Forage Brassica Variety Trial

Forage brassicas can provide a near-concentrate type diet late in the grazing season. This allows for an extra grazing opportunity after summer annuals are harvested or to supplement perennial cool season pasture during the fall months. 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 2015, the University of Vermont’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program conducted a forage brassica variety trial to evaluate yield and quality of this annual crop

Forage Brassica Performance Trials

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension continued their research evaluating annual forage models that would best compliment cool season grass pasture. The overall goal of this project is to help organic dairy producers reduce their reliance on expensive concentrates through the production of a variety of high quality annul forages. Brassicas, such as forage turnips and rape, are a cool season crop. Hence these crops can thrive in the late fall months and potentially provide late season grazing. Brassica crops are known for their ability to provide a near concentrate type diet late in the season. UVM Extension conducted a trial in 2010 to evaluate the yield and quality of commercially available forage brassica varieties. Additional research was conducted on interseeding brassica crops with spring cereal grains and summer annuals

Forage Crops in Alaska

The foregoing report was reprinted from Alaska’s Agriculture and Forestry, Alaska Rural Development Council Publication No. 3, and the pagination has been changed. Alaska’s Agriculture and Forestry was published in December 1983 by Cooperative Extension Service, University of Alaska and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fairbanks, Alaska. Some of the information in this report represents contributions from research programs of other present and past Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station staff scientists, as indicated by text citations of numbered title s of publications in the reference list above. Foremost among these investigators are R. L. Taylor, W. W. Mitchell, A. L. Brundage, J. D. McKendrick, H. J. Hodgson, and A. C.Wilton.Forage crops can be defined as the aboveground growth (stems, leaves, and sometimes seed heads and immature seeds) of plants that are gathered and fed to herbivorous, domestic animals. Similar plant growth that is grazed directly by livestock in rotational or permanent pastures, but on a less extensive basis than rangelands, is also considered in this discussion. For the most part, forage crops are herbaceous (nonwoody) members of two large plant families—grasses and legumes. The grass family world-wide numbers about 5,000 species, but only about three dozen of these are important as forages. The legume family includes more than 12,000 species world-wide, fewer than 20 of which are considered to be important forage crops

Summer Annual Forage Mixtures Trial

In 2015, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program evaluated yield and quality of six summer annual forage species and five mixtures at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. In the Northeast, cool season grasses dominate the pastures and hay meadows farmers rely on throughout the season. With the onset of hot summer weather, these grasses enter dormancy and slow in production leading to what is generally referred to as the “summer slump.” Given this decline in productivity, organic producers still must provide animals with 30% of their dry matter intake (DMI) from pasture over at least 120 days of the year. These constraints, in combination with variable weather, can make it very difficult to produce adequate forage from these cool season perennial grasses alone. Summer annual species thrive in hot weather and can be grazed to help reach the pasture requirement or can be used as stored feed to supplement other sources. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilizing multiple species to further maximize forage yield and quality. We compared six summer annual species alone and in three-and five-species mixtures to evaluate potential differences in forage production and quality. While the information presented can begin to describe the yield and quality performance of these forage mixtures in this region, it is important to note that the data represent results from only one season and one location

Direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems for rice-beef production in the plain of Jars, Xieng Khouang Province, Lao PDR : an example of the creation - validation research and development methodological approach

