Agriculture Commons^™

Short Season Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Conducted by Dr. Heather Darby and the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program

Short season corn (88-95 day relative maturity) silage hybrids in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 05-18-18

Harvest Date: 09-12-18

Long Season Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Conducted by Dr. Heather Darby and the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program

Long season corn (96-110 day relative maturity) silage hybrids in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 05-17-18

Harvest Date: 09-19-18

The Effects Of Seed Steam Treatment On Dry Bean Yield And Quality, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), a high-protein pulse crop, have been grown in the Northeast since the 1800’s. As the local food movement expands, consumers have requested stores stock more and more locally produced foods, and heirloom dry beans are no exception. Currently, the demand for heirloom dry beans has exceeded the supply. Farmers are interested in starting or scaling up dry bean production but require assistance in overcoming production barriers. Local farmers have struggled to obtain consistent high yields and quality. Growers’ lack of success with dry beans can be attributed to limitations in acquiring quality seed, poor stand establishment, …

Heirloom Dry Bean Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), a high-protein pulse crop, have been grown in the Northeast since the 1800’s. As the local food movement continues to diversify and expand, consumers are asking stores to carry more and more locally-produced foods, and dry beans are no exception. Currently, the demand for heirloom dry beans has far exceeded the supply. In an effort to support and expend the local bean market throughout the northeast, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program, established a third year of trials in 2017 to evaluate heirloom dry bean varieties to see which ones thrive in …

Non-Gmo Corn Silage Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Erica Cummings, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2017, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of 11 non-GMO corn silage varieties in Franklin, VT. An emerging non-GMO milk market has prompted some dairy farmers to start growing non-GMO corn. To successfully convert 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 …

Non-Gmo Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Conducted by Dr. Heather Darby and the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program

Silage corn at Bridgeman View Farm, Franklin, Vermont

Planting Date: 5/24/2017

Harvest Date: 10/18/2017

Short Season Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Conducted by Dr. Heather Darby and the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program

Short season corn (80-97 day relative maturity) silage hybrids in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 5/18/2017

Harvest Date: 9/20/2017

Long Season Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Conducted by Dr. Heather Darby and the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program

Long season corn (96-110 day relative maturity) silage hybrids in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 5/17/2017

Harvest Date: 9/26/2017

Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Amanda Gervais, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2017, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of cool season annuals and mixtures of these annuals at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. In the Northeast, cool season perennial grasses dominate the pastures and hay meadows farmers rely on throughout the season. Often times during the fall months, the perennial pasture will decline in yield and quality. 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. Recently, there has been a growing …

Maximizing Forage Yields In Corn Silage Systems With Winter Grains, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Producing sufficient high quality forage on farms is becoming difficult given current economic and environmental pressures. Farmers are looking for strategies to improve yield and quality of their own forage to reduce the financial burden of purchasing feed off-farm. In addition, with increasing focus on managing farm nutrient balances for environmental reasons, farmers are also looking to decrease the importation of additional nutrients from feed onto their farms. One strategy for accomplishing this is utilizing winter grains, such as rye, wheat and triticale, as forage crops. These crops could be grazed or harvested in the fall to extend the grazing …

Forage Brassica Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Amanda Gerrvais, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Forage brassicas are very cold hardy and can extend the grazing season late into the fall. They grow extremely fast and provide very nutrient dense feed at times when growth is limited for many other species. Brassicas fit well into some annual crop rotations such as small grains or summer annual forages. Adding brassicas to a grazing plan can not only extend the grazing season but can also reduce the reliance on expensive feed inputs. There are many different species of forage type brassicas on the market today including mustards, turnips, radishes, and kales. In 2017, the University of Vermont’s …

Perennial Forage Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Kelly Drollette, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2015, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a trial investigating forage yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency of cool season perennial grasses alone and in combination with red clover. The grass species selected were orchardgrass, timothy, brome, and meadow fescue. These grasses were chosen as they have been shown in previous research to have adequate survivability and forage production in this region compared to other species such as perennial ryegrass or festulolium. The goal of this trial is to evaluate these species not only for forage yield and quality, but also nitrogen use efficiency …

Corn Cropping Systems To Improve Economic And Environmental Health, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Sara Ziegler, Julija Cubins, Abha Gupta

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2017, 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. Yields are important and they affect the bottom line immediately and obviously. Management choices involving crop rotation, tillage, nutrient management, and cover crops also make differences in the long term. 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 …

Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Erica Cummings, Abha Gupta

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Warm season grasses, such as sudangrass, and millet can provide quality forage in the hot summer months, when the cool season 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 team conducted this variety trial to evaluate the yield and quality of warm season annual grasses.

