Agriculture Commons^™

2020 Hemp Flower Plant Spacing X Planting Date Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of cannabis sativa L. Hemp is a crop of historical importance in the U.S. and re-emerging worldwide as a popular crop as it is sought out as a renewable and sustainable resource for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. Hemp that is grown for fiber, grain oil, or as an intended health supplement contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When hemp is grown to produce cannabidiol (CBD) as an intended health supplement, CBD concentrations are relatively high, with concentrations ranging between 8-15%. Hemp for CBD production is grown more intensively, similar to vegetable …

2020 Cool Season Annual Forages Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crop and Soils Program evaluated the performance of cool season annual forages planted in monoculture. In the Northeast, cool season perennial grasses dominate pastures and hay meadows that farmers rely on. Often times during the fall months, the perennial pasture will decline in yield and quality. The addition of cool season annual forages into the grazing system during this time may help improve the quality and quantity of forage and potentially extend the grazing season. With the range in species available, it is important to understand the yield potential, quality, and growth …

2020 Perennial Grass Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Catherine Davidson, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2019, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a trial evaluating forage yield and quality of an array of cool season perennial grass species and varieties planted in monocultures. The grass species selected were Kentucky bluegrass, meadow brome, meadow fescue, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and timothy. The 2020 growing season was the first full season after establishment for these stands. These stands will continue to be monitored over multiple years to evaluate yield, quality, survivability, pest resistance, persistence, and other characteristics that will help identify the most suitable forage species and varieties in our region over …

2020 Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Warm season grasses, such as sudangrass, and millet can provide quality forage in the hot summer months, when cool season perennial grasses enter dormancy and decline in productivity. The addition of summer annuals into a rotation can provide a harvest of high-quality forage for stored feed or grazing during this critical time. Generally, summer annuals germinate quickly, grow rapidly, are drought resistant, and have high productivity and flexibility in utilization. The UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program conducted this variety trial to evaluate the yield and quality of warm season annual grasses.

2020 Organic Spring Wheat Crosses Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The goal of this project is to develop new spring wheat varieties that are suited for organic management in Northeast soils and climatic conditions. Most commercially available varieties are developed in regions with climates, soils, and management techniques that are very different from northern New England. These modern varieties are also genetically homogenous and inbred for uniformity, sometimes resulting in rapid breakdown of genetic resistance to local diseases. Eight crosses were developed by Dr. Stephen Jones of Washington State University, including crosses of two varieties bred by famed Vermont botanist and wheat breeder Cyrus Pringle. Of these varieties, a number …

2020 Hemp Flower Variety Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Ivy Krezinski, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of Cannabis sativa L. The crop is one of historical importance in the U.S. and re-emerging worldwide importance as medical providers and manufacturers seek hemp as a renewable and sustainable resource for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. Hemp grown for all types of end-use (health supplement, fiber, and seed) contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Some hemp varieties intended to produce a health supplement contain relatively high concentrations of a compound called cannabidiol (CBD), potentially 10-15%. The compound CBD has purported benefits such as relief from inflammation, pain, anxiety, seizures, spasms, and …

Steam Treated Grains Trial, Heather Darby, Ivy Krezinski, Hillary Emick

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Locally grown grains, such as wheat and barley, are in high demand in the Northeast for both livestock feed and human consumption. One major challenge that grain growers encounter is infection by fungal diseases, such as loose smut and the infection of Fusarium head blight (FHB). Loose smut appears on grains as “smutted grain heads”, which are filled with spores that appear black or brown. The spore masses replace the grain heads, so that fewer or no viable kernels are left for harvest. Smutted heads are caused by the fungal pathogen genus Ustilago. Ustilago nuda commonly infects barley, while …

Industrial Hemp Fiber Variety Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of cannabis sativa L. The crop is one of historical importance in the U.S. and reemerging in worldwide importance as manufacturers seek hemp as a renewable and sustainable resource for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. The fiber has high tensile strength and can be used to create a variety of goods. Hemp fiber consists of two types: bast and hurd. The bast fiber are the long fibers found in the bark of hemp stalks and are best suited for plastic bio-composites for vehicles, textiles, rope, insulation, and paper. The hurd fiber …

Organic Soybean Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of short season organic soybean varieties at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. Soybeans can be grown for human consumption, animal feed, and biodiesel. As farmers look to reduce feed costs or diversify markets, soybean acreage across Vermont is increasing. Local research is needed to identify varieties that are best adapted to this region. In an effort to support and expand the local soybean market throughout the northeast, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crop and Soils (NWCS) Program established a trial in 2020 …

Milkweed Production Trials, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a plant native to North America and has recently become the focus of conservation programs, as Milkweed is the sole food source for declining populations of Monarch butterfly larvae. Milkweed (Image 1) has long been a foe of agricultural operations and as a result, populations have been on the decline throughout the United States. To increase the abundance and scale of conservation plantings of milkweed, the Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) has developed an incentive program to compensate landowners for establishing perennial monarch habitat including planting milkweed. Landowners in northern Vermont have a …

