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

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State of Soil Health in Vermont

By outcropn

The State of Soil Health is an initiative to measure soil health and soil carbon on farms across the state of Vermont. This project is coordinated by UVM Extension and relied upon in-kind donations, data sharing and field support from partnering organizations and farmers.

The project has five primary objectives:

  1. Establish a baseline of soil health indicators, carbon stocks, and associated ecosystem services in Vermont’s agricultural landscapes
  2. Create soil health soil sampling standards across management types
  3. Provide farmers with contextualized information about soil health on their participating fields
  4. Support collaboration among the many organizations that work with farmers towards shared goals around soil health
  5. Build skills and capacity for measuring soil health and soil carbon stocks

Collaborating organizations to the project include:

  • Vermont Association of Conservation Districts
  • White River Natural Resource Conservation District
  • Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District
  • Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program
  • Dartmouth College
  • Biological Capital
  • The Nature Conservancy Vermont
  • University of Vermont Extension
  • University of Vermont Department of Plant & Soil Science
  • Gund Institute for Environment at UVM

Direct funding for the State of Soil Health project has been provided by the Nature Conservancy of Vermont, and a gift from Ben & Jerry’s.
What’s the State of Soil Health in Vermont? Reports from the project will be shared here:

Measuring Percent Surface Cover: In-Field vs Remote Technology

By outcropn

INTRODUCTION: From improving soil health to pollinator habitat to protecting water quality, cover crops can provide a multitude of benefits! One way cover crops can protect the field from erosion and reduce nutrients from reaching our waterways is by covering the soil with their leaves and stems. This is called surface cover by cover crop and it is commonly measured as a percentage. Two tools typically used to measure percent surface are Canopeo and normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI).

  1. Canopeo is a phone application was developed by Oklahoma State University App Center. A picture is taken with a cellphone or a camera and uploaded into the application. Canopeo then calculates the percent of fractional canopy cover e.g. the amount of soil surface covered by green. Users can determine how many pictures to take to get a representative sample of the field’s percent cover by cover crop.
  2. NDVI uses satellites and near infrared technology to measure the density of green in an area. NDVI can be used to measure the percent cover of cover crop for an entire field versus Canopeo’s representative sample points. So, the question is, how well do these two methodologies compare?

METHODS: In 2020 and 2021, 10 pictures were analyzed by Canopeo and one NDVI measurement (using either Landsat 8 or Sentinel 2 satellites) were taken on cover cropped fields in the northwestern area of Vermont.  In 2020, 30 corn fields were interseeded with a mixture of annual ryegrass (76%), radish (5%), and clover (18%) planted at a rate of 26.5 lbs/acre. In 2020, the Canopeo measurements were taken between 22-Oct and 27-Oct and the NDVI measurements in 2020 were taken between 5-Oct through 17-Dec.  In 2021, 15 corn fields were interseeded with a mixture of annual ryegrass (59.5%), clover (20.0%), vetch (11.9%), and radish (7.96%) at a rate of 26.5 lbs/acre and another 13 fields were planted with a mix of winter rye (49.0%), annual ryegrass (35.9%), clover (10.0%), and radish (3.98%) at a rate of 50 lbs/acre. In 2021, the Canopeo measurements were taken between 27-Oct and 9-Nov and the NDVI measurements in 2021 were taken between 11-Oct through 16-Oct.

RESULTS: In short, there was relatively little correlation between NDVI and Canopeo data in 2020 and in 2021. In 2020, 32% of the Canopeo measurements can be explained by the NDVI measurements (Figure 1). There was not enough data to determine if degree of correlation changed based on measurement dates. Overall, little growth is assumed to have occurred in November, 2020 as there were only 4 growing degree days, based on weather data from a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 with WeatherLink data logger.  In 2020, the Canopeo mean measurement was 1.98% above the mean NDVI measurement, but this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.3835). In 2021, 1.7% of the Canopeo measurements can be explained by the NDVI measurements (Figure 2). In 2021, the NDVI mean measurement was 5.19% above the mean Canopeo measurements, but this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.2454). When correlations between Canopeo and NDVI are analyzed by cover crop mix, there were no significant correlations between NDVI and Canopeo measurements.

