Progress 09/15/05 to 09/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives 1: Evaluate the milk yield and forage quality of four contrasting cropping systems and to identify the level of grain importation needed for each system and: Objective 2: Identify systems that reduce the importation of grain, and enhance the sustainability of organic dairies. Data from feeding trials at University of Maine and University of New Hampshire have been complied and published in journals (Dairy Science), poster presentations (American Dairy Science Association) and professional presentations (Agronomy Society of America annual meetings). Modeling tools were utilized to evaluate the trials and are leading to the development of producer friendly decision matrixes to evaluate risk and rewards for associated cropping systems. These activities address major cropping decisions faced by producers, including whether or not to produce grain and/or corn silage on their farms. Objective 3: Quantify the efficacy of direct weed control tactics in cropping systems, the effect of weeds on total yield, quality and net return. Multiple trials on weed control strategies in organic grains included standard planting density with increased density, narrow and wide row spacing with various mechanical weed control options. Objective 4: Quantify the net return and exposure to risk and identify the economies of scale for each system. We have been using several techniques to evaluate profitability including the IFSM (Integrated Farming System Model) from ARS at Penn State and a "bootstrap" method developed by Efron at Stanford. Both methods will be published in Journal of Dairy Science. Objective 5: Host conferences, field days and on-farm trials. Results have been disseminated via abstracts to numerous professional meetings as well as grower meetings such as Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Association (NODPA) and state organic conferences. Presentations on yield and quality were presented at the 2009 American Society of Agronomy annual meetings in Pittsburgh, Pa. Other outreach includes poster presentations at national Dairy Science meetings, Colorado, Midwest Organic Farming Conference, European Weed Research Society, Northeast Branch Crops, Soils and Agronomy Conference and the Canadian Organic Cereal Grain Symposium. Presentations in Maine and New Hampshire include the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA-Vt) winter meetings, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) Spring Growth Conference, University of Maine Rogers Farm field days and organic dairy seminars in Northern Vermont. Published articles include Maine Extension fact sheets, eOrganic fact sheets (http://www.extension.org/article/24980), and articles in popular press such as NODPA and MOMP newsletters and Hoard's Dairyman. An eOrganic webinar focused on winter feeding was also conducted. PARTICIPANTS: Graduate Students: Gabrial Clark University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS matriculated 2008) Lauren Kolb University of Maine Plant Soil and Environmental Sciences (PhD candidate) Susan P. Marston University of New Hampshire (PhD matriculated 2010) Patrick Heacock University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS Candidate) Zach Conrad Tufts University (MS Candidate) Maine Organic Milk Producers, ARS New England Plant Soil and Water Lab (Wayne Honecutt and John Halloran) University of New Hampshire (Charles Schwab and Pete Erickson) University of Maine Extension(Richard Kersbergen project PI) University of Maine (Eric Gallandt, David Marcinkowski, Gary Anderson, Martin Stokes) University of Maine (Thomas Molloy, Research associate) Aaron Hoshide University of Maine Adjunct Professor School of Economics, Producer organizations: Maine Organic Milk Producers (Henry Perkins President, Mia Morrison, Director) and cooperating farmers from this group, including Jeff Bragg, Doug Hartkopf, Steve Russell, Mark McKusick, George Nuite, Ralph Caldwell, Steve Morrison. Northeast organic Dairy Producer Alliance Ed Maltby, Director, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Diane Schivera, Technical Services Livestock. Many educational programs from this project were co-sponsored by partner organizations and included staff from the University of Maine, University of New Hampshire and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this project was Northeast Organic Dairy Producers. While this project was composed of researchers from Maine and New Hampshire, the majority of organic dairy farmers impacted were in Maine and Vermont who both have high percentages of organic dairy farms as compared to conventional dairy farms. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Several researchers accepted new positions at other institutions or retired during the course of this project. Tim Griffin is now at Tufts University, Chris Reberg-Horton is now at North Carolina State University, Wayne Honeycutt is now at USDA NRCS in Washington D.C. and Chuck Schwab retired from the University of New Hampshire.
