Digital Commons Network^™

The Amazon Frontier Of Land-Use Change: Croplands And Consequences For Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Gillian L. Galford, Jerry Melillo, John F. Mustard, Carlos E.P. Cerri, Carlos C. Cerri

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

The Brazilian Amazon is one of the most rapidly developing agricultural frontiers in the world. The authors assess changes in cropland area and the intensification of cropping in the Brazilian agricultural frontier state of Mato Grosso using remote sensing and develop a greenhouse gas emissions budget. The most common type of intensification in this region is a shift from single-to double-cropping patterns and associated changes in management, including increased fertilization. Using the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, the authors created a green-leaf phenology for 2001-06 that was temporally smoothed with a wavelet filter. …

Temporal And Spatial Monitoring Of Mobile Nanoparticles In A Vineyard Soil: Evidence Of Nanoaggregate Formation, N. Perdrial, J. N. Perdrial, J. E. Delphin, F. Elsass, N. Liewig

College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Publications

Mechanisms of formation, stabilization, liberation, transport and deposition of nanoparticles and their relationship to contaminant transport remain scarcely investigated in natural porous media. This study investigated nanoparticles mobilized in the pore space of a French vineyard soil by observing mobile soil-derived organic matter (SOM) and minerals in pore fluids over an 8-month monitoring period. Samples were collected in situ and investigated by transmission electron microscopy coupled to electron-dispersive spectroscopy. The main types of nanoparticles transported within the soil were clay, bacteria, SOM and nanoaggregates. Nanometric clay particles were enriched in various metals (Fe, Zn, As and Pb) and organically-derived constituents. …

Warm Season Annual Forage Performance Trials, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension continued their research to evaluate warm season annual forage systems. Warm season annual forages include grasses such as sorghum, sudangrass, sorghumsudangrass, Japanese millet, and pearl millet varieties. These grasses prefer the warmth of the summer months and generally thrive between June and August. Warm season annuals can be grazed or harvested for stored forage. Since warm season annuals thrive in hot weather they could supplement pasture during the summer slump. The summer slump is a period during the summer that cool season perennial grasses slow in growth and quality. The goal of this …

Oat Variety Trial Report, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Oats (Avena sativa L.) have a long history of being grown in the Northeast. Although most of the oats are planted for a cover crop or hay, growing oats for grain is another potential revenue source for farmers. According to the 2007 census, about 200 acres of land in Vermont is cultivated for oat grain production, with an average yield of 1747 lbs/acre. Unless, a hulless variety is grown, oats need to be hulled before being used for human consumption, and further processing is required to make oatmeal, steel cut oats or oat flour. The goal of this project was …

Sunflower Seeding Rate X Nitrogen Rate Trial Report, Heather Darby, Philip Halteman, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Rosalie Madden

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The 2010 growing season was warmer and slightly wetter than normal through the majority of the spring. The month of May was considerably drier than normal, though June’s rainfall exceeded 30-year averages. No effect was apparent on germination rates. Accumulated growing degree days (GDDs) for the sunflower season totaled 3,120 from the beginning of June through the middle of October, when the sunflowers were harvested, which was 264 higher than the 30 year averages (table 1). These data were recorded at weather stations in close proximity to the research site.

Vermont Organic Corn Silage Performance Trial Results, Heather Darby, Amanda Gervais, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension conducted short and long season organic corn silage variety evaluations in cooperation with Vermont Technical College (VTC) and Organic Valley Farmers Advocating for Organics Program (FAFO). The purpose of the program was to provide unbiased performance comparisons of commercially available organic corn varieties. It is important to remember, however, that the data presented are from replicated research trials from only 3 locations in Vermont. Crop performance data from additional tests in different locations and often over several years should be compared before you make conclusions.