Forage Intercropping For Resiliency Experiment, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Amanda Gervais, Abha Gupta, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Producing high quality forage crops is exceedingly challenging in Vermont as climate change progresses with more precipitation, faster rates of precipitation, and higher annual temperatures (Faulkner, 2014). Knowing which cropping systems, annual or perennial, and which forage species will grow best in this challenging environment is crucial to the success of our forage-based farm operations. Increased species and variety diversity has been shown to increase resiliency or tolerance to pests and environmental stress, however it can also make it more difficult to harvest at peak quality and yield. This project evaluates the productivity of both perennial and annual forage systems …

Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Nate Brigham, Julija Cubins, Abha Gupta

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2016, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of cool season annuals and mixtures of these annuals at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. In the Northeast, cool season perennial grasses dominate the pastures and hay meadows farmers rely on throughout the season. Often times during the fall months, the perennial pasture will decline in yield and quality. 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. Recently, there has been a growing …

Barley Weed Control Trial, Heather Darby, Julija Cubins, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick, Abha Gupta, Julian Post

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Demand for local, organic grains has been increasing in recent years as businesses such as flour mills, malt houses, and bakeries have grown and developed business models to include a higher proportion of local ingredients in their products. While acreage has increased in recent years, the organic grains industry requires the use of innovative strategies to control weeds and address disease issues to grow grains in the most efficient manner. In 2016, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated barley grown in with different row spacing combined with cultivation to assess the weed control potential of …

Corn Cropping Systems To Improve Economic And Environmental Health, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Lily Calderwood, Erica Cummings, Abha Gupta, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2015, 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. Yields are important, and they affect the bottom line immediately and obviously. Management choices involving crop rotation, tillage, nutrient management, and cover crops also make differences in the long term. 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 …

Oilseed Meal As A Fertility Amendment In Sweet Corn, Heather Darby, Abha Gupta, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Many Northeast growers are integrating oilseed crops such as canola, soybeans, and sunflower into their operation, in hopes of on-farm fuel production, value-added products, and/or livestock feed. Many producers are using small-scale presses to mechanically separate oil from the seed. Oilseed meal, the high-protein byproduct left after the extrusion of oil, can be milled and used as a soil amendment to increase fertility and organic matter. This material has the potential to replace high-cost imported fertilizers, especially for organic growers.

Organic Hop Variety Trial: Results From Year Three, Heather Darby, Conner Burke, Lily Calderwood, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Great interest has been kindled in producing hops in the Northeast. While hops were historically grown in the Northeast, they have not been commercially produced in this region for over a hundred years. With this loss of regional production knowledge, and the advancements of cropping science and the development of new varieties over the last few decades, a great need has been identified for regionspecific science-based research on this reemerging crop. Additionally, the vast majority of hops production in the United States occurs in the arid Pacific Northwest on a very large scale, which is very different from hops production …

Forage Brassica Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Laura Madden, Conner Burke, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Forage brassica can provide a near-concentrate type diet late in the grazing season. This allows for an extra grazing opportunity after annual row crops are harvested, and establishes forage to fill a gap in feed quality and supply. These crops can provide a high-quality feed in a short period of time, fitting well into rotations of other crops, extending the grazing season, and reducing reliance on expensive commercial feed inputs. In 2013, the University of Vermont’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program conducted a forage brassica variety trial to evaluate yield and quality of this annual crop.