Impacts
This project "paved" the way for the development of numerous organic research projects in Maine and NH. Additional research projects in 2009 and 2010 include an OREI grant, "Enhancing Farmers' Capacity to Produce High Quality Organic Bread Wheat" funded at $1,300,000 that will allow for continued research on the replicated cropping system plots established in this current project. Other recent projects include: "Addressing the Research and Extension Needs of the Organic Dairy Industry in the Northeast" (USDA/NIFA-OREI Planning grant: $31,300); "Molasses as an Alternative Energy Source for Organic Dairies" (Organic Farming Research Foundation; Research grant: $15,000); "Molasses as an Alternative Energy Source for Organic Dairies" (Northeast SARE; Graduate student grant: $14,200); "Addressing the Nutritional and Reproductive Research and Extension Needs of the Organic Dairy Industry in the Northeast" (NERA: Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors; Planning grant: $10,000); "Feeding High-Sugars Forage and Molasses to Organic Dairy Cows" (Hatch Research Development: $36,000); "The Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Small and Medium Size Dairy Farms in New England" (AFRI: $404,966). To measure the effects of the Organic Dairy Cropping Systems on weed population and community dynamics, we sampled the weed seedbank at the start of each phase of the rotations, and each spring thereafter. Annuals average 80 germinable weed seeds per square meter in the first year following moldboard plowing the sod, increasing to 1,000 germinable weed seeds per square meter after one year of annual crops (corn in Systems 1 and 2; sudangrass in Systems 3 and 4); by the end of the four year rotation this had increased to 5,000 seeds per square meter. Perennial weeds increased in Systems 3 and 4 which lacked a fallow period prior to the final year of alfalfa (230 perennial seeds per square meter in Systems 1 and 2 vs. 375 in Systems 3 and 4, P=0.024). The change in the total seedbank, represented mostly by the large increase in annual weeds, differed among systems. Notably, System 1, Corn silage with homegrown grain, included soybean in the third year of the rotation displayed significant increases in the seedbank following this position in the rotation. The Systems that featured a preponderance of cereals following the initial warm-season silage or sudangrass crops were successful in keeping the seedbank at a low level. The combination of a full season high-moisture corn crop, followed by soybean, resulted in the largest increase in the seedbank. Because feed costs are generally the highest input cost on organic dairy operations, our studies compared production parameters and the economic efficiency of rations for organic dairy cows is necessary. Results from Maine and NH indicated that feeding a grass silage based diet supplemented with commodity concentrates may provide the greatest economic return for New England organic dairy producers. Organic dairy farms in Maine and Vermont now represent more than 20% of all dairy farms in those states.
Publications
- S.P. Marston, K.L. Brussell, C.G. Schwab, N.L. Whitehouse and P.S. Erickson. (2008). Reducing Off-Farm Grain Inputs of Northeast Organic Dairy Farms: An Evaluation of Alternative Forage Cropping and Concentrate Feeding Systems (Year 1). Midwest Organic Farming Conf., LaCrosse, WI.
- S.P. Marston, K.L. Brussell, C.G. Schwab, N.L. Whitehouse and P.S. Erickson. (2008). Reducing Off-Farm Grain Inputs of Northeast Organic Dairy Farms: An Evaluation of Alternative Forage Cropping and Concentrate Feeding Systems (Year 2). Understanding Organics Conf., Auburn, NY.
- S.P. Marston (2010). Maximizing Profit on New England Dairy Farms: An Economic Comparison of Four Total Mixed Rations for Organic Holsteins and Jerseys. PhD Thesis, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
- G.W. Clark (2009) An Economic Evaluation of Winter-Feeding Strategies for Lactating Organic Dairy Cows Utilizing Different Forage and Concentrate Feeding Systems in Maine. MS Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, ME.