Heirloom Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The heirloom wheat project began in 2007; its primary purpose is to evaluate 15 heirloom wheat varieties to determine if they will thrive in Vermont’s climate. Heirloom wheat can bring a premium because of its superior taste. Many farmers are interested in determining what heirlooms are viable for Vermont growing conditions. Through this project three Vermont heirloom varieties are being reintroduced into the state. Defiance, Champlain, and Surprise were developed by Vermont plant breeder Cyrus Pringle at the turn of the twentieth century. In addition to the heirloom varieties, AC Barrie and Scarlet, modern spring wheat varieties commonly grown in …

Vermont Relative Maturity Corn Silage Trial, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Erica Cummings, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension conducted an experiment to evaluate yield and quality of corn hybrids with a range of relative maturities. The goal is to document the best range of corn silage maturities to grow in this area to maximize corn yield and quality. It is important to remember that the data presented are from a single test at only one location. Hybrid-performance data from additional tests in different locations and often over several years should be compared before conclusions are drawn.

Sunflower Variety Trial Report, Heather Darby, Philip Halteman, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Rosalie Madden

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Variety selection is one of the most important agronomic decisions that sunflower growers make about their crop each season, especially in Vermont where the relatively short growing season limits available choices. Sticking with a tried and true variety is often difficult because new varieties are released every year while familiar ones are discontinued, and seed companies release new traits that may or may not influence yield. To help area farmers make the best decisions, UVM Extension conducted replicated variety trials at Borderview Reseach Farm in Alburgh, VT during the 2010-growing season. The trial evaluated fourteen varieties with varying maturity dates, …

Winter Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Phillip Halteman, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension in collaboration with the University of Maine began an extensive organic variety trial of hard red winter wheat in order to determine which varieties thrive in our northern climate. The trials were established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont and at Cornell University’s Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, New York. This trial is one of several in a USDA OREI grant focused on the production of high

Barley Variety Trial Report, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

There has been increasing interest in growing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for malting in Vermont and throughout New England to provide local grains for craft breweries and distilleries. Malting barley must meet specific quality characteristics such as high germination and low protein content. Both two-row and six-row barley can be used for malting, depending on the brewer’s preferences. The goal of this project was to evaluate yield and quality of publicly available malting barley varieties.

Spring Cereal Grain Forage Trials, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension continued their research evaluating several organic annual forage models. Spring cereal grains such as oats, barley, triticale, wheat, and spelt could have the potential to provide high yield and quality feed for livestock. Spring grains are planted in mid to late April and can be harvested at various stages of development. The objective of this project was to evaluate yield and quality of spring grains harvested in the boot, milk, or soft dough stage. The overall goal of this project is to help organic dairy producers reduce their reliance on expensive concentrates through …

Forage Brassica Performance Trials, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension continued their research evaluating annual forage models that would best compliment cool season grass pasture. The overall goal of this project is to help organic dairy producers reduce their reliance on expensive concentrates through the production of a variety of high quality annul forages. Brassicas, such as forage turnips and rape, are a cool season crop. Hence these crops can thrive in the late fall months and potentially provide late season grazing. Brassica crops are known for their ability to provide a near concentrate type diet late in the season. UVM Extension conducted …

Bmr Corn Report, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension Crops and Soils Team conducted an experiment to evaluate yield and quality of Brown Mid-Rib (BMR) corn varieties at Borderview Farm in Alburgh, VT. Two seed companies submitted varieties for evaluation.

Short Season Corn Silage Report, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension Crops and Soils Team conducted an experiment to evaluate yield and quality of short season corn hybrids at the Seward Family Farm in East Wallingford, VT. Several seed companies submitted varieties for evaluation. Companies and contact names are listed in Table 1. Nine corn varieties ranging in relative maturity (RM) from 69 – 90 were evaluated at this site. Specific varieties, their traits, and RM are listed in Table 2. It is important to remember that the data presented is from a single test at only one location. Hybrid-performance data from additional tests …

Vermont Organic Grain Corn Performance Trial Results, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension conducted an organic grain corn performance trial in Alburgh, Vermont, in cooperation with Borderview Research Farm and Organic Valley Farmers Advocating for Organics Program (FAFO). The purpose of the program is to provide unbiased performance comparisons of commercially available organic corn varieties. It is important to remember, however, that the data presented is from one replicated research trial in Vermont. Crop performance data from additional tests in different locations and often over several years should be compared before you make conclusions.

