A UVM blog Outcroppings: Important crop news from the field!

“If these sunflowers grow, I’ll shave my mustache,” a farmer joked when Dr. Metin Tuna asked him to try direct seeding sunflowers.

Dr. Tuna is a plant geneticist, breeding professor, and researcher at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University in Tekirdağ, Turkey. In 2015, Dr. Tuna met UVM Extension Research Specialist Lindsey Ruhl while she was in Turkey on a Fulbright fellowship. Together, they researched cover crops in vineyards and have kept in touch ever since, often sharing new research and respective milestones. 

Inspired by these discussions, Dr. Tuna pioneered a groundbreaking, multi-year soil health experiment at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University this year that examines the impact of no-till, cover cropping, and rotation on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties.  While developing this program, Dr. Tuna prioritized connecting research with the local agricultural community. This approach made the program especially noteworthy because it isn’t typical for researchers there to engage with farmers. 

Recently, Dr. Tuna shared that he convinced a farmer in his home village of Hacıköy to try direct seeding, a no-till practice where a farmer sows a field using a no-till planter or seed drill, leaving much of the soil structure intact. Minimizing tillage can encourage biological activity, reduce erosion and compaction, decrease labor requirements, and improve overall soil health.

The UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils team has conducted many research trials assessing the effectiveness of no-till practices, including direct seeding, at Borderview Research Farm and other sites throughout Vermont. Our research has proven that with a bit of patience and an open mind, implementing reduced-tillage practices enhances crop productivity and improves soil health over time. This research helped Dr. Tuna influence farmers in Turkey to try these practices on their farms. 

Across the globe, farmers are shifting their agricultural practices to rebuild and increase soil health, including integrating cover crops and reducing tillage.

Adaptation of cover cropping in field crop production has increased since the early 2000s because important field research, like that conducted by UVM Extension, has revealed the multitude of benefits it can provide. These benefits include reducing nutrient and soil loss, increasing soil organic matter, suppressing weeds, serving as extra sources of livestock forage, and even serving as habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. To Dr. Tuna’s knowledge, cover cropping hadn’t been practiced in his home village or in neighboring villages until he implemented his soil health program.

Another agricultural practice that Dr. Tuna helped to encourage is reduced tillage. Many farmers are moving toward reduced tillage practices because the negative effects of constant tillage are becoming increasingly evident globally. Conventionally, farmers use plows, harrows, cultivators, or rippers to prepare fields for planting, control weeds, terminate cover crops, or incorporate manure or other sources of fertility. Tilling fields season after season and year after year destroys soil structure and disrupts important microbial and fungal activity that supports healthy soil and plant growth. Researchers like Dr. Tuna and Lindsey Ruhl are researching reduced tillage practices to solve this problem.

Influenced by Dr. Tuna and promising research results generated by UVM Extension, the farmer direct-seeded sunflowers into his field in Hacıköy, Turkey, on March 19, 2025. The farmer’s friends joked that they would leave the village if this practice actually worked. It was completely new to them. They had confidence in the conventional tillage practices that had brought them success, but Dr. Tuna wanted to help them improve their operations and improve soil health. As the sunflowers began to germinate and flourish, people took notice. Dr. Tuna said that people even came from neighboring villages and counties to see the farming feat!

A cold snap hit the region, bringing freezing temperatures and snowfall. In a neighboring field, the wheat crop was lodged under the snow, but the sunflowers were resilient and stood strong. Sunflowers are known to be cold-weather resistant, and the no-till strategy used to plant them did not diminish their ability to withstand the winter. 

The sunflower yield after using reduced tillage was 210 kg/da (~1,875 pounds per acre), which was particularly good considering the dry conditions during the growing season. This yield was somewhat higher than that of sunflower crops cultivated in adjacent fields using conventional cultivation methods.  The sunflowers also produced seeds with an impressive oil content of 48%, a result that any farmer would be very happy with, especially one using no-till planting for the first time! Although there is no significant increase in yield, Dr. Tuna does not doubt that more farmers across Turkey will adopt no-till due to lower input costs and, consequently, higher net income.