- Kolb, L. (2010). Alternative Weed Management Strategies for Organic Cereals: Enhanced crop-weed interference and physical weed control. PhD Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, ME.
- Kersbergen, R. (2007) Organic Dairying- Can it Work For You Proceedings of the 25th Annual Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Alberta, Canada. http://www.wcds.afns.ualberta.ca/index.asppage=/Proceedings/Index
- Kolb, L.N., E.R. Gallandt, and T. Molloy (2010). Improving weed management in organic spring barley: physical weed control vs. interspecific competition. Weed Research (50: 597-605).
- Marston, S. P., G. W. Clark, G. W. Anderson, R. J. Kersbergen, M. Lunak, D. P. Marcinkowski, M. R. Murphy, C. G. Schwab, and P. S. Erickson (2011)Maximizing Profit on New England Organic Dairy Farms: An Economic Comparison of Four Total Mixed Rations For Organic Holsteins and Jerseys. Journal of Dairy Science (accepted 12-1-2010)
- Kersbergen, R. (2010). Maximizing Organic Milk Production and Profitability with Organic Forages. eOrganic. http://www.extension.org/article/24980 2010
- Kolb, L. (2008). System-level Comparison of Weed Control Strategies in Spring-Sown Barley. 5th International Weed Science Congress, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
- Clark, G.W.C., D. Marcinkowski, M. Stokes, G. Anderson and R. Kersbergen (2008). Reducing Off-farm Grain Inputs on Northeast Organic Dairy Farms: An Evaluation of Alternative Forage Cropping and Concentrate Feeding Systems: Holstein Herd. Proceedings of Midwest Organic Research Symposium. La Crosse, WI.
- Heacock, P.S., D.P. Marcinkowski, G.W. Anderson, M.R. Stokes and R. Kersbergen. (2010) Winter Feeding Strategies for Lactating Organic Dairy Cows. ADSA-PSA-AMPA-CSAS-ASA Annual Meeting, Denver Co. (poster presentation)
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Progress 09/15/08 to 09/14/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives 1: Evaluate the milk yield and forage quality of four contrasting cropping systems and to identify the level of grain importation needed for each system and Objective 2: Identify systems that reduce the importation of grain, and enhance the sustainability of organic dairies. Activities represent a combination of replicated plot experiments, field or sub-field production on commercial organic dairies, and larger scale organic feed production. In year 3, both UNH and UMaine completed the third and final year of feeding trials. All three years are being compiled and evaluated. Modeling tools are being utilized to evaluate the trials and develop producer friendly decision matrixes to evaluate risk and rewards for associated cropping systems. These activities address major cropping decisions faced by producers, including whether or not to produce grain and/or corn silage on their farms. Replicated cropping system experiments started in 2006 and 2007 ended in 2009 with final year of data collection. Yield and quality varies widely between these crops. From both this replicated experiment and from field level data, meeting nutrient needs of small grain crops like triticale (which can be used for either forage or grain), and also multiple harvest crops like sorghum-sudangrass, can be difficult in organic systems given New England growing seasons. Objective 3: Quantify the efficacy of direct weed control tactics in cropping systems, the effect of weeds on total yield, quality and net return. In a replicated cropping system trial with the various rotation strategies listed above, yields of subplots in weedy and weed free plots have been examined. Weed seedbank measurements were taken each cropping year. An additional study on organic weed control in cereal grains was initiated to evaluate various tillage and planting densities on weed populations and yield of organic grains. Objective 4: Quantify the net return and exposure to risk and identify the economies of scale for each system. We have been using several techniques to evaluate profitability including the IFSM (Integrated Farming System Model) from ARS at Penn State and a "bootstrap" method developed by Efron at Stanford. Objective 5: Host conferences, field days and on-farm trials that will be followed up with personal interviews with organic farmers to assess impact. Meetings have been held both spring and fall each year of the project with researchers and producers. Two field days focused on organic grains were held in 2009. Results have been disseminated via abstracts to numerous professional meetings as well as grower meetings such as Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Association (NODPA) and state organic conferences. Presentations on yield and quality were presented at the 2009 American Society of Agronomy annual meetings in Pittsburgh, Pa. Maine Organic Milk Producers (MOMP) is creating a web site for information dissemination. A graduate student (Tufts Univ.) was hired to compile case studies of participating farms and to model those farms with the IFSM model. PARTICIPANTS: Graduate Students: Gabrial Clark University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS matriculated 2008) Lauren Kolb University of Maine Plant Soil and Environmental Sciences (PhD candidate) Susan P. Marston University of New Hampshire (PhD Candidate) Patrick Heacock University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS Candidate) Zach Conrad Tufts University (MS Candidate)Maine Organic Milk Producers, ARS New England Plant Soil and Water Lab (Wayne Honecutt and John Halloran) University of New Hampshire (Charles Schwab and Pete Erickson) University of Maine Extension(Richard Kersbergen project PI) University of Maine (Eric Gallandt, David Marcinkowski, Gary Anderson, Martin Stokes) University of Maine (Thomas Molloy, Research associate) TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Change in PI for University of NH due to retirement of Chuck Schwab. Pete Erikson is now the PI for UNH. No-Cost Extension was granted until September 15, 2010
Impacts
This project "paved" the way for the development of numerous organic research projects in Maine and NH. Since October 2005, over $1,300,000 has been committed to the UNH organic dairy farm initiative, $100,000 from the UNH Office of Sponsored Research, $200,000 from the University, and over $1,000,000 from companies and the public sector. Additional research projects include "UNH Organic Dairy Farm agroecosystem study" LNE08-277 funded by Northeast SARE for $379,087 and OAREI grant, "Enhancing Farmers' Capacity to Produce High Quality Organic Bread Wheat" funded at $1,300,000 that will allow for continued research on the replicated cropping system plots established in this current project. Over the course of the three year rotation in the replicated cropping system plots, the germinable seed bank, when averaged over all of the four systems increased from 354 seedlings m-2 in 2006 to 3136 seedlings m-2 in 2009. There was a significant increase in the number of species present over time. There was not a significant difference or increase in perennial weeds between systems or years. Annuals ended up dominating the seed banks of systems 1 and 2 (corn silage based rotations). Annuals and perennials were nearly evenly mixed in systems 3 and 4 (non-corn based annual crops). System 1 saw the largest increase in annual weeds (121 seedlings m-2 in 2006 to 7253 seedlings per m-2 seedlings in 2009) and was significantly different from systems 3 and 4. Amaranthus retroflexus and Chenopodium album were the dominant two species in System 1,comprising 47% and 33% of the annual weeds present respectively. Results from the feeding trials in Maine and NH both indicate that the use of organic commodity grains produced a higher income over feed cost (IOFC). Cows in Maine that were fed the commodity diets produced significantly higher levels of fat corrected milk, and there was a trend for haylage or perennial sod based rations to have a higher IOFC. Haylage rations were significantly cheaper to formulate due to the high cost of protein supplements. In 2009 we evaluated two possible solutions for weed control in organic spring-sown cereals: systems that i) facilitate better physical weed control through the use of wide rows and inter-row cultivation or (ii) enhance crop-weed competition. Increasing the competitive ability of wheat was done using three methods: elevated crop density at standard row width (17 cm), elevated crop density in combination with narrow (11 cm) row spacing, and elevated crop density while broadcasting a third of the seed and using a seed drill to plant the remainder. These tactics were contrasted with a standard organic practice and a wide row system with inter-row hoeing. Standard seeding rates were established at 400 plants m-2 and high density seeding rates were 600 plants m-2. Standard organic practice had significantly higher weed density and weed biomass at harvest than the other management systems. Wide rows with cultivation had the lowest weed density, but there were no significant differences in weed biomass. Any of these four strategies could be a viable option for weed management in organic spring grains.