Left, Figure 1. 2020 NDVI and Canopeo correlations. Right, Figure 2. 2021 NDVI and Canopeo correlations.

CONCLUSION: Due to high variability, there was little correlation between NDVI and Canopeo measurements. This indicates that these two methodologies cannot be used interchangeably. Overall, NDVI may be the preferable tool due to its ability of NDVI measurements to quickly reflect the surface cover of an entire field remotely versus capturing user determined data points on a smaller scale in the field. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to the tools. With both, there can be software malfunctions. For example, the Canopeo application may fail to initialize and not load properly while in the field and it may fail to store the percent cover analysis in the cloud. It is recommended to write-down the Canopeo analysis from the app onto paper after each picture is capture. Collecting Canopeo data takes longer and requires a field visit. NDVI measurements can be collected remotely with a computer for almost any date. However, there may be gaps in NDVI measurement on specific days or date ranges due to NDVI system malfunction. With Canopeo, there is more user control and assurance that the data is collected on the preferred day.

Learn more about cover crops and soil health practices on the UVM Extension NWCS Cover Crops and Reduced Tillage webpage.

Author: Lindsey Ruhl, Research Specialist, UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program.

Developing Soybean Production Practices that Maximize Yield and Enhance Environmental Stewardship in Northern Climates

By crdavids

The UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) has provided farmers with up-to-date information on soybean varieties that produce maximum yields in the far north over the past six years thanks to funding from the Eastern Soybean Board. Our 2021 Soybean Variety Trial report, along with past reports, can be found on our Research Results webpage. However, variety selection is just one piece of the puzzle.

To be successful in today’s challenging economic and environmental climate, farmers need region specific information that will not only lead to high yields, but also reduce environmental impacts. Soybeans are grown for human consumption, animal feed, and biodiesel, and can be a useful rotational crop in corn silage and grass production systems. Cereal or winter rye is commonly planted in this region as a cover crop. As cover cropping expands throughout Vermont, it is important to understand the potential benefits, consequences, and risks associated with growing cover crops in various cropping systems. In 2021, the NWCS Program initiated a trial to investigate the impact of cover crop termination method and cover crop biomass on soybean yield and soil health. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split plots and four replicates. Main plots were cover crop termination methods including tillage and herbicide application applied before and at planting. Sub-plots were varying levels of cover crop biomass created by seeding winter rye (var. Hazlet) at rates ranging from 0 to 150 lbs per acre.

Spring soil coverage was positively correlated with seeding rate. While this was expected, interestingly, there was no impact of seeding rate on cover crop dry mater yield; no additional cover crop yield was gained by increasing seeding rates beyond 50 lbs ac-1. The cover crop termination method had a greater impact on cover crop biomass production and subsequent soybean harvest. The plant green treatment produced twice as much cover crop dry matter, compared to the other two treatments, due to the later termination date. However, soybean yield was negatively correlated with cover crop biomass. The plant green treatment had soybean yields that were 1.3X less than the tillage and herbicide treatments. Additionally, the planting green treatment had a significant impact on soil moisture. As noted, 2021 was an exceptionally dry growing season until harvest. The winter rye cover crop, like other crops, needs moisture to grow. Allowing the cover crop to grow longer means the need for more moisture. Unfortunately, the depleted soil moisture in this treatment was constant across the season because of below average precipitation. This likely contributed to the significant reduction in soybean yields.

It is crucial to continue to investigate cover cropping practices in soybeans in this region to gain a better understanding of successful cover cropping practices and their impacts on soybean performances, especially as we see an increase in adverse weather conditions. We would like to thank Eastern Soybean Region Board again for the funding for this trial. The Eastern Region Soybean Board aims to provide farmers with cutting-edge research they can use to better manage their crops. Visit their webpage to learn more about this research! There you will find links to the final reports of previous years projects done by Dr. Heather Darby at the University of Vermont.     