Brown Mid-Rib Corn Population Trial, Heather Darby, Laura Madden, Conner Burke, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Brown mid-rib (BMR) corn hybrids are of interest to many growers in the Northeast who would like to maximize milk production on homegrown forage. BMR corn has a naturally-occurring genetic mutation that leads to less lignin in the stalk and makes corn silage more digestible. Corn yields can be highly dependent on population, and it is generally recommended to plant BMR corn at lower populations than conventional silage corn. BMR corn has always been considered to be more prone to lodging due to its lower lignin content, and lower populations allow for less stress on each individual plant. However, optimal …

Danish Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

With the revival of the small grains industry in the Northeast and the strength of the localvore movement, craft breweries and distilleries have expressed an interest in local barley for malting. Malting barley must meet specific quality characteristics such as low protein content and high germination. Many farmers are also interested in barley as a feed source for livestock. Barley is a high energy and protein source, similar to corn and wheat. The Northwest Crops and Soils Team have been growing out spring barley varieties that were originally obtained from a colleague in Denmark. Over the last three years, the …

Impact Of High Glucosinolate Mustard Biomass And Meal On Black Bean Yield, Heather Darby, Hannah Harwood, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Brassicae crops (mustard family) contain chemicals called glucosinolates. These compounds are present in the leaves, stem, roots, and seed of the plants. When the plant biomass is incorporated into the soil these glucosinolates are broken down into a number of secondary compounds. The primary compound is isothiocyanate which can be biocidal to germinating seeds, insects, nematodes, and other microbes (fungi, bacteria, etc). In recent years, plant breeders have worked to develop high glucosinolate varieties of mustard to be used as biofumigants in crop production. These high glucosinolate mustards (HGM) are being used as cover crops and the entire plant biomass …

Brown Mid-Rib Corn Population Trial, Heather Darby, Hannah Harwood, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Susan Monahan

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Brown mid-rib (BMR) corn hybrids are of interest to many growers in the Northeast who would like to maximize milk production on homegrown forage. BMR corn has a naturally-occurring genetic mutation that leads to less lignin in the stalk and makes corn stover more digestible. Corn yields can be highly dependent on population, and it is generally recommended to plant BMR corn at lower populations than conventional silage corn. BMR corn has always been considered to be more prone to lodging due to its lower lignin content, and lower populations allow for less stress on each individual plant. However, optimal …

National Sunflower Survey, Hannah Harwood, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

For the third year, Vermont sunflower production data has been included in the National Sunflower Survey, which is initiated and organized by the National Sunflower Association. There were a total of 211 fields across the United States that were included in this study, with most fields being located in the Northern Plains. Fifteen fields were included in Vermont’s survey this year, including fields in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Grand Isle, and Orange counties. Sunflower production is increasing each year as Vermont growers refine their techniques, equipment, and agronomic knowledge. More work is needed to establish regionally-specific recommendations for sunflower production and …

Cover Crop Planting Date X Seeding Rate Trial, Heather Darby, Conner Burke, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Rosalie Madden, Susan Monahan

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 cover crops are 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 …

Small Grain Forage Trial, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Rosalie Madden

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Spring cereal grains such as oats, barley, triticale and wheat can have the potential to provide high yield and quality feed for livestock. These cool season annuals can provide early season grazing, as well as high quality stored feed. Spring grains are generally planted in mid to late April and can be harvested at various stages of development. In addition, production of high quality forage in the early season can improve the level of beneficial fats (i.e. Omege-3) in the milk. The objective of this project was to evaluate yield and quality of various spring grain species harvested in the …

Spring Wheat Planting Date Report, Heather Darby, Rosalie Madden, Erica Cummings, Hannah Harwood, Amanda Gervais

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The localvore movement has revived otherwise historical crops in Vermont, including small-scale grain production. As the demand for local organic wheat has risen over the last few years, University of Vermont Extension has developing best agronomic practices for wheat production in a Northeastern climate. In an organic system, weed management can be one of the biggest challenges. One strategy to manage weeds is to modify planting dates. Early planting dates can establish a crop prior to weed flushes while a late planted crop can help avoid some weed species. Planting date can also have an overall impact on both grain …

Sunflower Seeding Rate X Nitrogen Rate Trial, Heather Darby, Hannah Harwood, Erica Cummings, Rosalie Madden, Susan Monahan, Amanda Gervais

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Because the majority of sunflowers in the United States are grown in the Great Plains, recommendations for plant populations and fertilization rates are limited to this specific region and climate. Due to the temperate climate of the northeast, it is likely that optimal seeding rates and nitrogen (N) rates for sunflower production will differ from the Great Plains. A crop’s N requirements are often linked to population; this study attempts to evaluate the impact of both seeding rates and N rates on sunflower yield and quality.