Publications
- Griffin, T., R. Kersbergen, T. Molloy, C. Honeycutt and J. Halloran (2009)Yield Potential of Alternative Cropping Systems for Organic Dairy Farms. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting Abstracts #53040
- Kersbergen, R., T. Griffin, T.Molloy, John Halloran and C. Honeycutt (2009) Forage Quality of Alternative Cropping Systems for Organic Dairy Farms in New England. American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting Abstracts #55108
- Kolb, L., E.R. Gallandt, and T. Molloy. (2009) Combining Enhanced Competition and Cultivation for Improved Weed Control in Organic Cereals. European Weed Research Society Physical and Cultural Weed Control Working Group, Zaragoza, Spain
- Kersbergen, Richard (2009) A summary of the Organic Dairy Cropping System. Northeast Branch Crops , Soils and Agronomy Conference Abstracts
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Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives 1: Evaluate the milk yield and forage quality of four contrasting cropping systems and to identify the level of grain importation needed for each system and 2: Identify systems that reduce the importation of grain, prevent the accumulation of nutrient excesses and enhance the sustainability of organic dairies. Activities associated with this project represent a combination of replicated plot experiments, field or sub-field production on commercial organic dairies, and larger scale organic feed production at both the University of Maine and New Hampshire. These activities address major cropping decisions faced by producers, including whether or not to produce grain and/or corn silage on their farms. Replicated cropping system experiments were started in 2006 and 2007 in Maine, with treatments representing four alternative systems: 1) corn silage with grain production; 2) corn silage without grain; 3) no corn silage with grain; and 4) no corn silage or grain. A series of annual crops are included in each system, including not only corn (for silage or grain), but also winter triticale (as forage or grain), sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, barley, and soybean. Production data and inputs are being compiled into enterprise budgets for each system. In addition to measuring crop yield and quality in each system, we have also measured crop growth and nutrient uptake, soil nutrient availability, and weed competition. Yield and quality varies widely between these crops. From both this replicated experiment and from field level data, meeting nutrient needs of small grain crops like triticale (which can be used for either forage or grain), and also multiple harvest crops like sorghum-sudangrass, can be difficult in organic systems given New England growing seasons. Objective 3: Quantify the efficacy of direct weed control tactics in cropping systems, the effect of weeds on total yield, quality and net return. In a replicated cropping system trial with the various rotation strategies listed above, yields of subplots in weedy and weed free plots are examined. Weed seedbank measurements are taken each cropping year. Objective 4: Quantify the net return and exposure to risk and identify the economies of scale for each system. The project will use the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) to evaluate net returns and risk associated with the various cropping systems. Data from three years of University trials in replicated plots along with data from framer participants will be used to establish costs and yields associated with rotations. Objective 5: Host conferences, field days and on-farm trials that will be followed up with personal interviews with organic farmers to assess impact. Meetings have been held both spring and fall each year of the project with researchers and producers. Results have been disseminated via abstracts to numerous professional meetings as well as grower meetings such as Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Association (NODPA) and state organic conferences. Posters have been presented at the Integrated Organic Program annual meetings in Kansas City, and "Understanding Organic Conference" in Auburn N.Y. PARTICIPANTS: Graduate Students: Gabrial Clark University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS candidate) Lauren Kolb University of Maine Plant Soil and Environmental Sciences (PhD candidate) Susan P. Marston University of New Hampshire (PhD Candidate) Patrick Heacock University of Maine Animal Vet Science (MS Candidate) Maine Organic Milk Producers (Mia Morrison) ARS New England Plant Soil and Water Lab (Wayne Honecutt) University of New Hampshire (Charles Schwab) University of Maine Extension(Richard Kersbergen project PI) University of Maine (Eric Gallandt) University of Maine (Thomas Molloy, Research associate) TARGET AUDIENCES: Maine Organic Milk Producers and Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance. Presentations at monthly and annual meetings of both organizations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results from the feeding trials in Maine in year two indicate that based on the current value of organic milk in New England, ($26.00/cwt base price) the corn/pellet ration resulted in the highest daily milk income and the grass commodity was