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Full-Text Articles in Agriculture
Corn Cropping Systems To Improve Economic And Environmental Health, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler
Corn Cropping Systems To Improve Economic And Environmental Health, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Rory Malone, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, 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 …
Organic Spring Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
Organic Spring Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
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 have expressed an interest 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, and both two- and six-row barley can be used for malting. In 2018, 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 …
Hop Germplasm Study, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Hillary Emick, Scott Lewins
Hop Germplasm Study, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Hillary Emick, Scott Lewins
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. Vermont production peaked in 1860 when the state produced 289,690 kg of dried hops (Kennedy, 1860). 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 19th 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 …
The Efficacy Of Spraying Fungicides To Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection In Spring Malting Barley, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Erica Cummings
The Efficacy Of Spraying Fungicides To Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection In Spring Malting Barley, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Erica Cummings
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Public interest in sourcing local foods has extended into beverages, and the current demand for local brewing and distilling ingredients is quickly increasing. One new 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 rapidly expanding malting industry is providing farmers with new markets, and end-users readily available local malt. Operating maltsters still struggle to source enough local grain to match demand for their product. In addition to short supplies, the …
Soybean Planting Date X Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Erica Cummings, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Soybean Planting Date X Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Erica Cummings, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program investigated the impact of soybean variety and planting date on 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 …
Cover Crop Planting Date Trial, Heather Darby, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl, Sara Ziegler
Cover Crop Planting Date Trial, Heather Darby, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Maintaining and improving soil health is critical to crop productivity. Cover cropping is one 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 in light of extreme weather patterns that may affect yields. It can be challenging to grow a successful cover crop, given other demands from a farm operation and weather limitations. In this trial, our goals were to evaluate the effect of cover crop seeding dates and cover crop mixes on biomass …
New York And Vermont Corn Silage Hybrid Trials, Joseph Lawrence, Allison Kerwin, Thomas Overton, Heather Darby, Margaret Smith, Michael Van Amburgh, Michael Dineen, Sherrie Norman, Keith Payne, Dan Fisher, Sara Ziegler
New York And Vermont Corn Silage Hybrid Trials, Joseph Lawrence, Allison Kerwin, Thomas Overton, Heather Darby, Margaret Smith, Michael Van Amburgh, Michael Dineen, Sherrie Norman, Keith Payne, Dan Fisher, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
The corn silage hybrid evaluation program expanded to 77 hybrids in 2018. Hybrid evaluation at multiple environments helps in decision making and expands the reach of this type of data to more farmers. With this in mind Cornell, UVM, and seed companies collaborate to bring this robust evaluation. This year, hybrids were either entered into the 80-95 day relative maturity (RM) group (Early-Mid) and were tested at two locations in NY (n = 20; Hu-Lane Farm in Albion and the Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro) and one location in VT (n = 20; Borderview Farm in Alburgh) or were entered …
Non-Gmo Corn Silage Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Lindsey Ruhl
Non-Gmo Corn Silage Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Lindsey Ruhl
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of 12 non-GMO corn silage varieties at Bridgeman View Farm in Franklin, VT. A non-GMO milk market has prompted some dairy farmers to start growing corn silage that has not been genetically modified. Conventional farmers have countless corn silage varieties available supported by performance data and trait information. 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 …
Vermont Organic Silage Corn Performance Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Vermont Organic Silage Corn Performance Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program conducted an organic silage corn variety trial in 2018 to provide unbiased performance comparisons of commercially available varieties. With the expansion of the organic dairy industry in our region there is increased interest in organic corn silage production. To determine varieties that are best suited to this production system and our region’s climate, we evaluated 11 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 …
Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Amanda Gervais, Haley Jean
Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, Amanda Gervais, Haley Jean
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of cool season annuals planted in mixtures an in monoculture 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. It can be challenging for these grasses to rebound after the summer slump period and maintain high yield and quality into the fall when diseases can become prevalent. Adding cool season annual forages into the grazing system during this time may help improve the quality and quantity of …
Legume Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Legume Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Abha Gupta, Lindsey Ruhl
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2017, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Team initiated a trial investigating forage yield and quality of varieties of different legume species seeded in monocultures. The species selected were alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, red clover, and white clover. These legumes were chosen as they have been shown in previous research to have adequate survivability and forage production in this region. Organic and grass-based dairy systems rely on legumes to help provide balanced nutrition to their animals while also reducing the crop’s need for additional nitrogen compared to a pure grass stand. This information therefore, may help enhance …
Forage Intercropping For Resiliency Experiment, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Amanda Gervais, Abha Gupta, Sara Ziegler
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 …
Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Catherine Davidson
Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Sara Ziegler, John Bruce, Catherine Davidson
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 Program conducted this variety trial to evaluate the yield and quality of warm season annual grasses.
