Grass-Fed Dairy Production Course

With increasing organic grain prices, many dairy farms are looking to reduce or even eliminate feeding grain. Grass-Fed dairy is of growing interest and this ONLINE COURSE will walk you through unique aspects of this production system and as well as practical considerations before starting a transition. The online program will include weekly presentation/discussion and …

End of Year Tidings from the E.E. Cummings Crop Testing Laboratory

Happy holidays to friends and colleagues near and far from the staff at the E.E. Cummings Crop Testing Lab! We’re pleased to have been your choice for grain quality testing in 2022 and hope to see you again in 2023.  There will be no mail service on UVM’s campus between December 22st and January 2th, so if …

UVM Extension Announces New Opportunity: Building Soil Health through Farmer Peer Learning Networks

Through a recently awarded 3-year Conservation Innovation Grant, the University of Vermont Extension, Northwest Crops and Soils Program and the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts partnered up to develop soil health peer learning groups for farmers with the goal of advancing soil health of Vermont farmland. Through this program farmers will learn to benchmark soil …

Impact of Cover Crop Termination Date on Weed Suppression and Corn Yield

Cover crops can retain nutrients, increase organic matter, and reduce erosion. In addition, cover crops may help to increase cash crop yields. Zeroing in on cover crop benefits, what happens to weed suppression and corn yield the longer the cover crop grows? Would more cover crop biomass suppress weeds better? Would that suppression of weeds …

DAIRY WEBINAR – Alternative Milking Strategies: Lessons Learned From Research and Experience

Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join UVM Extension’s Sara Ziegler and grazing consultant Sarah Flack for a webinar on alternative milking strategies (click here for event flyer) including seasonal production, once-a-day milking, and other alternative milking frequencies. They’ll share insights on the prevalence of these strategies on dairy farms around the northeast region, as …

Sunsetting of Vermont’s Hemp Program and the Transitioning to the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program 

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 …

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 …

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.

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