the lowest. In year two the grass/commodity diet was the most profitable, followed respectively by corn/pellet, corn/commodity and grass pellet diets. In NH, twenty-four multiparous Jersey cows from the UNH Organic Dairy herd were randomly assigned to one of four treatment diets testing the main effects of corn silage or grass silage as the forage source and homegrown grains versus a commercially available pellet. There were no differences among treatments in milk yield, fat, SCC or BCS. Income over feed costs were $3.56 (corn silage with pellet), $5.20 (corn silage with homegrown grains), $4.91 (grass silage with pellets) and $5.67 (grass silage with homegrown grains). The results from year two of this study indicate that feeding commodity grains has an economic advantage over feeding a commercial pellet, and that feeding a grass silage based diet may have a greater economic benefit to New England dairy producers. Production data and inputs are being compiled into enterprise budgets for each system. In addition to measuring crop yield and quality in each system, we have also measured crop growth and nutrient uptake, soil nutrient availability, and weed competition. The number of germinable weed seedlings in the plots is on the increase, indicating that rotating out of perennial sod into annual crop production can increase the weed seedbank. The phase 1 plots, which have been in production since 2006 had an average weed seedbank of 1905 seedling m-2. The phase 2 plots, which have been in annual crop production since 2007 were significantly lower with 321 seedlings m-2. In both phases, systems that had corn in them were found to have significantly more weed seedlings. In the phase 1 plots, the two systems with corn averaged 2399 seedlings m-2 versus the two systems without which had 1411 seedlings m-2. The phase 2 plots, which at the time of sampling had only one year of crop production, had similar results. The systems with corn had 407 seedlings m-2 versus those without, 236 seedlings m-2. We compared standard organic practice of 15 cm row spacing in barley with and without pre-and post emergence harrowing to narrow rows (11 cm) with and without pre-and post emergence harrowing, wide rows (22 cm) with harrowing and inter-row cultivation, and a uniform crop spatial arrangement. The wide row system had 50% less weed biomass than the standard organic practice of 15 cm row spacing and pre-and post-emergence harrowing. Increasing levels of weed control in this experiment corresponded to barley yield gains. The Maine Organic Milk Producers (MOMP) are research participants. In 2008, eight farmers have been growing crops in accordance with crop rotations similar to the University trials on over 80 acres including annual crops such as soybeans, winter grains and corn. Producers will present their findings at winter conferences.
Publications
- Posters:Integrated Organic Program Annual Meeting Kansas City, Missouri March 25, 2008 Alternative cultural and physical weed control strategies in spring cereals Reducing off-farm grain inputs on northeast organic dairy farms Project (2005-51106-02390) Lauren Kolb, Eric Gallandt, and Tom Molloy
- Reducing off-farm grain inputs on northeast organic dairy farms Project (2005-51106-02390) An evaluation of forage cropping and concentrate feeding systems. S.P. Marston, G.W. Clark, D. Marcinkowski, P.S. Erickson, C.G. Schwab, R. Kersbergen
- International Presentations: System- level comparisons of weed control strategies in spring-sown barley Lauren Kolb 5th International Weed Science Congress Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada June 24, 2008
- Invited symposium presentation at 2007 International Meeting of American Society of Agronomy: Building a Research Database for Organic Dairy in New England. New Orleans LA, 4 November 2007 [80-100 scientists and educators present. Symposium title: Building Sustainable Ecosystems Through Organic Agricultural Research and Education.] Tim Griffin
- University of New Hampshire. Farming for the Future Lecture Series. Durham, NH 2008. The Role of Pasture in Organic Dairy Systems. Richard Kersbergen
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Progress 09/15/06 to 09/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: On-going activities associated with this project represent a combination of replicated plot experiments, field or sub-field production on commercial organic dairies, and larger scale organic feed production at both the University of Maine and New Hampshire. These activities address major cropping decisions faced by producers, including whether or not to produce grain and/or corn silage on their farms. Replicated cropping system experiments were started in 2006 and 2007 in Maine, with treatments representing four alternative systems: 1) corn silage with grain production; 2) corn silage without grain; 3) no corn silage with grain; and 4) no corn silage or grain. A series of annual crops are included in each system, including not only corn (for silage or grain), but also winter triticale (as forage or grain), sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, barley, and soybean. Production data and inputs (labor, machinery, seed, etc.) are being compiled into enterprise budgets for each system. In
