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