Read the full 2021 Soybean Cover Crop Termination Trial report linked here. And stay tuned for research updates because the UVM Extension NWCS Program plans to repeat this trial this year!  

Diving into Dry Beans

By outcropn

UVM Extension will be partnering with Cornell University on a newly awarded Northeast SARE Research and Education grant titled “Regenerative Organic Dry Bean Production in the Northeast”. This project seeks to expand organic dry bean production as part of a regenerative cropping system in the Northeast through the creation of a farmer community of practice as well the generation and dissemination of research-based information on best agronomic practices.

Join us on Wednesday March 30th from 12-1pm for a dry bean-focused webinar! Dr. Heather Darby will kick off the meeting introducing this new dry bean project. Then you will hear from Dr. Matthew Ryan (Associate Professor of Sustainable Cropping Systems at Cornell University) and Dr. Sarah Pethybridge (plant pathologist based at Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, New York) on their current dry bean research. Click here to register for the Dynamic Dry Beans webinar!

This webinar is part of the 2022 Grain Growers Series brought to you by the Northern Grain Growers Association and the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program. Visit https://go.uvm.edu/conferences for more information.

Dry beans (Phaseolus spp.) come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes (Figure 1). Varieties like Jacob’s cattle, European soldier, Black turtle, and Yellow-eyed beans are commonly grown in the Northeast. The edible field bean is considered a grain legume crop that is well-suited for our climate but requires good soil quality and diverse crop rotations. Beans are a staple food for much of the world due to their high protein content (generally 22% to 24%). They can serve as a great addition to a grain rotation and are a highly marketable crop. Dry beans are harvested once the shell and bean have matured and dried.

You can find more information on dry beans, including past research reports, dry bean production guides, and pest scouting information on our website.

Feeling the Squeeze: Manage Nutrients Efficiently to Offset High Fertilizer Prices

By crdavids

With the reality of high fertilizer prices, we encourage you to manage nutrients on your farm as efficiently as possible! The goal this year should be to reduce input costs without sacrificing yield. Below are three strategies that can help you manage nutrient supplies resourcefully.

1) Don’t Guess, Soil Test

Dr. Heather Darby soil sampling.

The first, best step to efficient fertilizer management is to discover what your soil needs to support crop growth. Soils should be sampled every three years and when crops are rotated. A standard soil test ($15 at UVM Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab) will measure available phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients in soil as well as pH and organic matter content. Individual fields will vary greatly in their capacity to supply essential nutrients such as P and K. Check out this factsheet explaining how to take a soil test. Nitrogen (N) is a different story. Nitrogen recommendations for corn are not based on a standard soil test but are an estimate made from expected yield, N credits from previous crop and manure, and soil drainage class. This is where the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) comes into play.

2) Take All the Credit You Can

Your livestock’s manure is an excellent source of nutrients for your crops – take a manure sample to estimate the application rate needed. Check out this factsheet explaining how to take a manure test.

Unlike synthetic fertilizers, the availability of N from manure will not be 100%, so consider incorporating the manure immediately to increase available N. You might also consider adding a nitrogen inhibitor to reduce manure-N losses.

Another consideration is modifying your cropping system. Plowing down a legume or grass hay crop can provide the next crop of corn with all or most of its N requirements. Nitrogen that is tied up in roots and above-ground biomass is released over time as soil microorganisms break down the plants and release N in forms that plants can use.

3) Resist the Impulse to Top-off

The plant’s capacity to uptake nutrients does have a limit and going beyond that limit is like flushing money down the toilet. The same rate of actual N should be applied regardless of the fertilizer source.