“The whole village is looking forward to seeing the final result!” Dr. Tuna shared. “I believe that next year, the acreage of direct planting in our village will increase.” He remarked that the farmer who directly planted 2.5 acres of sunflowers on his farm this year plans to apply the direct-planting system on his entire farm (75 acres) next year. In addition, two farmers have already bought no-till planters in the village.

The connection between Dr. Tuna and UVM Extension’s Lindsey Ruhl shows how shared research can inspire meaningful change across continents. By sharing data and ideas, the collaboration between Dr. Tuna and UVM’s Ruhl improved the lives and land of farmers. 

Cross-cultural research is vital to agricultural innovation. We look forward to more mutually beneficial research collaborations with Dr. Tuna. This kind of partnership lies at the heart of UVM Extension’s mission, and, as this story shows, the impact of that work can reach far beyond Vermont’s borders.  

UVM Extension attended the first Annual American Dairy Xpo on November 5 and 6 in Essex Junction, Vermont. This new event was a dairy-specific showcase featuring more than 200 exhibitors from around the world who came together to share the latest innovations in education, technology, research, and business. The halls of the Champlain Valley Exposition were filled with farmers, researchers, educators, students, and 4-H members all coming together to celebrate and strengthen the dairy industry.

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Throughout the event, educational presentations took place in the Dairy Delivers Classroom. UVM Extension Dairy Specialist Whitney Hull presented practical, research-based strategies for improving milk quality and farm profitability, offering tips farmers can apply directly on their operations.

Other Dairy Delivers Classroom speakers included Elle St. Pierre, Olympic gold medalist and Vermont dairy farmer; E.B. Flory, Dairy Program Manager with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM); and Laura Ginsburg from VAAFM. Their talks highlighted the current state of the dairy industry as well as hopes and strategies for its future.

At the UVM Extension booth, staff connected with local farmers and made new connections with industry professionals and students. We shared resources, promoted upcoming programs and events, and showcased the many ways UVM Extension supports Vermont farmers. Our team was especially inspired to see so many young attendees proudly wearing their Future Farmers of America jackets, reminding us how important it is to engage and support the next generation of agricultural leaders.

A heartfelt thank-you to the American Dairy Xpo team for organizing this wonderful event that brought together so many members of the dairy community to learn, connect, and collaborate. UVM Extension looks forward to attending again next year and, in the meantime, continuing to provide resources, technical assistance, and support to farmers across Vermont.

By Amber Machia

The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England.  Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each month from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  Sessions have focused on current dairy research and program updates, including interviews, presentations, and roundtable discussions.  All recorded sessions are available to watch on the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils  YouTube Channel.

Milk Quality Management

In September, the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team hosted a webinar focusing on Milk Quality Management in the Northeast.  The session featured Dr. Paul Virkler from Cornell Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS).  Dr. Virkler shared his approach to evaluating milk quality challenges on farms and identified three areas of risk when it comes to managing for milk quality: transition cow management, milking procedure and teat health, and bedding management.

1. Transition Cow Management

The greatest risk of new infections occurs immediately after dry-off and again around calving (Figure 1). Bacteria can be introduced through improper administration of dry cow therapy or teat sealants. Factors such as the cleanliness of the dry-off environment, cow preparation (complete milk-out, low-stress handling, and overall comfort), as well as employee training, adherence to protocols, and ongoing monitoring all influence infection risk. Additionally, drying off and freshening often result in wetter stall conditions, making regular scraping and bedding redistribution for dry cow stalls, calving areas, and fresh cow pens essential for mastitis prevention.

2. Milking Procedure & Teat Health

Research from both Michigan State University and Cornell shows that farms lose milk when cows have poor let down or when milk let down is not effectively captured during the milking procedure.  Poorly timed milking routine may contribute to both poor milk let down and higher risk of teat damage.  There are three critical parts of the milking routine that should be regularly evaluated: 

• Pre-dip contact time should be a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Udder stimulation and/or fore stripping should last 5-10 seconds or more and result in 3-4 streams of milk from each quarter.
• Lag time from start of stimulation to unit attachment should be 90-180 seconds. These benchmarks can be evaluated during a parlor audit.  If parlor data is available, the value for 2-minute milk (the pounds of milk within the first two minutes of milking) should be >18lbs for herds that milk twice and greater than 15lbs for herds that milk 3 times. 