Corn Cropping Systems To Improve Economic And Environmental Health, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program continued a multi-year trial at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT to assess the impact of corn cropping systems on overall health and productivity of the crop and soil. Management choices involving crop rotation, tillage, nutrient management, and cover crops also make differences in the long term. Yields are important and they affect the bottom line immediately and obviously. Growing corn with practices that enhance soil quality and crop yields improves farm resiliency to both economics and the environment. This project evaluated yield and soil health effects of five different corn …

Forage Oat Seeding Rate Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crop and Soils Program evaluated the performance of forage oats planted at various seeding rates. In the Northeast, cool season perennial grasses dominate pastures and hay meadows that farmers rely on. Often times during the fall months, the perennial pasture will decline in yield and quality. The addition of cool season annual forages, such as oats, into the grazing system during this time may help improve the quality and quantity of forage. To maximize fall forage yields, farmers want to know if they should increase seeding rates. To determine if higher seeding …

Soybean Cover Crop Trial, Heather Darby, Ivy Krezinski, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program investigated the impact of various cover crop mixtures on the subsequent soybean crop’s yield and quality at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. Soybeans are grown for human consumption, animal feed, and biodiesel and can be a useful rotational crop in corn silage and grass production systems. 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 an effort to support the local soybean market and to gain a better understanding …

Long Season Corn Silage Performance Trials Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Long season corn (96-111 day relative maturity) silage hybrids in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 05-14-20

Harvest Date: 09-21-20

Sare Interseeding Cover Crops In Corn Silage Cropping Systems, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

With increasing focus on minimizing environmental impacts from agriculture, farmers are looking for strategies that are good for farm and environmental viability. Cover cropping is one strategy that has been promoted to help farms improve soil health and minimize soil and nutrient losses to the environment. However, with a short growing season it is often difficult to get an adequate cover cropping following corn silage harvest. Therefore, farmers are interested in using interseeding techniques to establish cover crops into an actively growing corn crop. Being successful with this practice will likely require changes to other aspects of the cropping system …

Interseeding Cover Crops Into Wide-Row Corn Silage, Heather Darby, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

There has been increased interest in interseeding cover crops into corn. Cover cropping is a way to prevent soil erosion, maintain and/or improve soil nutrients, improve soil aggregation, prevent nutrient loss from runoff, and increase water retention. Such soil improvements can promote conditions that add resiliency to a crop, especially considering extreme weather patterns that may affect yields. Interseeding can be beneficial by providing year-round ground coverage and maximizing a short growing season by interseeding early to allow for full cover crop growth. It can be difficult to grow a successful cover crop, given other demands from a farm operation …

Vermont Organic Silage Corn Performance Trial, Heather Darby, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program conducted an organic silage corn variety trial in 2020 to provide unbiased performance comparisons of commercially available varieties. To determine varieties that are best suited to this production system and our region’s climate, we evaluated 9 commercially available organic corn silage varieties. It is important to remember that the data presented are from a replicated research trial from only one location in Vermont and represent only one season. Crop performance data from additional tests in different locations and over several years should be compared before making varietal selections.

Integrating Cover Crops And Manure Into Corn Silage Cropping Systems, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

With increasing focus on managing environmental impacts from agriculture, farmers are looking for ways to manage nutrients efficiently on their farms without sacrificing crop productivity. Cover cropping and no-till crop production are strategies that have been promoted as methods that help retain nutrients on farms and minimize losses to the environment. However, integrating these practices into the cropping system requires changes to other aspects of the system. For instance, manure management becomes more difficult when using no-till production methods as the timing or method of application may need to be altered to fit appropriately into the new production system. Farmers …

Vermont Non-Gmo Corn Silage Performance Trial, Heather Darby, Ivy Luke, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of six non-GMO corn silage varieties at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. To successfully transition to growing non-GMO corn, farmers are looking for more information on non-GMO varieties that are available and perform well in our region. While the information presented can begin to describe the yield and quality performance of these non-GMO corn silage varieties in this region, it is important to note that the data represent results from only one season and one location.