addition to measuring crop yield and quality in each system, we have also measured crop growth and nutrient uptake, soil nutrient availability, and weed competition. Yield and quality varies widely between these crops. From both this replicated experiment and from field level production at the two Universities, it is clear that meeting nutrient needs of both fall-seeded small grain crops like triticale (which can be used for either forage or grain), and also multiple harvest crops like sorghum-sudangrass, can be difficult in organic systems. The dairy facilities at both University of Maine and University of New Hampshire produced these same feeds on a scale sufficient to conduct a 100 d feeding trial at each farm (as detailed elsewhere). The University of New Hampshire Burley-DeMerritt farm became the first certified organic dairy at a land grant university in December 2006. As part of this project, we have conducted field-level soil sampling in order to develop a whole-farm nutrient
and conservation plan for the farm (with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS). We have also conducted a high-resolution soil sampling of the pasture system at the farm. By collecting and analyzing soil samples from more than 150 geo-referenced points, we established a baseline to examine nutrient distribution across the pasture system. In a new collaboration effort with USDA-ARS scientists from University Park, PA, pasture productivity and plant diversity are also being monitored at these same points. Additionally, scientists from the USDA-ARS Tilth Lab (Ames, IA) will be collecting soil samples from across the certified organic acreage at UNH as part of the national Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). These efforts contribute to our ability to assess the interaction of productivity, profitability, and environment at this farm.
PARTICIPANTS: Maine Organic Milk Producers ARS/New England Plant Soil and Water Lab University of New Hampshire University of Maine University of Maine Cooperative Extension
TARGET AUDIENCES: Northeast Organic Dairy Producers
Impacts
Yield and quality varies widely among forage crops. In 2006 corn silage yields were 11 000 lb DM/acre, about twice the yield of sorghum-sudangrass (4 600 lb DM/acre in 2006 and 5 800 lb DM/acre in 2007), and about six times the yield of triticale harvested at the boot stage (1 800 lb DM/acre). However, systems that do not include corn silage are able to produce a more diverse crop mix (both grain and forage) and distribute field operations more evenly through the season. Meeting nutrient needs of both fall-seeded small grain crops(either forage or grain), and multiple harvest crops like sorghum-sudangrass, can be difficult in organic systems. The first of three annual feeding trials was conducted using two different organic forage systems, (all grass diet vs. grass/corn silage based diet) and two concentrate supplementation strategies (commercial 20% protein pellet vs. mix of commodities consisting of ground corn, roasted soybeans, soybean meal) analyzed in a 2-by-2
factorial system. Each ration was balanced to equalize milk production and fed as a TMR to separate groups of Holstein cows in early to mid lactation. The cost/cow/day of the rations ranged from $5.84 (for corn/pellet) to $6.89 (for corn/commodity). Milk production and milk fat percentage were higher for the two rations balanced using commodities (P< 0.05), but milk protein was unchanged. Based on the current value of organic milk in New England, ($26.00/cwt base price), the grass/commodity ration resulted in the highest daily milk income ($17.71) and the corn/pellet was the lowest ($16.16). With regard to daily milk income over feed costs it was found that the grass/commodity diet was the most profitable ($11.24), followed respectively by corn/commodity ($10.78), corn/pellet $10.32) and grass/pellet ($10.20) diets. From the first year data, there appears to be an advantage to commodity based concentrate supplementation. At the UNH Organic dairy, thirty-two primiparous Jersey cows
were randomly assigned to one of four treatment diets testing the main effects of corn silage or grass silage as the forage source and homegrown grains versus a commercially available pellet. There were no differences among treatments in milk yield. Cows fed the grass silage diet containing homegrown grains had higher (P< 0.05) milk fat concentrations and body weights. Cows fed the grass silage diets had higher true protein (P< 0.01), MUN (P< 0.01) and crude protein (P< 0.05) concentrations than those fed diets containing corn silage. Cows fed the commercial pellet had higher true protein and crude protein concentrations, while cows fed the homegrown grains had higher MUN (P< 0.01) and BCS (P< 0.05). Treatment diets ranged from $4.11/cow/d (corn silage with pellet) to $5.19/cow/d (grass silage with homegrown grains). Income over feed costs for the treatments were $5.92 (corn silage with pellets), $5.77 (corn silage with homegrown grains), $5.38 (grass silage with pellets) and $5.73
(grass silage with homegrown grains). The results from year one indicate that feeding a corn silage based diet with a commercially available pellet may have the greatest economic benefit to New England organic milk producers.
