funded is September 1st.

 

UVM Cereal Grain Testing Lab...NOW OPEN

During the testing season the UVM Cereal Grain Testing Lab accepts grain samples from farmers throughout the region. Click here to download a Cereal Grain Test Submission Form. In order to get results that accurately reflect your product, be sure to employ good sampling techniques. Remember the results are only as good as the sample submitted! 

 

To expedite analysis of your sample(s), please provide a completed submission form(s) and payment with your sample(s). Also please make sure you provide 1 quart of clean (no stones and dirt) and dry (<14% moisture) whole grain for each sample submitted. 

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Sincerely,

 


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