Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture – UVM Extension

On July 9th, UVM Extension and the Champlain Valley Farmers Coalition hosted a mid-season corn evaluation at Richville Farms in Shorham, VT to discuss the challenges and adjustments they’ve made for this year’s crops.  Jeremy Chittenden shared an overview of the farm’s operations, cropping plans, and their experiences in this challenging season as well as past seasons.  Guest speaker Tom Eaton addressed key topics such as side-dressing, managing growth stunting, and anticipating harvest conditions. He was joined by Extension Agronomist Shawn Lucas, who shared insights on how a wet spring followed by a dry summer has affected soil conditions.

Over the period from February 1 to May 31 Addison County received over 15 inches of rainfall which is more than 4 inches over the normal value for that timespan.  Much of that rainfall came in May, when 6 inches of rain fell at the time when producers were hoping to terminate cover crops and plant summer crops.  This delayed planting for many producers many of whom were planting well into late June.  Unfortunately, during the period from June 1 until July 9 Addison County fields saw nearly 2 inches less rainfall than normal (with some areas receiving no rain at all).  Thus, once crops were planted, they were facing stress from lack of water shortly after emergence. We saw this firsthand at Richville Farms where the clay soils had hardened, leaving deep cracks from the lack of moisture. Of interest to the group was information on how dry soils intensify problems related to soil compaction, limited nutrient availability, and slowed crop productivity.

Digging up several corn stalks, we found that root penetration was surprisingly good in this particular field despite late planting and early-season wet conditions. Mr. Chittenden thought this might have been because they were able to broadcast liquid manure via drag-line as a sidedress a few weeks after emergence, which provided both moisture and nutrients at a critical time in crop development.  In addition to examining root development and compaction, we scouted for pests such as wireworms and cutworms. Fortunately, the late planting meant that these pests had already completed their life cycle and did not impact this year’s crop. Early-season insect scouting remains a valuable tool to help determine causes of poor stand establishment, and using reputable insecticides and herbicides can protect crops from emerging threats.

This season’s weather has also required adjustments in nitrogen management. Tom emphasized that many fields may need an extra boost of nitrogen to maximize tonnage at harvest. The biggest challenge with side-dressing this year has been timing—waiting for sufficient rainfall and again highlighting the potential benefits from the drag-line liquid manure side-dress application at Richville Farms. Incorporating urea requires about ½ inch of rain, so carefully timing applications around precipitation events is essential. Without rain, high heat significantly increases the risk of volatilization. Producers are encouraged to take a Pre-Side-dress Nitrate Tests (PSNT) to confirm nitrogen needs and plan side-dressing accordingly.  For more on PSNT and soil testing in general, visit the UVM Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab .

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Credit: Kate Longfield

Credit: Kate Longfield

On May 8th, farmers and technical service providers gathered at Nea-Toch Farm, in Ferrisburgh, VT to discuss harvesting cover crops as forage and strategies for terminating cover crops without the use of herbicide sprays. UVM Extension, in collaboration with the Champlain Valley Farmers Coalition, hosted a workshop that outlined the pros and cons of non-chemical termination methods and highlighted how Nea-Toch Farm has successfully implemented these practices. 

Under an overcast sky, attendees—including Extension agronomist Shawn Lucas, Howard Vander -Wey, and several farmers and service providers—discussed topics such as herbicide-free cover crop termination, the farm’s transition from corn to increasing production of other forage options such as sorghum-sudangrass, and how these changes have impacted soil health. 

Nea-Toch Farm has been in operation for over 48 years, currently milking 335 cows. The farm grows its own forages and manages over 950 acres of crops, with approximately 300 acres in corn. A key component of their soil health strategy has been the long-term incorporation of cover crops. For more than 15 years, they have been cover cropping their fields and have observed significant improvements in soil organic matter, compaction, and fertility. 

Nea-Toch Farm has been experimenting with different cover crop species and termination methods for over the last decade and found success with a technique that involves taking an early cut of the cover crop for feed, then tilling the remaining sod into the soil. This method incorporates organic matter into the top few inches of soil, making nutrients more accessible to plants. It also reduces the need for herbicide sprays while improving soil health for the subsequent crop. During the workshop, attendees viewed a thriving field of triticale and rye, which the farm plans to harvest for feed before tilling in the residue and planting directly into it. 

Given the success of their cover cropping program, the farm is now gradually shifting away from corn silage and incorporating more sorghum-sudangrass into their rotation. This crop has been a valuable supplement to corn silage due to its comparable sugar content and its deep, fibrous root system, which Howard Vander-Wey has observed to help alleviate compaction in their heavy clay soils. They have also noted improved soil structure and weed suppression. Additionally, Sorghum-Sudan has proven easy to bale and store, making the logistical transition a smooth one. 

As different seasons bring different challenges and opportunities, Nea-Toch Farm continues to explore different practices and evaluate what is working for them. While the spring of 2025 has been particularly wet, they planted rye and triticale in the fall of 2024; they are now seeing a boost in growth as the weather warms. Both crops will be harvested for feed, reinforcing the farm’s ability to integrate soil health practices with practical, productive forage systems. 

Picture Taken by Emma Sandman, UVM Extension, Rye Field 

Picture taken by Emma Sandman, UVM Extension, Triticale

In this issue:

• Management of Fall-Planted Cover Crops in Spring
• Estimating Spring Nitrogen Availability From Cover Crops
• Is my Grass Ready to be Grazed Again?

Click the link bellow to read more!

