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 …

Continue reading “Healthier Herds: Tips from the Tri-State Dairy Exchange Team to Improve Heifer and Calf Management”

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 …

Continue reading “Vermont’s 2025 Drought and Covercropping: Stay the Course”

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, …

Continue reading “Creating Vermont’s On-Farm Research Network”

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 …

Continue reading “July Tri-State Dairy Exchange Webinar: Rumen Biochemistry and Function”

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 …

Continue reading “2025 Seedborne Pathogen Survey of Organic Dry Beans in the Northeastern U.S.”

Written by Shannon MacDonald “I come because I want to be with other people who want to learn about agriculture. We want to make Vermont and Vermont agriculture the best that’s possible for a long time,” said one local farmer, explaining why he attends the UVM Extension Annual Crops & Soils Field Day. On July …

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Written by Hillary Emick and John Bruce Preliminary Results  It is already time to get ready for planting winter wheat. Each year, UVM Extension evaluates winter wheat varieties to determine those that will perform best here in Vermont. This year, the project evaluated 44 varieties of winter wheat, including six varieties of soft white winter …

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Cover cropping offers many benefits, such as weed suppression, building soil organic matter and biodiversity, reducing erosion, and decreasing nutrient loss. But selecting the best species and variety for a farm’s location and goals can be tricky, especially given increasingly erratic weather conditions.  Despite this challenge, the number of U.S. farmers using cover crops has …

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Written by Amber Machia The Vermont growing season offers a short window to produce, harvest, and store nutrients in the form of forages for dairy cattle, including hay crop silage and corn silage. This process can be challenging, but the result is rewarding for you, your livestock, and your operation. The goal is to harvest …

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An armyworm outbreak has been reported in Fairfax and Waterbury areas. The armyworms have been primarily feeding on grass fields. Armyworm moths generally blow up from the south in storms. Please don’t panic, but do go out and scout your corn and grass fields for armyworms. When full grown, the caterpillars can be almost 1.5 …

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