A UVM blog Out Croppings: Important crop news from the field!

Webinar on pasture and forage crop insurance program

Wednesday, September 26, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

Link to register: https://maine.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FU72mZlDR_GGeIwiaJr2iA

 

Many farmers have experienced reduced hay yields and diminished pasture regrowth due to drier-than-normal weather conditions. The Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) Rainfall Index crop insurance program is an option that may help offset the costs associated with losses due to lack of precipitation on forage acreage.

An online webinar is scheduled for September 26, from 12 noon–1 p.m. for those who want to learn more about the program before the November 15 enrollment deadline.

The webinar will include an overview of the PRF program, demonstration of a tool that shows how to find your farm location on the grid, historical precipitation by grid location, and how to use the on-line tool to help make coverage decisions, plus a farmer’s perspective on the program. Speakers include University of Maine Cooperative Extension Crop Insurance Educator Erin Roche, Cornell Cooperative Extension agricultural educator Keith Severson, and an interview with Leon Ripley, farmer and owner of Maple Corner Farm, Granville, Massachusetts.

The program is free; registration is required.  Register online (link is above).  1.0 CEU’s will be offered after completion of the webinar. For more information contact Erin Roche, 207-949-2940, erin.roche@maine.edu.

Sponsors include University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Massachusetts Extension, University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, and Cornell University Cooperative Extension with funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency.

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Contact information for any additional questions –
Jake Jacobs
Crop Insurance Education Coordinator
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
208 Morrill Hall, University of Vermont

146 University Place, Burlington, VT 05405
Message Phone Line 802-656-7356
Fax 802-656-1423
Email:  jake.jacobs@uvm.edu

Website: http://go.uvm.edu/ag-risk

 

 

Join us at The Larson Farm to hear about Rich and Cynthia Larsons’ experiences with all grass fed dairy production. Established in 1977, The Larson Farm dairy herd is 100% grass fed, all A2A2 genetics, and is certified organic and also certified 100% grass fed by PCO.  They sell grass fed beef, raw milk and also a line of pasteurized dairy products made on farm at the new creamery.

During this workshop you will learn about grass-fed dairy production, pasture management, fertility management and on-farm processing of high quality dairy products. Heather Darby, UVM Extension and Sarah Flack, Flack Consulting will join the Larsons in sharing their dairy farming system and experiences with you!

Cost: $20 (includes lunch). Register online by 9/17/18: www.regonline.com/grassfeddairyproduction or call 802-524-6501 ext. 432

 

 

 

 

Media Release

Sept. 4, 2018

Contact: Erin Roche, 207.949.2940, erin.roche@maine.edu

 Webinar offered on pasture and forage crop insurance program

 Orono, Maine—Some farmers have experienced reduced hay yields or pasture regrowth due to drier-than-normal weather. The Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) Rainfall Index crop insurance program is an option that may help offset the costs associated with lack of precipitation on grassland.

 An online webinar, scheduled Sept. 26, from 12 noon–1 p.m., will include an overview of the program, demonstration of a tool that shows historical precipitation by grid, and a farmer’s perspective on the program. Speakers include Cornell Cooperative Extension agricultural educator Keith Severson, and Leon Ripley, farmer and owner of Maple Corner Farm, Granville, Massachusetts.

 The webinar is for those who want to learn more about the program before the Nov. 15 enrollment deadline.  

The program is free; registration is required.  Register online; 1.0 CEU’s will be offered after completion of the webinar. For more information contact Erin Roche, 207.949.2940, erin.roche@maine.edu.

Sponsors include University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Massachusetts Extension, University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, and Cornell University Cooperative Extension with funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.

 

 

Join UVM Extension NWCS, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, Farmer’s Watershed Alliance, and Agrilab Technologies for the 2018 Summer Farm Meeting at Bridgeman View Farm, 4826 Hanna Road, Franklin, VT on Thursday, August 9th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This is a free event with lunch sponsored by Champlain Valley Equipment. There will be viewing and discussion of no-till corn, interseeded corn, and equipment including grassland manure injector, rippers, interseeder, and grain drill.  An opportunity to view a two-tier ditch project as well. Register today at 2018summerfarmmeeting.eventbrite.com.

Malt Barley and Hop Quality is just one of the afternoon sessions you can choose to attend at the Annual Crops & Soils Field Day on July 26^th at Borderview Farm in Alburgh, VT.  Andrew Peterson of Peterson Quality Malt will talk about malt barley quality and scouting for grain diseases.

The NWCS team will talk about hop quality including harvest timing, crowning, irrigation, scouting for pest and natural enemies, and end-of-season disease management.

Register today for the Annual Field Day –

www.regonline.com/2018cropsfieldday or call Susan at 802-524-6501.