Poor function of claw vacuum, pulsation, or take off settings can often contribute to teat injuries and inconsistent milking.  These should be evaluated and addressed on a routine basis. Post dip emollients can be used to support healthy teat skin condition.

3. Bedding management

Routine bedding management is the backbone of milk quality and needs to be adaptive to match changing bedding needs.  Bedding levels must be adequate to absorb moisture so that pools of milk, urine, and feces do not accumulate in stalls.  Stall size and brisket pipe must allow for a good lying position so that manure falls into the alley instead of onto the stall surface. Bedding quality in terms of bacterial load directly impacts bulk tank Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and new infection rate.

Dr. Virkler shared a valuable online resource with user-friendly, step-by-step, image-based protocols for collecting milk samples, treating cows at dry off, administering teat sealants, and more.  Access it here.

To learn more about Dr. Virkler’s approach to troubleshooting high bulk tank Somatic Cell Counts (hint: prevention is key) and to access the full recording of this webinar and all other webinars in this series, click here.  Register for upcoming Tri-State Dairy Exchange webinars here.

Written by Amber Machia

Updated Information about Funding Opportunities for Dairy and Crop Operations

Alternative funding streams have become important to Vermont dairy operations, often supporting access to technology, improvements to equipment or infrastructure, or opportunities to diversify.  Given the volatility of the milk market, every dollar counts.  Competitive grants and programs available in the Northeast may assist in improving environmental outcomes – especially water quality, support animal wellbeing and comfort improvements, or help to upgrade out-of-date systems. Navigating the organizations that facilitate these funding opportunities – as well as the guidelines and applications associated with them – can be a challenge.  We have recently updated our Funding Opportunities for Dairy & Crop Operations resource to help address this challenge.  View individual funding opportunity details “at-a-glance” and check out the clickable links to learn more about organizations that offer business support, competitive grants, or other programs.

Current and Upcoming Funding Opportunities

Currently, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets is accepting applications for the Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) for equipment used for precision agriculture, conservation tillage, cover cropping, waste management or feed management to improve water quality.  In October, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center will begin accepting applications for the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant, and the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative will begin accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant.  These applications are no small lift and require time, energy, quotes, and letters of support.

For more information or assistance with identifying which funding opportunities might be a good fit for you, contact Amber Machia at amber.machia@uvm.edu.

Written by Heather Darby

Timely harvest of corn silage is one of the most critical factors affecting forage quality. To ensure maximum yields of dry matter, nutrients per acre, palatability, intake, and minimize storage losses corn should be harvested at 35-30 % dry matter. In most years, an early planting date and proper hybrid selection will allow for a timely harvest in the fall before freezing weather occurs. However, in some years like 2025 in which corn planting was delayed due to extremely wet weather, much of the corn in Vermont ends up still too immature going into the fall. The following article provides some suggestions in dealing with immature and frost damaged corn when chopped for silage.

When should immature corn be harvested?

After frost, immature corn will most likely be too low in dry matter content (high in moisture) for direct chopping. If possible, harvesting should be delayed until the plant is below 30 % dry matter. Harvesting the plant at low dry matter content will alter fermentation, increase silage runoff, and could potentially decrease feed intake. To avoid seepage losses and risk of undesirable fermentation, it will be necessary to allow the immature crop to stand in the field for several days following a frost for further drying.

Determining the moisture content of the crop after it is frosted can be tricky. After the plant is frosted, the leaves turn brown and give the appearance of rapid dry down. However, since most of the moisture is in the stalk and ear the plant will be at a lower dry matter than it appears. Most experienced farmers can estimate moisture contents for normal maturity crops but will likely underestimate the moisture content of an immature crop. Remember frozen immature corn will not dry down any faster than unfrozen corn. The only sure method to determine dry matter is to chop a small amount of the crop with the chopper and obtain a moisture determination (microwave method or Koster Tester) to know when the crop is nearing the desired 35 – 30 % dry matter. As a rule of thumb, whole plant moisture normally decreases by 0.5 % per day. Plant material of 30 % or slightly higher dry matter can be more effectively stored in a horizontal bunker or stack without excessive seepage losses than in an upright silo structure.