Northeast Organic Small Grain Disease And Insect Pest Scouting Report, Heather Darby, Ann Hazelrigg, Ellen Mallory, Jianjun Hao, Erica Cummings, Gabriella Maia, Tom Molloy
Northeast Organic Small Grain Disease And Insect Pest Scouting Report, Heather Darby, Ann Hazelrigg, Ellen Mallory, Jianjun Hao, Erica Cummings, Gabriella Maia, Tom Molloy
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
A survey of small grain diseases and insect pests were conducted in Vermont, Maine, New York, and Massachusetts during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. The purpose of scouting was to determine what insect pests and plant diseases are prevalent in organic small grain production in the Northeast.
The Effects Of Seed Steam Treatment On Dry Bean Yield And Presence Of Pests & Disease, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
The Effects Of Seed Steam Treatment On Dry Bean Yield And Presence Of Pests & Disease, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a high-protein pulse crop that have been grown in the Northeast since the 1800’s. As local foods such as heirloom dry beans are increasingly in demand, there is also an increasing need for agronomic information specific to the production of dry beans in New England. Crops such as dry beans, especially in organic systems, are susceptible to seedborne pathogens that thrive in moist conditions. Foliar diseases like anthracnose have the potential to wipe out an entire crop, and can ruin future crops after the seed is infected. After plant residue or seed is …
Impact Of Cover Crops On No-Till Spring Grain Production, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
Impact Of Cover Crops On No-Till Spring Grain Production, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
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. Farmers are striving to reduce inputs and welcome the multiple benefits that cover crops afford. No-till and reduced tillage practices can also increase water infiltration and reduce soil degradation while keeping …
Germination In Spring Grains Treated With Organic Seed Amendments And Aerated Steam, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Gabriella Maia, Rory Malone
Germination In Spring Grains Treated With Organic Seed Amendments And Aerated Steam, Heather Darby, Erica Cummings, Gabriella Maia, Rory Malone
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Small grains are often planted early in the spring when the soil is cool and wet creating ideal conditions for soilborne pathogens. Seed-borne pathogens that cause root rot and damping-off during germination and early seed growth, can often be prevented by treating seeds with conventional fungicides. Organic production does not allow conventional fungicide seed treatments and organic approved seed treatments may help farmers establish better stands of crops. The goal of this project was to compare the impact of various seed protectants and treatments on germination rates of spring wheat and barley.
Oat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Oat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
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 may be a 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 ac-1. With the exception of hull-less varieties, oats need to be de-hulled before being used for human consumption and further processing is required to make oatmeal, steel cut oats, or oat flour. Since 2009, the University of Vermont …
Organic Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, John Bruce, Hillary Emick
Organic Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, John Bruce, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated twenty-five hard red spring wheat varieties to determine which would thrive in organic production systems in the Northeast. The trial was established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. Varieties that did not perform well in previous years were eliminated from the 2018 trial and new varieties were added.
