“If these sunflowers grow, I’ll shave my mustache,” a farmer joked when Dr. Metin Tuna asked him to try direct seeding sunflowers. Dr. Tuna is a plant geneticist, breeding professor, and researcher at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University in Tekirdağ, Turkey. In 2015, Dr. Tuna met UVM Extension Research Specialist Lindsey Ruhl while she was in Turkey on a …
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UVM Extension Attends the First Annual American Dairy Xpo
UVM Extension attended the first Annual American Dairy Xpo on November 5 and 6 in Essex Junction, Vermont. This new event was a dairy-specific showcase featuring more than 200 exhibitors from around the world who came together to share the latest innovations in education, technology, research, and business. The halls of the Champlain Valley Exposition …
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Milk Quality Matters: Lessons from Dr. Paul Virkler and the Tri-State Dairy Exchange Team
By Amber Machia The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England. Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of each …
Updated Funding Information for Dairy and Crop Operations Available Now
Written by Amber Machia Updated Information about Funding Opportunities for Dairy and Crop Operations Alternative funding streams have become important to Vermont dairy operations, often supporting access to technology, improvements to equipment or infrastructure, or opportunities to diversify. Given the volatility of the milk market, every dollar counts. Competitive grants and programs available in the …
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Managing Immature and Frosted Corn Silage
Written by Heather Darby Timely harvest of corn silage is one of the most critical factors affecting forage quality. To ensure maximum yields of dry matter, nutrients per acre, palatability, intake, and minimize storage losses corn should be harvested at 35-30 % dry matter. In most years, an early planting date and proper hybrid selection …
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Healthier Herds: Tips from the Tri-State Dairy Exchange Team to Improve Heifer and Calf Management
Written by Amber Machia The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England. Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of …
Vermont’s 2025 Drought and Covercropping: Stay the Course
Written by Jeff Sanders Vermont’s 2025 drought has pushed farmers to their limits, with the U.S. Drought Monitor reporting 100% of the state under drought conditions as of September 16, including 78% in severe drought (D2) and 2% in extreme drought (D3)—the worst since 2000. Rainfall through August averages just 18.5 inches statewide, a stark 11-inch deficit …
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Creating Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network
Written by Elizabeth Seyler “What corn variety grows best in my soil type?” “What cover crop would help me meet my conservation goals?” “Does this new fertilizer improve yields?” Vermont farmers are committed to land stewardship practices that protect soil and water quality, and they’re constantly gauging how to invest time and money in crops, …
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July Tri-State Dairy Exchange Webinar: Rumen Biochemistry and Function
Written by Amber Machia The mission of the Tri-State Extension Dairy Team is to unite Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in advancing dairy management through collaborative educational programs, addressing shared industry challenges, and fostering innovation across northern New England. Since January 2025, the team has been hosting live monthly webinars on the last Wednesday of …
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2025 Seedborne Pathogen Survey of Organic Dry Beans in the Northeastern U.S.
Written by Kellie Damann In the spring of 2025 UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) sent a call out to organic dry bean growers in the Northeastern U.S. to send in seed samples for evaluation of seed health and seedborne pathogens. Growers in the Northeast have indicated sourcing quality seed and a lack …
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