Under the best of conditions, preservatives and inoculants are generally not necessary for corn silage, however, this is a year to consider their use. Be sure and use proven products and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

How to store immature silage

Silage management practices are critical to harvesting and storing immature corn. Packing, covering, and particle size guidelines used in harvesting normal corn silage should be followed for immature corn silage. If possible, store immature corn separately from high quality corn silage. Very immature corn silage should be fed to animals with lower nutrient requirements.

Immature corn silage as a feed

Immature corn silage is a unique feed. Not surprisingly, immature corn can be expected to yield less silage. If the corn is at the dough stage it generally has anywhere from 65 – 85 % of normal silage yield. Slightly immature, frost damaged corn that has dented can still make good quality corn silage. As shown in Table 1, while yield is compromised the overall energy content is similar to more mature corn silage with kernels containing normal starch fill.

The decline in energy of slightly immature corn is not as great as one might expect because the stalk ADF and NDF is more available. The fiber (ADF and NDF) content of the plant will be higher but less lignified and therefore more digestible than in mature silage. In addition, the kernel texture and starch will be softer and more digestible. However, starch levels are likely to be lower.

After frost, if the leaf material is dead but the stalk and roots remain alive, there is a chance nitrates will accumulate in the lower stalk. Drought and frost stress combined increases the risk of nitrates accumulating in the corn. This can make the resulting silage dangerous for livestock. Increasing the cutting height will lower dry matter but increase silage quality since the lower stalk has the lowest digestibility and highest nitrate levels. To further manage this risk, ensile the crop for at least 21 days to reduce nitrate levels by 40-60% and test the silage for nitrates before feeding.

Field losses will increase with time, so producers need to balance harvest losses against fermentation loss and quality problems associated with wet silage. It will be essential to test forage made from immature corn as there will be a large variation from the nutrient content that might be expected. If you are going to feed a significant amount of this type of silage to lactating cows, it is worthwhile to obtain a fermentation analysis that includes silage pH, ammonia, titratable acidity, lactic, acetic, proprionic, butyric and isobutyric acids. Working closely with your nutritionist will help you develop the most useful rations with immature corn silage.

If you have questions or concerns about your corn, please contact the Northwest Crops and Soils office by calling (802) 656-7611 or emailing susan.brouillette@uvm.edu.

Written by Amber Machia

The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England. Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each month from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Sessions have focused on current dairy research and program updates, including interviews, presentations, and roundtable discussions. All recorded sessions are available to watch on the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils YouTube Channel.

In August, the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team hosted a webinar on calf and heifer management practices in New England. The session featured Dr. Glenda Pereira, University of Maine Extension, and Sarah Allen, University of New Hampshire Extension, who shared strategies to improve calf health, growth, and long-term productivity. Their discussion highlighted four critical areas that determine success: maternity management, colostrum, nutrition and feeding, and environment. The ultimate goal is to raise calves that grow steadily and enter the milking herd at two years of age.

1.  Maternity & Dry Period: 70% of fetal growth occurs in the final trimester of pregnancy. Minimizing stressors – especially heat stress – reduces the risk of low birthweight and poor immunity. Nutritional support during the transition period can improve calf outcomes. Farm specific transition cow vaccination programs support antibody transfer through colostrum.
2. Colostrum Management – “The 3 Q’s + C”- Quantity: Feed ≥10% of calf bodyweight in colostrum.- Quality: At least 50 g/L IgG; test with a refractometer. Thaw frozen colostrum below 140°F to protect proteins.– Quickness: Feed within 2–4 hours after birth for maximum antibody absorption.- Cleanliness: Establish good protocols for sanitizing feeding equipment. Verify with an ATP meter to monitor organic matter levels on surfaces.
3. Early Life Nutrition & Feeding: Pre-weaned calves should consume 10–20% of bodyweight daily. Calf starter with 18–26% crude protein promotes the fermentation process which produces volatile fatty acids, driving papillae growth and rumen development. By weaning, calves should double birthweight and eat at least 2 lbs. of starter daily.
4. Environment: Calves thrive in dry, clean, well-ventilated housing. Proper bedding, airflow, and hygiene reduce pathogen load and stress, supporting health and growth.

