This is the final year that the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (Agency) will administer the Vermont Hemp Program, including the Vermont Hemp Rules and under its USDA approved Domestic Hemp Production Plan. The Agency approved its first registration to cultivate hemp in 2013. That first year the Agency registered 174 acres. In …
Author Archives: outcropn
Managing Disease On Hemp Farms
Managing disease of the hemp crop is a key component in bringing a high-quality product to the market! Much of disease management for hemp involves practices that need to be deployed far ahead of the harvest. Practices such as wider plant spacing, variety selection, and crop rotation can all help reducing disease pressure. While preparation …
Fire Safety Pointers for Farmers Processing Hemp
Electrical Safety, Solvent Safety, and Building Safety are All Essential for Fire Safety (Downloadable PDF click here) Electrical Safety: • Do not overload electrical sockets, breakers, or circuits.• Avoid putting cords against walls or across doorways.• Do not run cords under or over furniture or coverings which can overheat and cause fire.• Follow installation guidance …
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USDA RMA Specialty Crop Changes: Greater Flexibility for Crop Insurance
The USDA Risk Management Agency has made some changes to insurance programs for specialty crop producers (this includes all fruits and vegetables). These changes make it easier for specialty crop farmers and those who sell through direct markets to obtain Federal Crop Insurance, report annual production and file any loss claims.
Reminder for Producers: Report Crop Losses
RMA Agent Locator: https://www.rma.usda.gov/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page RMA webpage: https://www.rma.usda.gov/
Rock and Roll-er Crimping: Management of Cereal Rye Late Spring
While the adoption of cover crops across the northeast has exploded over the last 10 years and farmers have learned how to manage the termination of the winter cover crop, there are times when issues arise. At the start of the 2022 planting season we’ve run into some cool, unsettled weather leading to delayed plantings. …
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Time to Plant Summer Annuals
Summer annual grasses, such as sudangrass and millet, can provide supplemental forage during the hot summer months as the growth of cool season perennial grasses slows. These grasses can yield 3 to 5 tons of highly digestible dry matter per acre even under droughty conditions! Now is the time to be planting these heat loving …
State of Soil Health in Vermont
The State of Soil Health is an initiative to measure soil health and soil carbon on farms across the state of Vermont. This project is coordinated by UVM Extension and relied upon in-kind donations, data sharing and field support from partnering organizations and farmers. The project has five primary objectives: Establish a baseline of soil …
Measuring Percent Surface Cover: In-Field vs Remote Technology
INTRODUCTION: From improving soil health to pollinator habitat to protecting water quality, cover crops can provide a multitude of benefits! One way cover crops can protect the field from erosion and reduce nutrients from reaching our waterways is by covering the soil with their leaves and stems. This is called surface cover by cover crop …
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Diving into Dry Beans
UVM Extension will be partnering with Cornell University on a newly awarded Northeast SARE Research and Education grant titled “Regenerative Organic Dry Bean Production in the Northeast”. This project seeks to expand organic dry bean production as part of a regenerative cropping system in the Northeast through the creation of a farmer community of practice …