Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Scientific community, Dairy, beef, and sheep producers, government agencies, agricultural and food processing industry representatives Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The summer interns in the ORIP program at OARDC obtained HHEI Qualified Data Collector (QDC) training and took field trips to the NAEW facility in Coshocton to learn the relationships between soils, surface and subsurface water. These interns were assisted by graduate STEM fellows in our NSF GK-12 program who conducted stream HHEI assessments. Project details and partial results were presented to Ohio State graduate students and faculty during Jed Stinner’s master’s thesis exit presentation for the Environmental Science Graduate Program (November 2012). ORIP students presented project details and partial results during their exit presentations to peers and OARDC/Ohio State faculty (August 2012). Farm results from previous year (2011) were handed back to all farmers (June-August 2012). Partial results were presented at International Forest Insect Research Advisory Workshop in Breckenridge, Colorado (January 2012). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The transitioning to organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.). The North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 26-27, 2012 planning committee included a breakout session emphasizing ongoing need to implement basic management practices. The speakers’ handbook was distributed to 500 farms with a brief summary of the initial findings point out the need to emphasis basic water quality and quantity management practices for both organic and conventional grazing farms. Fact sheets around water and water practices were updated and distributed at multiple workshops, field days and other events annually. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Data were collected to determine effects of transitioning intensively and continuously grazed beef cattle to certified organic management on surface and subsurface water quality and quantity. No differences (P > 0.05) between organic and conventional practices were detected for soil or water samples. These included N, organic N, ammonia, and P in water, as well as PO4-P, NH4+, NO3-, and pH. In soil. Results were modeled using ArcAPEX. No differences (P > 0.05) between organic and conventional practices or between continuous or managed intensive grazing were detected. During the 3 years of the project, cows averaged 641 kg and had an average daily gain during grazing of 0.17 kg/d. Gain/ha also was not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments applied and averaged 21 kg. Calf performance revealed no differences (P > 0.05) due to transition to organic grazing (calves had a gain of 129 kg during grazing which resulted in a daily gain of 1.16 kg/d). Calf gain/ha averaged 242.2 kg and was not affected (P > 0.05) by grazing management or the transition to organic production practices. Objective 2: HHEI (habitat index) scores indicate a difference between organic and conventional dairy farms. Organic dairy farm streams had higher scores than conventional dairy farms when means were compared, 69.6 versus 61.1 respectively (P-value= 0.056). Although the data collected in 2012 showed that there was no statistical difference in macroinvertebrate communities between organic dairy farm streams and conventional dairy farms, the mean HMFEI (macroinvertebrate) scores separated the farm streams into different categories. Organic streams were on average Class III (high quality) and conventional streams were on average Class II. This trend (also seen in the 2010-2011 data) was stronger in 2012 than in the previous years. Out of the 25 streams originating on farms, glyphosate was found in 6 out of the 9 organic dairy farm streams and 4 out of the 16 conventional dairy farm streams. Atrazine was found in 3 out of the 16 conventional farms and was not found in organic stream sites. Atrazine was found, however, in an organic dairy farm stream that was downstream of a conventional farm. This site was selected to sample for herbicides to aid in determining potential impacts affecting biological communities of an organic dairy farm stream. Objective 3: The transitioning to organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.). The North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 26-27, 2012 planning committee included a breakout session emphasizing ongoing need to implement basic management practices. The speakers’ handbook was distributed to 500 farms with a brief summary of the initial findings point out the need to emphasis basic water quality and quantity management practices for both organic and conventional grazing farms. Fact sheets around water and water practices were updated and distributed at multiple workshops, field days and other events annually. Objective 4: The summer interns in the ORIP program at OARDC obtained HHEI Qualified Data Collector (QDC) training and took field trips to the NAEW facility in Coshocton to learn the relationships between soils, surface and subsurface water. These interns were assisted by graduate STEM fellows in our NSF GK-12 program who conducted stream HHEI assessments.