Managing hayfields to include nesting birds

By: Juan P. Alvez and Cheryl Herrick UVM Extension, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Grassland birds provide numerous environmental benefits to agriculture, from pollination to pest control. In spite of that, grassland birds are declining in the U.S. mainly due to hayfield mowing during the weeks that birds such as Bobolinks are actively nesting. Farmers, face […]

Why are horses such good cow followers?

By: Juan P. Alvez  | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Extension, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Often times, we pass by horse farms and marvel at their idyllic views of green pastures and beautiful animals.  But – unfortunately – far too often these pastures are grazed too low and overgrazed. Horses evolved following ruminant livestock. The absence […]