Cover Crop Planting Date X Seeding Rate Trial Report, Heather Darby, Philip Halteman, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Rosalie Madden

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

When corn silage is harvested in the fall, the entire plant is removed, leaving the soil exposed through the winter. Many farmers have started to plant cover crops following corn harvest because of the multitude of benefits cover cropping brings to soil health and fertility. The cover crop protects the soil from erosion, adds organic matter, and also scavenges excess soil nitrogen (N), releasing it again after being terminated in the spring. This keeps the nitrogen from potentially being lost through leaching, which, in addition to the soil benefits, provides a financial benefit to farmers – less nitrogen loss means …

Winter Wheat Harvest Date Trial, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In New England, frequent rainfall, and prolonged high humidity are common during the period of wheat ripening. From the time of physiological maturity of the grain to acceptable storage moisture, the quality of the wheat can decline considerably due to these fluctuating temperatures and moisture conditions. Delays in harvesting may not only result in quality losses but reductions in yield due to lodging, shattering, or hail damage (Farrer, et al 2006). Baking quality of wheat suffers when high levels of the enzyme alpha amylase are present in the grain. This enzyme, which breaks starch down into sugars, is present when …

Spring Wheat Planting Date Trial, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Growing demand for local organic food has inspired new efforts to revive a staple element of the New England food system. Weed management is one of the foremost production related challenge for organic growers. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of spring wheat cultivar selection and planting date on weed biomass, Fusarium head blight incidence and grain yield and quality.

Cover Crop Termination & Reduced Tillage Study, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension conducted the second year of an experiment to evaluate the impact of cover crop termination and reduced tillage strategies on soil health, soil nitrogen dynamics, and corn silage yield and quality. The goal is to document the positive and negative aspects of each strategy so farmers can decide the best way to terminate cover crops and implement reduced tillage on their farm.

The Effects Of Topdressing Organic Nitrogen Hard Red Winter Wheat, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Phillip Halteman, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The demand for local organic food is steadily increasing throughout Vermont and New England. Consumers are asking for bread baked with locally grown wheat; however bakers have been slow to incorporate local wheat flour because of the challenges associated with obtaining grains that consistently meet bread-baking standards. Addressing the quality issue is essential for expanding the bread flour market in the northeast. One of the major quality factors facing Vermont grain producers is protein content. Much of the winter wheat currently produced in Vermont has protein levels below what most commercial mills would consider suitable for flour production. Commercial mills …

Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Phillip Halteman, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension in collaboration with the University of Maine began an extensive evaluation of hard red spring wheat varieties grown under organic production in order to determine which varieties thrive in our northern climate. The trials were established at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont and at the Cornell Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, New York. This trial is one of several in a USDA Organic Research Education Initiative grant focused on the production of high quality organic bread wheat in New England.

Winter Canola Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Amanda Gervais, Erica Cummings, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2009, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Team initiated a winter canola variety trial in Alburgh, VT as a part of the 2009-2010 National Winter Canola Variety Trial. Growing winter canola holds many possible advantages for Vermont farms. Sown in early fall, winter canola can fit well into rotations following short-season grain crops, or short-season corn. Additionally, many farms are engaged in on-farm fuel production endeavors, and canola continues to be a high-yielding oilseed crop in areas where the growing season is relatively short. However, in order for on-farm fuel production to be feasible, farmers must …

Tineweeding Trials, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Amanda Gervais, Philip Halteman

