Maximizing Forage Yields in Corn Silage Systems with Winter Grains

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. 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 season, and in the spring could provide early forage prior to planting corn silage. In the fall of 2015 the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a trial investigating the integration of winter grains for forage into corn silage cropping systems

Winter Barley Variety Trial

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 high-energy concentrate source for their 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. In 2011-2012, UVM Extension conducted a winter barley trial to evaluate the yield and quality of publicly available malting and feed barley varieties

The Efficacy of Spraying Fungicides to Control Fusarium Head Blight Infection in Spring Malting Barley

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 of both farmers and end-users is malted barley. This only stands to reason since the Northeast alone is home to over 175 microbreweries and 35 craft distillers. Until recently, local malt was not readily available to brewers or distillers. However, a rapid expansion of the fledgling malting industry will hopefully give farmers new markets and end-users hope of readily available malt. To date, the operating maltsters struggle to source enough local grain to match demand for their product. In addition to short supplies, the local malt barley that is available often does not meet the rigid quality standards for malting. One major obstacle for growers is Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection of grain. This disease is currently the most important disease facing organic and conventional grain growers in the Northeast, resulting in loss of yield, shriveled grain, and most importantly, mycotoxin contamination. A vomitoxin called Deoxynivalenol (DON) is considered the primary mycotoxin associated with FHB. The spores are usually transported by air currents and can infect plants at flowering through grain fill. Eating contaminated grain greater than 1ppm poses a health risk to both humans and livestock

Regional recovery in a diverse union

This article reviews the diverse state of economic recovery across the Euro area and across the UK. Distinctions are drawn between the experiences within the Euro area, particularly among the high debt countries, and the UK. The focus then turns to whether the ongoing reforms set out in the Four Presidents’ Report “Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union” address the right issues. Turning to the most recent evidence on regional disparities within countries, it is clear that challenges remain, both for the Euro area and the UK. In the case of the UK, recent evidence on regional disparities in house prices present a challenge for the Bank of England and its Financial Policy Committee and are likely to provide a challenge to the use of its macro-prudential policy toolbox in the near future

Organic Spring Barley Variety Trial

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 2015, UVM Extension in collaboration with the Uniform Eastern Spring Malting Barley Nursery (UESMBN), conducted a spring malting barley trial to evaluate yield and quality of 20 varieties

Long Season Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary

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: 9/26/201

Winter Canola Soil Preparation x Fertility Timing Trial Dr. Heather

Although winter canola is a relatively new crop to the Northeast, it has the potential to be utilized in rotations to break pest and disease cycles or as an oilseed crop for high quality culinary oils or on-farm fuel production. Winter canola is planted in late summer as it overwinters and is harvested for seed the following year in early summer. Due to the very small size of the seed, it is also important to establish good seed-soil contact when planting to ensure proper germination. If planted too deep or with minimal soil contact, germination will be low resulting in poor stand and higher weed pressure potentially reducing yields. In addition, knowing when to apply fertilizer can be difficult as the crop’s lifecycle spans both fall and spring when manure and other fertilizers are typically added to fields. To help address these issues the UVM Extension Northwest Crop and Soil Program conducted a winter canola soil preparation and fertility timing trial in 2013-2014

Non-GMO Corn Silage Performance Trial Summary

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: 10/18/201

Spring Barley Variety Trial

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 concentrate source for their livestock. Depending on the variety, barley can be planted in either the spring or fall. In 2012, UVM Extension conducted two spring barley trials to evaluate the yield and quality of publicly available malting and feed barley varieties

Heirloom Dry Bean Variety Trial

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, as part of a USDA NE-SARE Partnership Grant (PG16-049), established a second year of trials in 2016 to evaluate heirloom dry bean varieties to see which ones thrive in our northern climate