To learn more about fertilizer and soil management feel free to contact Dr. Heather Darby at heather.darby@uvm.edu or (802) 524- 6501. You can also refer to the resources below:

2021 Organic Spring Wheat Variety Trial

By crdavids

In 2021, the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated 35 spring wheat varieties to identify varieties that perform well in production systems in northern Vermont. The trial was established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. The 2021 growing season was slightly warmer and significantly drier than the 30-year average. This allowed for early planting in April followed by moderate drought conditions at the research farm. Precipitation from April to July was 4.99 inches below normal. Warm, dry weather during grain dry down is favorable for most cereal grain crops.

Spring wheat trial yields averaged 2,777 lbs per acre. The highest yields were reported for LCS Pro (3793 lbs per acre) and had statistically similar yields to 14 other varieties evaluated in the trials. Test weight was below the industry standard of 60 lbs per bushel for all varieties in the trial. The drought conditions may have reduced test weight of the wheat. Protein was in the optimum 12-15% range for every spring wheat variety planted with a few exceeded 15% protein. Falling numbers also fell within the optimum range for baking with the exception of a few varieties over 400 seconds. The DON levels were below the 1.00 ppm threshold for all varieties in 2021.

The full 2021 Organic Spring Wheat Variety Trial report, and other spring grains research trials, can be found on the Research Results tab of the UVM Extension NWCS webpage.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the USDA NIFA OREI through Award No. 2020-51300-32379.

Frost Seeding Forages

By crdavids

Spring is right around the corner, but it isn’t too late to think about forage improvements! Frost seeding is a simple practice that can help improve pasture and hay field yield, quality, and composition over time. The general principle of frost seeding is to broadcast forage seed onto pastures or hay fields in early spring when the ground freezes at night and thaws during the day. The time is now! Below are some helpful tips for successful frost seeding.

Manage your expectations:  Frost seeding will not look like a new seeding. New plants will grow over time and hard seed may sit around for a while until conditions are right. The first year you may not notice a huge difference but frost seeding a little bit each year around your farm can help maintain stands and avoid the need to do costly and extensive reseeding.

Limit competition:  Frost seeding will be more successful where the seed can easily reach the soil surface, making seed to soil contact. Fields that have a lot of bare ground showing or where you have grazed or mowed very short will be more successful than fields with lots of residue or thatch covering the ground. Remember for seed to germinate it needs good seed to soil contact.  

Be ready to go when the conditions are right:  At this time of year, conditions can fluctuate quickly. Be ready! Walk your fields and decide which are the best candidates for frost seeding and which species you’d like to seed. When the snow is gone or mostly gone and the ground is freezing at night but thawing during the day, you should frost seed. Sandy soils that don’t heave and shrink under these conditions are generally poor candidates for frost seeding.

Strategic species selection:  To be ready when the weather is ready, you must select your species and purchase seed ahead of time. Frost seeding is more successful with legumes and grasses that can germinate quickly in cool temperatures. Red and white clovers are generally the most successful legumes while perennial ryegrass and orchard grass are relatively successful grasses.

Equipment options:  Frost seeding is often done with seeders mounted on ATVs, or a tractor-mounted or handheld broadcast seeder. When frost seeding with a broadcast seeder, make sure to first determine the effective seeding width to avoid possible overlap of seed. Although not always necessary, a disk or cattle can help incorporate the seed into the soil. A no-till drill can be used but this will increase the number of trips across the field.

ATV with seeder mounted on back.

More information on frost seeding can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/media/frostseeding.pdf

Happy spring and happy seeding!

