UVM EXTENSION EARNS GRANT TO STUDY SOLAR CORRIDORS ON FARMS Burlington–University of Vermont (UVM) Extension recently received a $68,438 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to work with farmers interested in trying “solar corridors” in their corn silage fields. The project will be led by Dr. Heather Darby, a UVM …
Author Archives: outcropn
Frost Seeding
Spring is right around the corner, but it might not be too late to think about forage improvements! Frost seeding is a simple practice that can help improve pasture and hay field yield, quality, and composition over time. The general principle of frost seeding is to broadcast forage seed onto pastures or hay fields in …
Evaluating the Sensory Characteristics of Organic Grassfed Milk
By Roy Desrochers, Heather Darby, and Sara Ziegler In the food and beverage industry, marketing and sales can get you first time buyers. However, product sensory quality — specifically aroma and flavor — are what drives repeat purchases and creates sustained market share. Simply put, food and beverage products that best meet consumer expectations for …
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Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance
Here is information shared by the RMA program and a link to a USDA news release about a public comment period on Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance. The comment period is open until November 5, 2020. Comments can be submitted via email to rma.kcviri@usda.gov or by mail to Director, Product Administration and Standards Division, Risk …
Be on the Look Out!
Hemp Diseases Creeping into Fields Across Vermont Following are pictures of Septoria. As the weather cools, rains, dews and fogs are becoming more common and diseases are on the rise. In the past couple of weeks, the UVM Hemp team has been scouting fields in the state and noted Alternaria and Septoria foliar leafspot diseases …
Are you in need of additional feed? It’s time to think about cool season annuals.
Hot, dry conditions this season have made for some nice hay making weather, but poor hay and pasture yields. Many farmers are already looking at having to feed some of the stored forages they’d typically feed this winter to get by. Furthermore, as much of our region is experiencing this droughty weather, finding quality stored …
Continue reading “Are you in need of additional feed? It’s time to think about cool season annuals.”
Determining the sex of hemp plants
Hemp grown with the purpose of maximizing cannabinoid and terpene content is done exclusively with female plants to maximize quality and yield of flower material. With male plants present in this type of production system, pollen will be produced and fertilize female flowers. This will result in plants focusing more energy towards seed production, resulting …
2020 Cover Crop Assistance Applications
The deadline for 2020 cover crop assistance applications has been extended to AUGUST 7, 2020. Applicants are advised to apply online when able to do so if you have not done so already. Apply Now The payment rates vary by practice type (information and payment rates) and applications are due for each practice at least …
The European Corn Borer in Hops and Hemp
As the production of hemp and hops grows in the northeast, pests such as the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, are increasingly problematic for these crops. As the name suggests, ECB are a major pest of corn, though they can be damaging to hundreds of plants. The ECB caterpillars feed on and weaken plant …
Watch out for Slugs!
The cool and damp start to the season we’ve had not only impacts the germination and growth of young corn and soybean plants, it also can leave them vulnerable to pests like slugs. Fields with heavy residue from weeds or cover crops, especially no-till fields, are at higher risk of harboring slugs. This is due …