Fee includes a great lunch, Tasting Tent sampling, and Kingdom Creamery ice cream!

 

It is almost time for our Annual Crops & Soils Field Day (click to view flyer)!!

WHEN:  Thursday, July 26^th

TIME: 10am to 3:30pm; registration starts at 9:15am

WHERE: Borderview Research Farm, 487 Line Road, Alburgh, VT 05440

SIGN UP TODAY: www.regonline.com/2018cropsfieldday

Cost is $10 per farmer and $25 all others. Lunch included.

 

In addition to the morning tour of our research trials, the afternoon sessions include:

·         No-till and Cover Crops, Ontario farmer Blake Vince

·         Perennial Forage Management, Consultant Sarah Flack and UVM Sid Bosworth

·         Pollinators, UVM Spencer Hardy and John Hayden from The Farm Between

·         Hemp Irrigation, Trevor Hardy from Brookdale Farms in NH

·         Malt Barley and Hop Quality, Peterson Quality Malt and Foam Brewery

We will have sponsor exhibits (all day) and our Tasting Tent (11:30am to 2:30pm).  Tasting Tent vendors this year include All Souls Tortilleria/VT Bean Crafters, Butterworks Farm, and Mill River Brewing!  And Kingdom Creamery will be there with delicious ice cream!

You can sign up to earn CCA and water quality training education credits.

Join us on July 26^th and sign up today – www.regonline.com/2018cropsfieldday

Armyworms were spotted in St. Johnsbury and Pawlet this week. Please don’t panic but do scout your corn and grass fields for armyworm caterpillars.

True Armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta, are typically spotted each year on some acreage in Vermont — crops most affected are grasses including field corn, grass hay and pasture crops. It is important for farmers and consultants to monitor fields. At high populations, armyworms can create significant damage very quickly.

Scout for caterpillars. When mature, they can be almost 1.5 inches long. The caterpillars are usually greenish or brownish, but can be almost black. The sides and back of the caterpillar have light colored stripes running along the body. They normally feed at night and can cause much damage before they mature.

Their preferred foods are grasses including corn, grains, and timothy but they will feed on other plants if grasses are unavailable. Feeding will start on the lower leaves and move upwards. A large population of armyworm caterpillars can strip an entire field in just a few days. When the field is eaten they “march” to adjacent fields. Please note: Corn fields that are reduced or no-tilled or fields infested with grass weeds are most susceptible.

For more information on armyworm, see “When Armyworms Come to Town” and/or True Armyworm resources on the Vermont Crops & Soils webpages. For additional scouting and control options, please contact the following agronomists.
Northwest VT: Heather Darby at (802) 524-6501 or heather.darby@uvm.edu.
Champlain Valley: Jeff Carter at (802) 388-4969 or jeff.carter@uvm.edu.
All other locations: Sid Bosworth at (802) 656-0478 or sid.bosworth@uvm.edu.

Call for Presentations for 2^nd Annual Conference of the Northeast Cover Crops Council (NECCC)

 The second annual conference of the NECCC will be held in State College, PA, on November 15^th, 2018, with a field day on the 16^th. The organizing committee invites you to share your cover crop research or experiences during the conference. The conference theme for this year is “The Northeast – Leading the Charge”. 

 Please submit a title and 250-word maximum description of your volunteered presentation no later than July 15^th. You may indicate your preference for oral or poster format. Proposals will be evaluated by a committee and organized into oral or poster sessions; if your oral presentation does not fit into an oral session, you will be invited to present a poster. You will be informed of your presentation format and time in August. Oral presentations will be 20 minutes long, while posters will be displayed all day on the 15^th in the main lobby, with presenters at their poster from 8:30-9:30 am.

 Last year’s conference in Ithaca, NY, drew 170 participants from across the Northeast. Don’t miss this chance to share your work with local cover croppers! Please see http://northeastcovercrops.com/annual-conferences/2018-neccc-conference-information/present/ for more information and to submit. Contact Victoria Ackroyd (Victoria.Ackroyd@ars.usda.gov) with any questions.

Register now for the 11th Annual Crops & Soils Field Day on July 26th – www.regonline.com/2018cropsfieldday. Fifth generation Ontario farmer Blake Vince will share his experience with no-till and cover cropping. On their family farm, they produce corn, soybeans, and winter wheat on 1300 acres and have been no-till planting for more than 30 years.

The field day will provide opportunities for farmers to view research trials, see new innovative equipment, participate in workshop sessions, and visit the tasting tent to sample food products from local vendors and businesses.

Afternoon workshops will focus on no-till/cover cropping, perennial forage management, malt barley and hop quality, pollinators, and camera-guided weed control systems.

The cost, including lunch, is $10 for farmers and $25 non-farmers.  CCA and water quality training education credits are available.

We hope to see you on July 26th!