Beginning in the 2023 growing season, the Northwest Crops and Soils team (NWCST) embarked on a three year USDA CARE grant entitled Hemp Fiber: Building Farmer Capacity to Meet the Opportunities and Challenges of a new Market. The grant features 5 research trials on the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh and one trial at our …
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Biosecurity Considerations for Dairy or Livestock Farm Service Providers & Extension Personnel
Prevention of the spread of livestock disease is the responsibility of anyone who works with or on farms. Be prepared to take the appropriate measures to protect the farms you visit and minimize the risk of introducing disease. When visiting any livestock farm: or sanitize boots upon entering the farm premise and when leaving with …
The NOVUS C.O.W.S. Program – A Tool for Making Progress
It’s no secret that dairy production and management are constantly evolving systems. The day-to-day chores of milking, feeding, cleaning and the fixing of all things that break may sometimes feel redundant. The long term and big picture of these tasks is that we can always do better – make improvements to save money, save time, …
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What’s growing on your crop? Foliar diseases of cereal grains
Foliar diseases in cereal grains are important to pay attention to as they can suppress photosynthetic mechanisms which are needed to produce a healthy grain head. Foliar diseases can lead to reduced vigor, growth, and yield. If your grain is infected earlier in the season there is a greater chance of yield loss, if favorable …
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The Effect of Edge-spraying a Broad-spectrum Insecticide to Control Hop Arthropod Pests while Retaining Beneficial Arthropods
Aroostook Hops, Westfield, ME Project Summary (full report available at www.aroostookhops.com) The purpose of this project was to determine if a broad-spectrum OMRI-certified insecticide can be used to control major pests of hops (including leafhoppers) to increase hop productivity without creating other pest management challenges or a reduction in beneficial arthropods. We used pyrethrin treatment …
Roller Crimping Cereal Rye
Rolling and crimping cereal rye is a strategy for cover crop termination in no-till systems, but the timing of rolling and crimping is crucial for success. Now is a good time to monitor the grow stage of your cereal rye. Rye should be rolled when plants reach anthesis (flowering). At this point the rye plants …
Planting with Neonicotinoid Treated Seed (NTS)
Planting corn has begun! If you are planting corn treated with a neonicotinoid insecticide, make sure you are using best practices to minimize any movement of the seed treatment to off-target sites. Neonicotinoids can be extremely toxic to insects and even the dust created during planting can negatively impact beneficial insect populations like natural insect …
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HPAI H5N1 in U.S. Dairy Cattle Updates and Resources
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is a virus historically carried by wild birds and was first identified in 1996. The virus spread to domestic poultry and caused outbreaks in 2022 on U.S. commercial and backyard poultry operations resulting in high rates of mortality. In March 2024, HPAI H5N1 was identified in lactating dairy cattle …
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No-tillage and Dry Bean Variety Performance
Alternative market classes of dry beans, such as navy, small red, and pinto, are valued by consumers for their culinary characteristics and visual appeal. Modern breeding efforts have expanded the market classes (beyond black beans) that can be direct-harvested, lowering the barrier to entry by reducing the need for specialized equipment. Current management practices for …
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Harvest Timing and Height
It’s almost go time! Be ready for 1st cut to maximize quality. The snow has finally left the fields and while the ground is still wet, the first cut will be upon us within a few weeks. While there is always so much to do, take the time to make sure you’re ready to head …
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