On Thursday, June 27th, farmers and technical service providers gathered to discuss the importance of in-season scouting for a productive corn crop at Farmers Connect: Mid-Season Corn Evaluation, hosted by UVM Extension and the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition. We gathered at Lucas Dairy in Orwell to hear from Jon Lucas of Lucas Dairy, Tom Eaton (ACS agronomist), Abby Augarten (UVM Extension agronomist), and other farmers in attendance on important topics, including no-till strategies for healthy corn stands, pest management, and in-season nitrogen management.  

After taking shelter from the rain in the barn, where we discussed the importance of planter setup for effective no-till planting, we headed to Jon’s corn fields under sunny skies to discuss these concepts more in-depth. As we gathered around a field that was no-till planted into sod after first cut, we discussed the importance of ideal soil moisture, especially in clay soils, for successful no-till planting and trench closure. Jon noted an increase in early season pest pressure, including cutworms and slugs, on some fields, likely due to greater moisture and early planting. Pest scouting early in the season provided sufficient time to intervene and replant, preventing any widespread damage. 

Nitrogen management strategies to increase efficiency for greater economic and environmental benefits was another topic of interest. Understanding the complexity of nitrogen cycling, how and when we may lose nitrogen from our system, and available tools to mitigate loss are crucial for efficient N use. We discussed effective strategies like nitrogen inhibitors, in-season diagnostic tools to determine sidedress rate, and adjusting nitrogen timing and rates in no-till systems.   

Stand evaluations, pest management, and nutrient management are crucial to finding success in a no-till system. Jon highlighted a few key components to his no-till system: timing planting with favorable conditions, scouting for insects in higher risk fields, and adjusting nitrogen management to prevent nitrogen tie up and take advantage of nitrogen credits. Jon continues his no-till practices, which have contributed to healthy crops, water quality benefits, and improved soil health. 

Read on to explore more highlights from the field day!

Mid-Season Corn Evaluation Highlights: 

No-till Strategies: 

• Planting in ideal moisture is key for no-till planting, especially in clay soils. Farmers shared they’ve had the most success if the soil surface is dry and crumbles easily, while the soil is moist at planting depth to allow for good trench closure and fast germination and emergence. If the soil is too dry, it’s advantageous to plant to greater depth to find sufficient moisture.  

• No-till planting corn into a hay field is a great approach to integrate no-till practices into your system. Jon has found success by using a coulter to slice through residue, carefully timing herbicide application for effective sod termination, applying nitrogen up front to prevent any tie up, and planting in ideal moisture conditions. No-till planting into hay can improve soil health, mitigate risk of runoff, and provide nitrogen benefits to the corn crop mid-season. 

Stand Evaluation: 

• Evaluating corn stands can provide important insight to inform planting next season. For example, if there are skips in the row, identify if this is due to pest pressure, soil conditions, or planting error, such as planting depth, planter setup, closing wheels, and other factors.  

• Assessing the uniformity of the corn stand is another great indicator. While challenging to obtain in fields with variable conditions, uniform stands help mitigate competition among corn plants. Adjusting planting depth to align with ideal soil moisture throughout the field can help improve uniformity. 

Pest Management: 

• Early season insect scouting is crucial to catch insect pressure early, intervene, and replant if necessary. Scouting pests early in the season, and not just from the road, gave Jon an advantage to minimize the damage done by the cutworms. Jon was able to locate, spray, and replant the corn within a week, saving yields on that field.  

• For some, buying name brand insecticides and herbicides that have guaranteed efficacy may be worth the extra time and money.  

• Planting date is an important consideration for managing risk around insect pressure, but there may also be tradeoffs. Planting early may be effective to mitigate risk of cutworm damage but will also increase the seed’s susceptibility to seed corn maggot and wireworm damage due to slower germination. 

In-season Nitrogen Management: 

• Nitrogen is a very complex nutrient to manage, but knowing when and how your system is at risk of losing nitrogen and taking advantage of tools to mitigate that risk can improve efficiency. Nitrogen can be lost via many modes and considering when, how and in what form you apply nitrogen can inform how best to mitigate that risk. Read more about nitrogen cycling here, or reach out to UVM Extension to delve deeper into nitrogen management on your farm.   

• Applying nitrogen in-season, closer to when the corn crop needs it, is one strategy to mitigate risk. Nutrient management planning, weather considerations, and diagnostic tools like pre-sidedress nitrate tests (PSNTs) and chlorophyll meters can inform sidedress rate.  

• The timing of sidedress applications with rainfall is an important consideration.  About ½ inch of rain is required to incorporate urea into the soil, where it will no longer be susceptible to volatilization. Without rain, it is possible to lose 20% of surface applied urea per day, particularly with warmer temperatures, greater soil moisture, and windy conditions. 

• Nitrogen inhibitors can mitigate the risk of nitrogen loss. Urease inhibitors, one type of nitrogen inhibitors, will prevent volatilization of urea for 10-14 days, extending the window to receive sufficient rainfall to incorporate urea into the soil. There are many different products out there, with different modes of action and concentration of active ingredients. Reach out to UVM Extension to navigate which product makes sense for you.   

Other Topics of Interest: 

• Conversation was not limited to just corn! We explored additional interests from cover cropping mixes to hay crops and species selection. 

• There are many benefits to a multispecies cover crop mixture, though it can be challenging to integrate into dairy cropping rotations in VT. Interseeding is a potential strategy to accomplish this, by providing the cover crop ample time to grow and provide desirable soil health benefits.   

• Selecting forage species, and even specific varieties, is important for new hay crops. Seed breeders are doing great work at the variety level to create mixtures designed to maximize productivity and quality.  

To discuss how these key takeaways may relate to your operation, reach out to the UVM Extension’s Champlain Valley Crops, Soil & Pasture Team.