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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
Winter Grain and Short-Season Corn Double Crop Forage Systems: An Integrated Weed Management Strategy for Organic Dairy Producers |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: ME Lead Organization: University of Maine |
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Cooperating State(s):
Vermont |
| Extension Funding: $15,000 |
| Research Funding: $53,459 |
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Start Date: Sep-01-2008 End Date: Aug-31-2010 |
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No-Cost Extension Date: Aug-31-2011 |
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Pests Involved: weeds |
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Site/Commodity: corn, dairy, livestock, field crops |
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Area of Emphasis: organic |
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Summary:
As a result of this multi-state research and extension project, organic dairy producers will adopt an environmentally sustainable winter grain, short-season corn double crop forage production system as an alternative to intensively cultivated full-season silage corn. Organic dairy production is a strong growth area of Northeast agriculture, but sustainability of this growth is largely dependent on production of high quality feed while minimizing weed pressure. Due to high feed costs, producers must maximize on-farm forage and grain production. Field trials will be conducted at two university experiment stations and two organic dairy farms. The weed management IPM program that is the product of this work is primarily designed for northeast organic dairy producers, but it is applicable to all dairy producers. This project meets many goals identified by NE IPM including working with underserved audiences, and the development of easily implemented IPM systems and non-chemical pest management strategies where few alternatives exist. Growers will understand and implement this production system through involvement in an effective extensive Extension outreach program. Organic producers will attend grower field day presentations, on-farm twilight meetings, and other educational meetings. Production system fact sheets and a web site will be developed for this project, and information will be incorporated into an eXtension organic communities of practice led by co-PI Heather Darby. Within two years of project completion, 40% of organic dairy growers that grow corn will use this system, improve weed management, and produce high quality forages which will lead to increased milk production and improved economic and environmental sustainability.
Objectives: Research Objective We will evaluate the effectiveness of a winter small grain/short-season corn (WGSSC) double-crop forage system as a possible replacement for intensively cultivated full-season corn over a two-year period. Extension Outreach Objective As a result of showcasing the short-season cropping systems to growers, growers will gain an understanding of the usefulness of this innovative method. They will understand potential for forage yield and quality, changes in weed competition, improved nutrient management and fit for USDA farm subsidy programs. Proposal USDA CRIS research data USDA CRIS extension data |
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Interim Report: Jan-03-2011 |
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Impacts The following presentations were delivered to growers and consultant groups several times in the 2009/2010 educational season. Jemison, J.M., Jr. and H.M. Darby. 2009. Double crop forage production systems for organic dairy producers. Presented at the NEBCSA meeting in Portland. Jemison, J.M., Jr., and H.M. Darby. 2009. Winter Grain - Silage Corn Double Crop Systems for New England. Poster presentation - American Society of Agronomy National Meeting - Pittsburgh, PA. Jemison, J.M., Jr. and H.M. Darby. 2009. Weed dynamics in double cropped small grain corn systems. Northeast Weed Science Society of America - Cambridge MA. Jemison, J.M., Jr., and H.M. Darby. 2010. Winter grain - short-season corn double crop systems for New England. National Water Quality Conference, Hilton Head, SC. H.M. Darby and J.M. Jemison, Jr. 2009. Double crop forage production systems for organic dairy producers. Presented at the Vermont Grazing Conference. January 18th. Fairlee, VT. H.M. Darby and J.M. Jemison, Jr. 2009. Alternative Forage Systems. Presented at the Natural Resource Conservation District Annual Meeting. February 7thth. Poultney, VT. H.M. Darby and J.M. Jemison, Jr. 2009. Double Crops Forage Systems. Presented at the UVM Extension Crops and Soils Days. March 12, 13, 14th. St. Johnsbury, Middlebury, Springfield, VT. The project was the focus of two presentations at the Agricultural Trades Show in 2010 and the Certified Crop Advisor training in New York and Portsmouth NH. Conduct summer field day educational programs at experiment station and cooperating farms for dairy farmers in Vermont and Maine A total of five field days were conducted in both Maine and Vermont. In Maine, 45 farmers attended the field day. There were approximately 250 farmers, USDA staff, University staff/faculty, and other agricultural professionals attended the meetings. . At cooperating farm, demonstrate alternative cultural practices to enhance weed control such as cross planting to hasten canopy closure, winter grain seeding densities to assess effect on weed populations, and the use of some light cultivation in the best double crop systems These studies were done and field day presentations were conducted at both sites. We had 27 people attend the training in Maine, and 48 attend the training in Vermont. Of those that attended, twenty of 75 thought they would try to double crop in the future. Conduct training for agricultural service providers who work with the organic production community about the WGSSC double crop system Two presentations were made to crop consultants. See above. Present research results at regional weed science meetings See under 1A. above. Extension Outreach Method 1b. Develop an information package including organic production fact sheet series that summarizes the results from these projects and provides growers key information to implement these systems on their farms. Project reports have been posted on the UVM Extension (www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/) and Maine websites. Further development of fact sheets and eXtension materials will be developed in the coming year. Other presentations are planned with the newly summarized 5 SYL data as well. |