Heifer growth targets are farm specific.  Generally, heifers should be 55% of mature bodyweight at first conception and 85% of mature bodyweight at first calving.

Glenda & Sarah’s Colostrum Quality & Management Bulletin is accessible here.

To learn more about the calf and heifer management cohort project in New Hampshire and Maine and to access the full recording of this webinar and all other webinars in the series click here.  Register for upcoming Tri-State Dairy Exchange webinars here.

Written by Jeff Sanders

Vermont’s 2025 drought has pushed farmers to their limits, with the U.S. Drought Monitor reporting 100% of the state under drought conditions as of September 16, including 78% in severe drought (D2) and 2% in extreme drought (D3)—the worst since 2000. Rainfall through August averages just 18.5 inches statewide, a stark 11-inch deficit compared to the 30-year average of 29.7 inches. The two-week forecast offers little relief, with scattered showers possible over the next 10-14 days—chances of 30-70% on select days, but totals likely under 0.25 inches in many areas, insufficient to ease drought stress significantly. This scarcity of water strains everything, making soil health practices like cover cropping critical yet challenging. The seed will only germinate when sufficient moisture arrives. 

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) acknowledges these tough conditions but maintains its Farm Agronomic Practice (FAP) Program deadlines: broadcast cover crops by October 1, drilled or incorporated by October 10, with earlier planting strongly encouraged. FAP grants require “adequate soil coverage,” and VAAFM stresses that cover crops must grow to be effective. Farmers should only plant if growth is reasonably likely, meaning there’s a realistic chance—based on soil moisture, weather forecasts, and proper seed-to-soil contact—that crops like rye or wheat will germinate and establish before winter. Fields lacking coverage may be denied funding, but VAAFM will evaluate growth statewide, considering this year’s low soil moisture, and may re-inspect fields later to allow establishment before final decisions. 

Cover crops like rye or wheat remain vital, enhancing soil structure and boosting water retention by 20-30%. Good seed-to-soil contact is key for germination, especially in dry soils, with wheat and rye needing 0.5–1 inch of topsoil water to sprout. UVM Extension trials in 2023 showed cover-cropped fields retained 15-25% more moisture, critical for drought resilience. Cover crops also add organic matter, curb erosion, and prevent nutrient loss, aiding soil recovery. 

Vermont farmers are resilient, and VAAFM’s FAP support—$45/acre for drilled/incorporated cover crops—can help. Ensure timely planting with careful attention to soil moisture to meet FAP standards. How are you navigating cover cropping this fall? Share your strategies or questions with us in the comments. Please contact Heather Darby at heather.darby@uvm.edu or Jeff Sanders at jeffrey.sanders@uvm.edu if you have questions or concerns.

Written by Elizabeth Seyler

“What corn variety grows best in my soil type?” “What cover crop would help me meet my conservation goals?” “Does this new fertilizer improve yields?” Vermont farmers are committed to land stewardship practices that protect soil and water quality, and they’re constantly gauging how to invest time and money in crops, technology, equipment, and management practices to grow food and fiber.

To answer their questions, many rely on research-based results and guidance from technical service providers such as Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCD), and consultants. But research studies are rarely conducted in fields with the same conditions and pests as farmers’ own.

That’s where Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network (OFRN) can help. It will be a free online tool to help farmers conduct experiments in their own fields to generate results they can use. OFRN will support a form of research called participatory action research (PAR), which emphasizes participation and action by members of communities affected by that research. It will streamline the PAR process to make it accessible and inviting to farmers.

Adaptation has always been part of farming, but increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather due to global warming is forcing farmers to adjust their management practices more quickly and frequently. OFRN will provide geographically relevant, management-specific data to help farmers improve crop yield, crop quality, farm resilience, land stewardship, and more. It will give farmers access to data they need to adapt to rapidly shifting conditions.

OFRN will also benefit researchers. It will reduce outreach burnout by giving them access to a network of farmers seeking to engage in on-farm research.

Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network

Members of UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) are leading creation of Vermont’s OFRN. Many top agricultural universities have similar networks and resources, such as the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network and its FarmStat online tool.