The Plain of Jars is an acid, infertile savannah grassland covering an area of about 60,000 ha in the western region of Xieng Khouang Province, northeastern Lao PDR. In this ecology, farming systems are mainly based on lowland rice cultivation and extensive livestock production. An increase in rice production and intensification of the livestock industry are two key components in the Lao government's poverty alleviation strategy for this area. The main agronomic constraints for developing crops and forage systems are related to serious unfavourable soil chemical characteristics. Low pH, along with nutrients deficiencies (in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium) and high levels of aluminium saturation probably have a negative effect on the growth of upland crops, as well as many pasture species. Moreover, severe phosphorus deficiency generates animal health problems. Since 2004, the Lao National Agro- Ecology Programme (PRONAE) has been working on innovative farming systems based on direct seeding mulch-based cropping system (DMC) principles, as a technical approach, and on a progressive in situ validation process with smallholders as a Research & Development (R&D) approach. The advantages of the methodology are presented through the case of a DMC system developed in 2005 by the project to intensify rice-beef production in the Plain of Jars. The farming system initially proposed was a 5-year rotational sequence where improved pasture land was implemented in the first year, fattening activities conducted in the following three years and pasture regenerated in the fifth year using rice as a cash crop to finance pastureland re- implantation. Costs and benefits of the system were simulated according to the data collected in the creation sites. At the end of the 5 years, an average net income of 160 $US/ year/ha and an average labour productivity of 2.5 US$ per ha and working day were expected. The system was then proposed to 89 families forming 16 farmers' groups in 12 different villages for an in situ validation covering 76 ha. Even though promising results have been described at the creation site, 3-years of continuous validation have revealed several constraints for mass extension. In- field monitoring and interviews with farmers showed the main constraints to be (i) Market channels' constraints or malfunctioning, (ii) Fencing costs and maintenance, (iii) Production costs rising faster than benefits, (iv) Credit access and supply, (v) Technical skills required for good-quality pastureland implementation and management and (vi) Cattle fattening management. This feedback has given rise to development-related discussions and proposals regarding credit access, market channel functioning and training supports to be provided to farmers. This feed back has also given rise to new research topics, such as (i) how to generate higher incomes during the first year of implementation and (ii) how to reduce fertilizer use (main production cost) while maintaining at the same time improved pastureland productivity. New farming systems based on direct sowing of rice associated with forage species on degraded native pastureland have therefore been tested at creation sites and are currently under validation with farmer groups. This rice-beef system "creation- validation" process shows (i) the need to maintain research activities in the development process and (ii) the merits of the "creation site / farmer validation group" system for determining the potential for technology dissemination. (Résumé d'auteur

Winter Cereals as a Multipurpose Crop

In 2010, the University of Vermont Extension continued their research evaluating winter cereals as a multipurpose crop. Winter cereal grains including barley, wheat, and triticale are planted mid to late September in the Northeast. The crops can be harvested as pasture, stored feed, or grain and straw. This study was to evaluate if the winter cereals could be grazed and then harvested for forage or grain/straw. This would allow a farmer to harvest more than one type of feed from only one planting of cereals. Overall the goal of this project is to help organic dairy producers reduce their reliance on expensive concentrates through the production of a variety of high quality annual forages. Winter cereals begin to grow early in the spring when air temperatures are in the low 40s. The growth of cereal grains begins before cool season pasture. Hence these cereals may provide early season grazing opportunities and then still be able to provide later harvested stored feed or even grain/straw

Forage Brassica Trial

Forage brassicas are a cool season crop and grow best during the late summer and fall months. This creates the opportunity to fill a gap in feed quality during months not optimal for perennial pasture production. Many producers are interested in extending the grazing season into late fall to improve farm viability. Brassica crops are known for their ability to provide a near-concentrate type diet late in the season, decreasing reliance on expensive imported grain for nutrient requirements. In 2011, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Team conducted a forage brassica trial in Alburgh, VT. The objective was to evaluate the yield and quality capabilities of commercially available forage brassica varieties, including radish, turnip, mustard, kale, and rape

Optimising the production and utilisation of forage for organic livestock (CTE0202)

On most organic farms in the UK, forages are fundamental to the application of organic farming practices, particularly where dairy cattle, beef cattle and/or sheep are the major enterprises. Methods used for the production, conservation and utilisation of these forage resources have a major influence on the productivity, efficiency and overall sustainability of organic farms. Forage management and utilisation also have a pivotal role in the maintenance of animal health and in the minimisation of environmental impacts associated with livestock farming. Specific objectives: 1. Extrapolating from published data, to review the requirements for energy and protein across the production cycle for organic milk, beef, lamb, pig and poultry production. 2. To predict the likelihood of meeting all or a minimum proportion of these requirements from a range of organically produced forages. 3. To examine the potential to adjust management or production system to achieve a better balance of nutrient supply and demand 4. To consider likely contribution from alternative forages, and protein sources, as home-grown feeds 5. To assess likely effects on animal health and product quality 6. To develop a database model to predict the potential output and benefits for organic farmers of implementing different options and strategies for forage production and utilisation 7. To determine the environmental losses and gains at each stage of production and utilisation 8. To provide specific guidelines for use by farmers, advisers and policymakers to maximise efficiency in the production and utilisation of forages within a range of organic livestock production systems. Overall, this body of work has indicated that a number of gaps in current knowledge exist such as: the particular suitability of diverse plants and animal genotypes for forage-based organic systems, methods for determining the nutritive value of organically produced forages, trace element nutrition of organic livestock and specific weed and pest control measures in organic crop production. Further dissemination of the outputs from this study, drawn from the five separate work packages in which the work was conducted, will help underpin the sustainability of the organic sector