By: Juan P. Alvez and Cheryl Herrick UVM Extension, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Grassland birds provide numerous environmental benefits to agriculture, from pollination to pest control. In spite of that, grassland birds are declining in the U.S. mainly due to hayfield mowing during the weeks that birds such as Bobolinks are actively nesting. Farmers, face […]
Why are horses such good cow followers?
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Extension, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Often times, we pass by horse farms and marvel at their idyllic views of green pastures and beautiful animals. But – unfortunately – far too often these pastures are grazed too low and overgrazed. Horses evolved following ruminant livestock. The absence […]
Can cows shoot?
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture Spring is here, and most livestock producers I know are itching to start grazing their cows after a long winter and pretty wet Spring. After all, taking advantage of the best pastures of the year (a.k.a. spring pastures!) seems the way to […]
Have you seen a cow working overtime?
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture A recently-completed research project yielded interesting results regarding dairy cows’ productivity and how much time they spent laying in the field. Cow’s day time behavioral activities can be roughly divided by: feeding (3-5 h per day); resting (12-14 h); social interaction (2 […]
Pasture Program Establishes Long-Term Research at Philo Ridge Farm
We are very pleased to announce that Technical Coordinator Dr. Juan Alvez has just embarked on a multi-year grazing research partnership hosted by Philo Ridge Farm. This research will evaluate forage production under different management strategies, soil health, animal productivity, and more. Read more at Philo Ridge’s web site! We’re super excited. Congrats, Juan!
How managing for increased biodiversity can help farmers
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture In 2013, our research team* embarked on a collaborative, long-term study focused on understanding how ecologic habitat disruption is associated with livestock wellbeing and health, and how that can affect society. This is far from a local or unique issue. With human […]
Grazing and Conservation in Brazil and Vermont: More Alike Than You Might Think
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator at the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture Early this year, my work in sustainable agriculture brought me to the State of Santa Catarina (Southern Brazil), as a co-instructor of “Agroecology, Ecosystem Services and Farmer’s Livelihoods”. There, I joined about twenty people, visiting farms located at the Atlantic […]
Soil moisture sensors can help manage grazing
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture As predictions for the Northeastern U.S. suggest wetter, warmer climate in the near future, the use of technology such as precision agriculture, can be of great use to enable a more sustainable modern day farming. One of the tools the Center for […]
When planning for the summer slump, consider Pearl Millet
By: Juan P. Alvez | Pasture Technical Coordinator UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture Getting ready for mid-summer dry weather for your grazing animals? Pearl millet may be a great annual option because of its incredible resiliency!. (scroll down to see the pictures and blog post below) Pearl millet or Millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) R. Br. […]
Right Sizing Farms
By Kimberly Hagen Grazing Specialist Right-sizing. It’s what all farms must do if they are to stay profitable, and in balance, preserving the integrity of the soil, water and air, both on the farm and in the surrounding environment. As the water quality issue moves Vermont and its agricultural community into deeper levels of debate […]
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