New York And Vermont Corn Silage Hybrid Evaluation Program, Joseph Lawrence, Allison Kerwin, Thomas Overton, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Hybrid evaluation of multiple environments helps in decision making and expands the reach of this type of data to more farmers. Cornell, UVM, and seed companies collaborate to provide this robust evaluation. Hybrids were either entered into the 80-95 day relative maturity (RM) group (Early-Mid) and were tested at two locations in NY (n = 38; VanLieshout Farm in Albion and the Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro) and one location in VT (n = 38; Borderview Farm in Alburgh) or were entered into the 96-110 day relative maturity group (Mid-Late) and were tested at two locations in NY (n = …

Heirloom Hulless Spring Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair, Hillary Emick

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

There is an interest amongst the Northeast grain industry in hulless barley (also known as naked barley) for specialty food markets. The addition of a specialty grain, such as hulless barley, can support local farm viability by diversifying crop rotations and revenue streams. Unlike malting barley, hulless barley is free threshing. This means the hull easily separates from the grain kernel during harvest and cleaning, producing whole grain barley for human consumption. Because it is whole grain, hulless barley has higher flavor and nutritional value than pearled barley which goes through an abrasion process to remove the hull and bran. …

Organic Spring Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Henry Blair, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

With the revival of the small grains industry in the Northeast and the strength of the locavore movement, craft breweries and distilleries are interested in sourcing local barley for malting. Malting barley must meet specific quality characteristics such as low protein content and high germination. Depending on the variety, barley can be planted in either the spring or fall. Both two- and six-row barley can be used for malting. In 2020, UVM Extension in collaboration with the Eastern Spring Malting Barley Nursery (ESBN) testing network, conducted a spring malting barley trial to evaluate yield and quality of 26 varieties. Some …

Oat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Ivy Krezinski

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Oats (Avena sativa L.) have a long history of production in the Northeast. Although most oats are planted for a cover crop or forage, grain oats are a potential revenue source for farmers. According to the 2017 census, about 80 acres of land in Vermont is cultivated for oat grain production, with an average yield of 1956 lbs. ac^-1. With the exception of hull-less varieties, oats need to be de-hulled before they can be used for human consumption and even further processing is required to make oatmeal, steel cut oats, or oat flour. Since 2009, the University …

Winter Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Henry Blair, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

With the development of a robust localvore movement and the revival of the small grains industry in the Northeast, craft breweries and distilleries have expressed an interest in sourcing local barley for malting. Malting barley must meet specific quality characteristics, such as moderate protein content and high germination rate. Winter barley has not been traditionally grown in the Northeast due to severe winterkill. However, newly developed varieties and a changing climate have encouraged our team to investigate this crop for the area. In 2019-2020, UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program conducted a winter barley trial to evaluate the yield, …

The Efficacy Of Spraying Fungicides To Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection In Spring Malting Barley, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Henry Blair, Hillary Emick

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The “localvore” movement and public interest in sourcing local foods has extended into beverages, and the demand for local brewing and distilling ingredients sourced in the Northeast remains high. One market that has generated interest from both farmers and end-users is malted barley. The Northeast is home to over 180 microbreweries and 37 craft distillers. Until recently, local malt was not readily available to brewers or distillers. The expanding malting industry provides farmers with new markets for grain crops. Regional maltsters continue to find it challenging to source enough local grain to match demand for their product. The local barley …

Spelt Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair, Hillary Emick

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Spelt (triticum spelta) is an ancient grain that is closely related to common wheat (triticum aestivum). It was one of the earliest domesticated grains. It has become popular as a health food in Europe, where it is also known as dinkel in Germany and Austria or farro in Italy. It is used as a whole grain in many cooked dishes and spelt flour can be substituted for wheat flour in baking. Spelt has a distinctive nutty flavor and is higher in fiber than wheat. Spelt also has a more digestible form of gluten than wheat, giving it …

Organic Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated 34 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.

Winter Rye Nitrogen Fertility Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The interest in growing cereal rye for grain to be sold as cover crop seed, or to other value-added markets (distillers and bakers), has increased considerably across the Northeast region in recent years. This winter-hardy grain has the ability to survive cold winters and can be more tolerant of marginal land not suitable for other crops. As a result, farmers and end-users are requesting yield and quality information on cereal rye varieties. In 2019/2020, University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program conducted a nitrogen (N) fertility trial to evaluate yield and quality of cereal rye under variable …

Winter Rye Harvest Date, Heather Darby, Henry Blair

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The interest in growing cereal rye for grain to be sold as cover crop seed, or to other value-added markets (distillers and bakers), has increased considerably across the Northeast region. As a result, farmers and end-users are requesting yield and quality information on cereal rye varieties. In 2020, University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program conducted a harvest date trial to evaluate the effects of harvest date on yield and quality of cereal rye. Wheat and barley require timely harvest to maintain quality, particularly falling number, for successful baking and brewing. It is unclear to what extent …

Winter Rye Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Henry Blair

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The interest in growing cereal rye for grain to be sold as cover crop seed, or to other value-added markets (distillers and bakers), has increased considerably across the Northeast region in recent years. As a result, farmers and end-users are requesting yield and quality information on cereal rye varieties. In 2020, University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program conducted a variety trial to evaluate yield and quality of cereal rye. The varieties were Akusti, Aroostock, Bono, Brasetto, Danko, Dolero, Hazlet, ND Dylan, Progass, Rymin, Sangasti, Serafino, and Wheeler.