AgConnect Portal for Farmers

UVM Extension’s NWCS team is collaborating with farmer groups, researchers and software developers to create the AgConnect portal for farmers. It will invite them to suggest on-farm experiments that address their pressing questions and/or join newly designed experiments.

AgConnect Portal for Researchers

Researchers will use the AgConnect experiment management portal to recruit for, design, monitor, report on, and share results of on-farm experiments. The portal’s user-friendly design will help researchers create clear instructions for data collection, ensuring that results are useful and consistent across experiments.

AgConnect Research Database

Farmers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers want easy access to research results to help them synthesize information and to inform decision making. These data are currently available in many forms—such as reports, presentations, and fact sheets—at numerous online and physical locations. Tracking down studies relevant to specific locales and farming practices can be daunting. OFRN changes that.

The AgConnect completed research database will be a free, searchable, open-source repository of past and current research conducted on working farms and research farms. It will provide a place to store and retrieve results, accessible to anyone. The OFRN team will keep adding research results, expanding the scope of the database over time.

User Support

UVM Extension’s NWCS team will be available to support farmers and researchers at every step, from joining AgConnect to conducting an on-farm experiment to collecting data and interpreting the results.

Collaborating To Create OFRN and AgConnect

In early January 2025, UVM Extension’s NWCS team began collaborating with individual farmers, farmer groups, other UVM researchers, industry stakeholders, and policy makers to creat OFRN and design AgConnect. The NWCS team is particularly pleased to be partnering with two farmer organizations: the Franklin & Grand Isle Farmer’s Watershed Alliance (FWA) and the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance (CRWFA). Both organizations’ members are Vermont farmers whose products include vegetables, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops. In July, they and others participated in several focus groups and provided feedback to make AgConnect more user-friendly and useful.

Since the project’s inception, the NWCS team has also been working closely with Data Scientist Chris Donovan of the Food Systems Research Institute at UVM and with Vermont company GameTheory on tool features and design.

How To Get Involved

Are you a Vermont farmer interested in addressing questions through on-farm research? Are you a researcher or technical assistance provider seeking farmers to participate in on-farm research? OFRN can help. To stay updated, visit the NWCS website, subscribe to our monthly email newsletter, and follow us on social media.

We seek farmers and researchers to test all facets of AgConnect. Interested in joining a focus group and giving feedback? Contact UVM Extension Outreach Specialist Shannon MacDonald at Shannon.Macdonald@uvm.edu. Tell her who you are and how you’d like to participate. She’ll put you in touch with the right person.

Funding

Creation of the On-farm Research Network and AgConnect is made possible with funding from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and the Food Systems Research Institute at UVM.

Written by Amber Machia

The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England.  Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each month from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  Sessions have focused on current dairy research and program updates, including interviews, presentations, and roundtable discussions.  All recorded sessions are available to watch on the UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils  YouTube Channel.

In July, the Tri-State Extension Dairy team hosted a webinar focused on rumen biochemistry and function of dairy cattle with guest independent nutrition consultant, Kurt Cotanch. 

Kurt believes that “our job in feeding dairy cattle is to facilitate microbial growth.” Microbial fermentation produces volatile fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, and acetate) and hydrogen. The cow needs these metabolites to produce milk as well as support muscle and body condition and reproductive function – including fetal growth.

Dairy rations supply nutrients in the form of sugars, starches, and fiber.  Sugars are fermented into butyrate, which is utilized by the rumen epithelium and by the cow as an energy source.  Starches are fermented into propionate, which is utilized in the liver to produce blood glucose through the process of gluconeogenesis.  Fiber fractions are fermented into acetate, which is a precursor for milkfat production.  The quality, digestibility, nutrient profile, and fermentation status of the feed ingredients (including forage sources) being fed dictates the proportions of volatile fatty acids produced by the rumen microbes.

Milk is 4.7% lactose, which is a sugar. Therefore, a cow making 85lbs of milk per day is actually producing about 4lbs of sugar per day.  Blood glucose made in the liver during gluconeogenesis is then used not only to make lactose, but is also used for red blood cell production, mammary tissue production, and by the cow’s immune system.  Activated immune systems get priority use of blood glucose, meaning cows experiencing stress and reduced feed intake will revert to mobilizing nutrients from muscle and adipose for energy, which further stresses the system.  This explains why a cow can tolerate heat stress, overcrowding stress, or even illness for a short period of time before production will drop noticeably. 