Organic Heirloom Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Organic Heirloom Spring Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
University of Vermont Extension began its heirloom spring wheat trials in 2007 to determine whether heirloom varieties developed before 1950 could thrive in Vermont’s current climate. Many consumers are interested in heirloom wheat for flavor, perceived health benefits or its history, while many farmers are interested in heirloom wheat because it may have superior genetics better adapted to the challenging growing conditions in the Northeast. Production of heirloom wheat may also provide a farmer with a value added market with increased returns. This variety trial was established to determine heirloom spring wheat varieties that are suitable for production in Vermont’s …
Organic Winter Malting Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Organic Winter Malting Barley Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
The revival of the small grains industry in the Northeast and the strength of the locavore movement, craft breweries and distilleries have expressed an interest 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, and both two- and six-row barley can be used for malting. In the fall of 2017, a winter malting barley trial was conducted to evaluate yield and quality of 27 varieties. This same malting barley variety trial was conducted in …
Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
Organic Winter Wheat Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In 2018, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated 26 winter wheat varieties to determine those that perform best in organic production systems in northern Vermont. The trial was established at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont.
Winter Rye Harvest Date, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
Winter Rye Harvest Date, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
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 2018, University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program conducted a harvest date trial to evaluate harvest date yield and quality of cereal rye. The overall goal of this project is to help in determining ideal harvest dates for winter rye in hopes of maximizing yields and quality. For the harvest …
The Efficacy Of Spraying Organic Fungicides To Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection In Spring Wheat, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
The Efficacy Of Spraying Organic Fungicides To Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection In Spring Wheat, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Erica Cummings, 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. Hard red spring wheat is most commonly used for bread flour. One major challenge that grain growers encounter is infection by disease-causing fungi, such as the fungus Fusarium graminearum, whose spores can infect plants from flowering until grain fill. Fusarium head blight (FHB) can shrivel grain, decrease seed germination, decrease yields, and contaminate grains with mycotoxins. The primary mycotoxin of FHB is deoxynivalenol (DON), a vomitoxin. If DON concentrations are above 1 ppm, they may pose health …
Spelt Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Spelt Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Haley Jean, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Spelt (triticum spelta) is an ancient grain that is closely related to and possibly an ancestor of modern 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. 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 potential as a …
Steam Treated Grains Trial, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
Steam Treated Grains Trial, Heather Darby, Rory Malone, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
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 appear 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 kernals are left for harvest. Smutted heads are caused by the fungal pathogen genus Ustilago. Ustilago nuda commonly infects barley, while …
Winter Rye Variety Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
Winter Rye Variety Trial, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Erica Cummings, Hillary Emick
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 2018, 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 Aroostook, Brasetto, Danko, Guardian, Huron, Musketeer, ND Dylan, Spooner, Wheeler, and one unstated variety (VNS).
Hop Crowning Trial, Final Report Update, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Scott Lewins, Hillary Emick
Hop Crowning Trial, Final Report Update, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Scott Lewins, Hillary Emick
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Downy mildew has been identified as the primary pathogen plaguing our northeastern hop yards. This disease causes reduced yield, poor hop quality, and can cause the plant to die in severe cases. Control measures that reduce disease infection and spread while minimizing the impact on the environment, are desperately needed for the region. Mechanical control is one means to reduce downy mildew pressure in hop yards. Scratching, pruning, or crowning is a practice initiated in the early spring when new growth has just emerged from the soil.
Winter Barley Planting Date And Nitrogen Amendment Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
Winter Barley Planting Date And Nitrogen Amendment Trial, Heather Darby, Hillary Emick, Haley Jean
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 have expressed an interest in sourcing 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 concentrated, high-energy feed source for livestock. Depending on the variety, barley can be planted in either the spring or fall, and both two- and six-row barley can be used for malting and livestock feed. Winter barley has not been traditionally grown in the Northeast …
Hop Harvest Timing, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Scott Lewins
Hop Harvest Timing, Heather Darby, John Bruce, Scott Lewins
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
In the Northeast, hop harvest generally begins in mid-August and continues through mid-September. Harvest date is primarily dependent on the hop variety, but weather can delay or hasten maturation and impact when harvest will occur. In addition to weather, various pests, such as spider mites and downy mildew, can similarly impact harvest timing. The time at which you harvest hops can affect the various qualities of your finished product. Alpha and beta acid content peaks before many essential oils have fully developed. Delaying harvest can provide time for these oils to develop, but increases the amount of time the hops …