Dairy Webinar Series 2022

By crdavids

The UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program hosted the Dairy Webinar Series from February 11, 2022 to March 9, 2022. This included 7 webinars covering a diversity of dairy-related topics from higher forage diets to cost of production to emissions and manure matters. Recordings of these webinars are now available on our YouTube channel! Direct links below:

1) Manure Matters: Sustainable Dung Ecology with Bryony Sands of UVM
2) Higher Forages Diet with nutritionists Patrice Vincent and Kurt Cotanch
3) Dairy Loose Housing Systems with Marcia Endres from the University of Minnesota
4) UVM Forage and Dairy Research with Heather Darby and Sara Ziegler
5) Green House Gas Emissions on Organic Dairy with Andre Brito of UNH and Horacio Aguirre-Villegas from University of Wisconsin-Madison
6) Genetic Considerations for Organic Dairy Herds with Glenda Pereira of the University of Maine
7) Cost of Production in Organic and Grass-fed Dairy Systems with Jen Miller of NOFA-VT and consultant Sarah Flack

Registration is open for the 2022 Industrial Hemp Conference

By crdavids

The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets invite you to the Fourth Annual Industrial Hemp Conference (click to view the conference brochure)! All information is also available at http://go.uvm.edu/conferences

This event will be held virtually over two days – Tuesday, March 15, 9am—1pm and Wednesday, March 16, 12:30—4:30pm. Cost is $50 per person. Register here today! Or call in to register at 802-656-5665 ext. 3.

Growers can hear from leading experts about hemp market trends, variety improvements, grain and fiber hemp production, pest and disease management, federal grant opportunities and much more. In addition, a Vermont Cannabis Control Board representative will provide an update on a state regulatory program for adult-use and medical-use of cannabis in Vermont.

Day one will include a plenary session featuring Jane Kolodinsky, UVM, and Tyler Mark, University of Kentucky. They will present information on the National Hemp Acreage and Production Survey, hemp trends, consumer knowledge, economics and markets. Day two keynote session features Stephanie Smith and Michael DiTomasso, VAAFM, who will discuss the implementation of new U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hemp rules and changes growers can expect in regulation and compliance.

Certified Crop Advisor and Pesticide Applicator continuing education credits will be available.

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact UVM Student Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu or (802) 656-7753.

Conference sponsorship is still available – contact Susan at susan.brouillette@uvm.edu if you are interested.

2022 Industrial Hemp Conference Flyer

When to test for Aflatoxins

By crdavids

In 2020, the University of Vermont E. E. Cummings Crop Quality Testing Laboratory expanded testing services to include assessment of grains for aflatoxin concentrations.

Aflatoxin Testing with Hillary Emick, Lab Manager

Aflatoxins are fungal toxins. These carcinogenic compounds are produced by several different molds in the Aspergillus family. The FDA limit for human consumption for aflatoxins is 20 parts per billion (ppb). Different crops and growing regions have different levels of susceptibility for aflatoxin contamination and aflatoxin testing should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Grains that should be tested for aflatoxins include:

  • Corn grown in hot, humid conditions
  • Corn and small grains from fields that have been flooded
  • Corn and small grains stored at moisture content above 14%

Aspergillus infection is almost never observed as an infection in the field in small grains. It can occur as a field infection in corn grown in hot, humid conditions. New England very rarely experiences the conditions to foster Aspergillus as a field infection in corn. While our laboratory is located in northern New England, we receive samples from across the country for testing. New England farmers will rarely need to worry about field infection with Aspergillus in corn, but our customers in the southern states should consider testing their corn for aflatoxin, especially during particularly warm years.

Grain should also be tested for aflatoxin if fields were flooded during the growing season, particularly if flooding occurred after grains have flowered. Mold issues are not the only potential issues with crops that have been flooded, and such grains should also be tested for other toxins, heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, and for presence of pesticides and other chemicals.

Aspergillus infection can also develop after harvest if grains are improperly stored. Grain with a harvest moisture over 14% should always be dried down for storage. Grain that is over 14% moisture content can develop multiple mold issues including aflatoxins. Grain that has been in storage for some time or was not tested for moisture content before storage should be tested for aflatoxins before use.

If you ever have any questions about if any of our lab tests are necessary for your grains, please call us at 802-656-5392 or email us at uvmgrain@uvm.edu and we’d be happy to discuss which tests are appropriate for your grain.

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