Rumen fill and flow are determined by fiber fractions, which are in turn determined by forage maturity stage at harvest.  Pasture and less mature forages have a faster passage rate and are more digestible.  More mature forages pass through the rumen more slowly and take longer to digest.  Diets that are high in fast fiber may pass through the cow without getting fully digested.  Diets that are high in slow fiber pass through the cow more slowly, which may hinder intake.

Rations that provide nutrient synchrony by supplying the right amino acid profile, fiber fractions, and carbohydrates allow cows to maximize production efficiency.  Nutrients fed above animal requirements, particularly nitrogen sources, utilize extra energy to expel excess nutrients in the form of urinary nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen (MUN).  Milk components, including fat and protein percentages and ratios, milk fatty acid profiles, and MUNs, can all be used to assess and troubleshoot rumen function and nutrient efficiency.

Click here to access the full recording of this webinar and all other webinars in this series. Register for upcoming Tri-State Dairy Exchange webinars here.

Written by Kellie Damann

In the spring of 2025 UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) sent a call out to organic dry bean growers in the Northeastern U.S. to send in seed samples for evaluation of seed health and seedborne pathogens. Growers in the Northeast have indicated sourcing quality seed and a lack in pest management practices are significant barriers to dry bean production in the region. This project was designed to start addressing these concerns and identify what seedborne pathogens exist in the seed lots across the Northeast.

The majority of dry bean production in this region is certified organic, with many farmers choosing to save their own seed. This decision is driven in part by the lack of seed sources for heirloom and specialty dry bean varieties that consumers prefer. It is critical for dry bean growers to plant disease-free seed as other disease management options are often limited in organic production systems. Planting clean seed reduces the risk of a disease outbreak during the season that could decrease yields. As growers continue to save their seed for planting from year-to-year the risk of seedborne pathogen build up can increase (Image 1).

The UVM NWCS Team and the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) teamed up to find out what major seedborne pathogens are targeting organic dry bean production in this region. This survey will lay the foreground for further research into dry bean disease management practices. In this survey, the team received 25 samples from ME, NY, and VT. Over 50% of the samples submitted were from saved seed lots. These samples represented 8 different market classes and 17 different varieties.

The PDC used modified ISTA methods to identify nine different fungal pathogens including Alternaria, Cercospora, Ascochyta, Fusarium, Macrophomina, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Tricothecium, and Colletotrichum (Image 2). As well as bacterial pathogens including Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, P. syringae pv. syringae (halo blight), Xanthomonas citri pv. fuscans (Xcf), and X. phaseoli pv. phaseoli (Xpp, common bean blight) (Image 3). Secondary molds including yeasts, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Aspergillus, were also evaluated in this survey. The results from the 2025 Seedborne Pathogen Survey Summarized Report can be found here.

Seed Health Results

Germination was assessed using 200 seeds per sample. The germination ranged from 0 to 98% among the 25 samples with an average germination of 66%. The seed vigor test evaluated 100 seeds per sample, measuring the total growth from the seed in centimeters after a 7-day incubation period. Having a higher seed vigor index value indicates quicker development and emergence leading to a more uniform stand. The Seed Vigor Index ranged from 0 to 528 among the 25 samples submitted with an average Seed Vigor Index of 166. 

Each sample submitted had fungal or bacterial pathogens observed in the seed lots. The most common diseases present in this survey were common bacterial blight (80%) and halo blight (60%). Although fungal pathogens were not observed in high numbers compared to the bacterial pathogens, they can still pose a threat. Fields should be regularly scouted to monitor the various diseases associated with these pathogens. The PDC and NWCS team put together the Growers Guide to Seedborne Diseases of Dry Beans to provide growers guidance for identifying these diseases in the field and what the current management strategies are out there.  

For more information regarding dry beans please visit the NWCS website. The summarized report for this survey can be found on both the NWCS website or the Northern Grain Growers Collaborative website.