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension Crops and Soils Team conducted an evaluation of tineweeding as a weed management strategy in corn and sunflowers in Alburgh, VT. Tineweeding is a type of mechanical cultivation that is implemented early on in the field season (Figure 1). A tineweeder is a low cost and simple piece of equipment designed to disturb the root zones of weed seedlings while they are in the very delicate “white thread root” stage (Figure 2). This disturbance often results in weed seedling desiccation and death. Success of this practice is highly dependent on weather conditions at …

Farm-To-School: Implications For Child Nutrition, Linda Berlin, Kim Norris, Jane Kolodinsky, Abbie Nelson

Opportunities for Agriculture Working Paper Series

Farm-to-School (F2S) programs are gaining attention for many reasons, one of which is the recognition that they could positively influence the trend of increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. Of the F2S programs that have been evaluated, most have demonstrated increased selection or intake of fruits and vegetables by students following the incorporation of farm produce into school salad bars, meal selections, or class-based education. With that said, the wide range of activities that are part of typical F2S programs makes it difficult to pinpoint which components have the greatest potential to improve student’s health behaviors. Within the field …

Do Raw Milk Sales Help Or Harm Local Dairy Economies: The Case Of Vermont H.125, Catherine W. Donnelly, Todd J. Pritchard

Opportunities for Agriculture Working Paper Series

This paper concludes that the main impact of H125 will be increased raw milk sales which will result in increased consumer exposure to raw milk, and an increased risk for food borne illness.

Vermont's Dairy Sector: Is There A Sustainable Future For The 800 Lb. Gorilla?, Bob Parsons

Opportunities for Agriculture Working Paper Series

Key Questions

• Will the organic sector resume its previous prolific growth or will it stagnate?
• The growth in artisan cheese presents an opportunity for a few farmers, but will it continue?
• How does the interest in local foods affect Vermont’s dairy sector?
• Will the interest in raw milk present a future option for dairy farmers?

Produits Du Terroir: Similarities And Differences Between France, Québec And Vermont, Amy Trubek, Jean-Pierre Lemasson, Helen Labun Jordan

Opportunities for Agriculture Working Paper Series

Terroir is a word that carries powerful cultural and sensory associations in France. Although roughly translated a “taste of place,” terroir is more difficult to translate as a cultural concept. Terroir in France represents sensory qualities of food that capture a dynamic engagement between people, place and taste. This engagement can be seen in the decisions made by individual food producers to craft a product characteristic of their region. In France this engagement also extends to a conversation between those producing food and the regulators and researchers charged with monitoring and promoting specific products understood to have an exceptional relationship …

Women Farmers And E-Commerce Opportunities For 21st Century Marketing, Mary Peabody, Beth Holtzman, Jessica Hyman, William Sawyer

Opportunities for Agriculture Working Paper Series

Adding the Internet to your Business Recipe: Opportunity for Marketing in the 21st Century.

In the fall of 2006, the Center for Rural Studies (CRS) and Women’s Agricultural Network (WAgN) piloted a curriculum for agricultural entrepreneurs interested in incorporating e-commerce features – e.g. email lists, Web sites, online marketing, online ordering – into their operations. This broad definition of e-commerce reflects the integration of information technology and the Internet into business and marketing planning.

The workshops were held from 2006 to 2009. Each of the cycles provided insight into how to make future sessions more beneficial to participants. Offering the …

Proposal For A Food Systems Spire Of Excellence At The University Of Vermont, Vernon P. Grubinger, Et Al.

UVM Extension Faculty Publications

The field of food systems focuses on connections among food production, promotion of human health and well-being, and maintenance of the environment. Modern food systems provide unparalleled productivity but are accompanied by unacceptable levels of diet-related health problems, food-borne disease, hunger and agricultural pollution. Meanwhile solutions are critical within the next 40 years to discern how to provide more food without intensifying environmental damage and concurrently coping with climate change. The University of Vermont is uniquely positioned to address these concerns by generating knowledge through transdisciplinary teaching, research and outreach. Already, more than 100 faculty and 400 community partners are …