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Outcomes As a result of this multi-state research and extension project, organic dairy producers will adopt an environmentally sustainable winter grain, short-season corn double crop forage production system as an alternative to intensively cultivated full-season silage corn. Organic dairy production is a strong growth area of Northeast agriculture, but sustainability of this growth is largely dependent on production of high quality feed while minimizing weed pressure. Due to high purchased concentrate costs, producers must maximize on-farm forage and grain production. Field trials were conducted at two university experiment stations and two organic dairy farms. The weed management IPM program that is the product of this work is primarily designed for northeast organic dairy producers, but could be applicable to all dairy producers. This project meets many goals identified by NE IPM including working with underserved audiences, and the development of easily implemented IPM systems and non-chemical pest management strategies where few alternatives exist. Through this project growers learned about these systems through involvement in an effective extensive Extension outreach program. Organic producers attended grower field day presentations, on-farm twilight meetings, and other educational meetings. Project reports have been posted on the UVM Extension (www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/) and Maine websites. Further development of fact sheets and eXtension materials will be developed in the coming year. Since the start of the project more than twenty organic livestock farms have reported implementing some aspect of the new weed management systems. Further adoption is expected in the next growing season. |
Report Appendices
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Final Report: |
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Outcomes Over the three years of this project, we have educated most of the farmers in Vermont and Maine that grow corn about the value of a double crop system. Between trade shows, field day presentations, twilight meetings, and farm visits, i doubt we have missed 20% of the farmers that grow corn. This system requires more work out of farmers because they have to plant a second crop at a time when they are busy finishing up longer season forage corn harvest. Some farmers have noted that they have abundant forage and they do not need triticale or wheat forage in their operations, but they have been thinking about cover cropping and the advantages that can bring. The problem has been the cost of fuel and time management. Some have been able to get the small grains planted and then harvest their corn. But for other growers we worked with, it was difficult to do both tasks. But, for those who have adopted the system, they are seeing consistently between 25 and 30 percent more forage. This kind of change takes time to accept and adopt. In each year of our trainings, we have more and more farmers considering the system. We have interviewed people that have attended trainings on the topics and here are the types of comments that they madeL: John & we have started to make serious inroads to the farmer mind set. This past year winter triticale sold out, and it may do it again this year depending on when this mess of a corn crop comes off (very early corn and very very late corn) especially with the forecast to be very cool and wet in the north east." another example comment: "This spring several farms we followed tried it. They found that as I had said, the crop dries the soil out and allows them to get on where other fields were to wet. Feed quality in spite of difficult drying, was excellent with one farmer saying his cows went nuts for it as soon as the mixer wagon came in the barn (very high sugar content). The biggest mental block is the summer short season crop there is a real macho mentality that I am a better farmer than you because you grow shorter day corn and I grow longer day corn. No real farmer would grow an 70 - 80 day corn. It is a very stupid and destructive mind set, especially in a wet year or wet fall when a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. The late planted long-season corn is going to be soup. |
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Impacts Farmers in Maine and Vermont have learned about the double crop system. They have learned the value of having a spring small grain crop reduce soil moisture and allow them to plant corn sooner. It fits well in a no-till corn system which has also started to kick in. Given the potential for failure with the 2011 corn crop, I am confident we will move from 10 farmers adopting this system to 20 to 25 over the next two years. As of the end of august, triticale was sold out in Maine and was very limited in Vermont. This shows we have opportunities for farmers to also grow triticale or wheat for seed. Heather has fielded dozens of calls from farmers looking for options for their lost corn crop. As farmers continue to see variability and erratic weather patterns, i am confident that the ground work we have laid here showing the value of the double crop system will continue to grow. |
| Report Appendices |
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