Agriculture Commons^™

On-Farm New England Hemp Pest & Disease Scouting Report, Heather Darby, Ann Hazelrigg, Rory Malone, John Bruce, Ivy Krezinski, Scott Lewins

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

A survey of arthropod pests and disease was conducted on farms throughout New England and New York during the 2020 field season in order to qualify the species composition of arthropod and disease pest on industrial hemp. 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. Today, industrial hemp is re-emerging as a locally grown product in the U.S. There is little data on pest …

Conventional Soybean Performance Trials Summary, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Maturity range (0 – 2.1) of soybean varieties in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 05-21-2020 Harvest Date: 10-15-2020

Impact Of Planting Date And Variety On Soybean Yield, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Ivy Krezinski, Rory Malone

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

In 2020, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program investigated the impact of planting date and variety on soybean yield and quality at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. Soybeans can be grown for human consumption, animal feed, and biodiesel. Livestock farmers are interested in producing more of their own grains and as a result, soybean acreage in Vermont is increasing. Given the short growing season in Vermont, it is important to understand optimum planting dates to obtain the highest yields. In an effort to support and expand the local soybean market throughout the northeast, the University …

Hop Nitrogen Fertility Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Scott Lewins, Ivy Krezinski

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Until now, commercial hop (Humulus lupulus L.) production has not occurred in the northeast (NE) region of the United States for 150 years. A combination of the spread of hop downy mildew, the expansion of production in western states, and prohibition laws from the 1920’s contributed to the decline of the 19^th century NE hop industry. Today, the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho remain the dominant hop production sites of the U.S. However, hop production in non-traditional regions is growing and now accounts for over 2% of the total U.S. hop acreage. Nationally, there has …

Oilseed Meal Fertility Trial, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Ivy Krezinski, Lindsey Ruhl

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Oilseed meal can provide a source of plant-derived nitrogen fertilizers. Agronomic research is needed to help farmers implement these alternative fertility sources. Seed meals are a high-protein byproduct of seed oil extraction from crops such as soybean, canola, sunflower, hemp, and peanut. While a byproduct, seed meals still retain nutrient value after oil extraction, and are high in protein. Hence, seed meals are often utilized as livestock feed. Seeds meals can also be used as organic soil amendments and can act as organic fertility sources to farmers. In order to examine the efficacy of several seed meals as fertilizers, the …

Organic Soybean Performance Trials Summary, Heathe Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Maturity range (0.6 – 1.8) of soybean varieties in Alburgh, VT

Planting Date: 05-21-2020 and Harvest Date: 10-14-2020

Winter Canola Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Ivy Krezinski, Sara Ziegler

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

The majority of the canola grown in North America is grown in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada for both culinary oil as well as biodiesel production. Winter canola is planted in the late summer where it grows through the fall before entering a period of dormancy for the winter. The following spring, the plants resume growth and seed is harvested during the summer months. Winter canola could potentially be a useful crop to growers in the Northeast for diversifying rotations, farm products and markets, and producing fuel on farm. However, for winter canola to be a viable crop in our …

Cover Crop Termination 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 spring cover crop termination methods on a 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 …

Brassica Production Practices And Concerns In Vermont And The Northeast, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Brassica crops are an important crop on diversified vegetable farms in Vermont and the Northeast. Brassicas are becoming more popular as a cover crop due to their unique benefits to soil health. They can provide ground cover and cover crop biomass quickly in the fall, and brassicas with long taproots further break up compaction in the soil. Brassicas on vegetable farms include rutabaga, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and mustard greens. Despite the benefits, not all vegetables producers are quick to add brassicas or brassica cover crops to their rotation due to pest and disease management concerns. Increased …

Closing The Nutrient Loop Through An Innovative Organic Fertilizer Technology Field Tested For Vegetable Crops, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Excess nutrients from agricultural, industrial, and wastewater runoff result in harmful algae blooms in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous can fuel the rapid growth of algae, which deprives the aquatic environment of oxygen and sunlight. This process, eutrophication, results in anoxic “dead zones” and threatens ecosystems and access to clean water.

In agriculture, this nutrient pollution can be controlled by implementing and improving practices that reduce runoff, such as building good soil structure and not over-fertilizing nitrogen and phosphorus using slow release fertilizers.

Closing The Nutrient Loop Through An Innovative Organic Fertilizer Technology Field Tested For Corn, Heather Darby

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Excess nutrients from agricultural, industrial, and wastewater runoff result in harmful algae blooms in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous can fuel the rapid growth of algae, which deprives the aquatic environment of oxygen and sunlight. This process, eutrophication, results in anoxic “dead zones” and threatens ecosystems and access to clean water.

In agriculture, this nutrient pollution can be controlled by implementing and improving practices that reduce runoff, such as building good soil structure and not over-fertilizing nitrogen and phosphorus using slow release fertilizers.

Impact Of Cover Crops On No-Till Spring Grain Production, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Ivy Krezinski

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

Soil health is fundamentally important to crop productivity. Cover cropping is one method of improving soil health, by preventing soil erosion and nutrient runoff, improving soil aggregation and nutrients, as well as providing other benefits to soils and crop productivity. Cover crops have also been noted for their ability to suppress weeds. Some cover crops have been noted for their allelopathic characteristics, which can decrease the germination of weeds. No-till and reduced tillage practices can also increase water infiltration and reduce soil degradation while keeping carbon in the soil. Different types of cover crops, such as grasses, legumes, and brassicas, …