Publications
- Upper Midwest Organic Growers Conference March 2008 Abstracts accepted: Reducing off-farm grain inputs on northeast organic dairy farms: An evaluation of alternative forage cropping and concentrate feeding systems Jersey Herd S.P. Marston*, P.S. Erickson, C.G. Schwab, N.L. Whitehouse and K.L. Brussell. 2008. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
- Reducing off-farm grain inputs on Northeast organic dairy farms: An evaluation of alternative forage cropping systems and concentrate feeding systems. Holstein Herd G.W.C. Clark*, D. Marcinkowski, M. Stokes, G. Anderson and R. Kersbergen. 2008.
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Progress 09/15/05 to 09/15/06
Outputs
The advisory group of producers, industry leaders and NGO staff met with researchers from Maine and New Hampshire three times since the fall of 2005. These meetings helped formulate the cropping systems included in the replicated experiment and the on-farm trials conducted by the cooperating producers, and also to produce forage for feeding trials. The most recent of these meetings (Nov 2006) has led to a modification of the feeding trials due to inclement weather for the 2006 growing season and a request by the farmer advisory group. A replicated cropping systems experiment was initiated at the Smith Farm in Old Town, ME, on the campus of the University of Maine. This experiment will provide data concerning nutrient flows, weed seed bank changes and yield/quality of organic forages in the different rotation strategies. This component of the project (objectives 2 and 3) is overseen by Timothy Griffin (USDA/ARS) and Eric Gallandt, Associate Professor. Eric Gallandt has
a graduate student hired under this project for this component of the study. The feeding trials in Maine and New Hampshire are scheduled to begin in January 2007. These trials have been modified to answer additional questions raised by the farmers in the advisory group. The project will still contain four diets, but with two different grain supplementation strategies. In Maine, a graduate student has been hired under David Marcinkowski, Associate Professor, to facilitate this component. Objective 4 of the project is being coordinated by John Halloran (USDA/ARS). John is collecting risk analysis data with the assistance of a graduate student at the University of Maine assigned to this project. Economic production data from the systems trials, farmer trials and other production databases will be used to develop budgets for the various systems being investigated. Maine farmers and the Maine Organic Milk Producers hosted on farm trials on 8 different farms that are modeling the forage
production systems. Three forage conferences were held (fall 2005, spring and fall 2006) to discuss progress and report on changes in the organic industry that impact the project. The Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA) held their summer annual meeting in Durham, NH. This meeting featured a discussion of the research project with the 130 participants from throughout the Northeast and was featured in an Associated Press news article.
Impacts
Impacts/Milestones In 2006, organic dairy farmers faced multiple weather challenges that altered the systems under development. As a result, the advisory panel altered rotations and feeding strategies to better suit their research needs. As a result of dairy forage conferences and NODPA (Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance) summer conference more that 150 producers, industry representatives and researchers now know about the project and the research objectives.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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