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the summer of 2012, 25 sites (13 organic and 12 conventional) were reevaluated using the HHEI, biological indices, nutrient, and water chemistry as indicators. Additionally, streams originating on farms were sampled (25 organic and conventional combined) for the herbicides atrazine and glyphostate during a 2-day sampling period (end of June). HHEI (habitat index) scores indicate a difference between organic and conventional dairy farms. Organic dairy farm streams had higher scores than conventional dairy farms when means were compared, 69.6 versus 61.1 respectively (P-value= 0.056). Out of the 25 streams originating on farms, glyphosate was found in 6 out of the 9 organic dairy farm streams and 4 out of the 16 conventional dairy farm streams. Atrazine was found in 3 out of the 16 conventional farms and was not found in organic stream sites. Data have been collected to determine effects of transitioning intensively and continuously grazed beef cattle to certified organic management on surface and subsurface water quality and quantity. No differences (P > 0.05) between organic and conventional practices were detected for soil or water samples or indices of cow performance. Results are being modeled using ArcAPEX. The transitioning to organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.). The North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference January 26-27, 2012 planning committee includes a breakout session emphasizing ongoing need to implement basic management practices. The speakers handbook was distributed to 500 farms with a brief summary of the initial findings point out the need to emphasis basic water quality and quantity management practices for both organic and conventional grazing farms. Fact sheets around water and water practices are being updated and prepared for distribution for upcoming workshops, field days and other events. PARTICIPANTS: Contract: Leah Miller SFI Collaborators: S. Loerch, J. McCutcheon, R. Taylor, D. Stinner, R. Moore, J. Bonta, L. Owens Support personnel: S. Metzger, J. Saylor, C. Long, W. Dreher, J. Stinner, J. Felix, L. Shoup TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientific community, Dairy, beef, and sheep producers, government agencies, agricultural and food processing industry representatives PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Educational outputs include reports to stakeholders. Research reports have been distributed at the 2012 Family Farm Field Day and the OFFER Field Day. Results suggest an interaction of extreme weather events and conventional and organic management styles in their impact on water quality. HHEI results suggest no advantage to organic production practices on water quality. Resources from the project were used to conduct research on the 2 main objectives and to generate information for dissemination at meetings with stakeholders. The project evaluation revealed that all components/aims of the project are on schedule and no delays have been experienced.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Year 2 samples and data on the impact of organic and conventional grazing practices on water quality and quantity on headwater tributaries of the Muskingum River in NE Ohio have been collected. Data have been collected to determine effects of transitioning intensively and continuously grazed beef cattle to certified organic management on surface and subsurface water quality and quantity. Results are being modeled using ArcAPEX. Output from the NAEW watershed model are being used to calibrate a second ArcAPEX model of a "virtual farm". The virtual farm model is currently being validated to examine the effect of stocking rate on the impacts of organic and conventional grazing on water quality at the farm scale. Samples and data from Year 2 to compare water chemistry and Headwaters Habitat Evaluation Index (HHEI) on paired organic and conventional dairy farms in headwater streams of the Muskingum watershed have been collected. Monthly spring samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients and carbon; runoff samples were collected and analyzed on an event basis. Soil samples were taken at 5 interval depths on all of the watersheds and analyzed for total organic carbon. The transitioning to organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.). Project outline and progress was shared with Board of Ohio Forages and Grassland Council. Two dairy grazing pasture groups in Mill Creek Watershed participated in the farmers and extension teams meeting at NAEW in April 2011. Fact sheets around water and water practices are being updated and prepared for distribution for upcoming workshops, field days and other events. Presentation of research findings with organic dairy grazers in Ohio and beyond was made at the OFFER Field Day in September, 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Contract: Leah Miller SFI Collaborators: S. Loerch, J. McCutcheon, R. Taylor, D. Stinner, R. Moore, J. Bonta, L. Owens Support personnel: S. Metzger, P. Tirabasso, J. Saylor, C. Long, W. Dreher, J. Stinner, J. Felix, L. Shoup TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientific community, Dairy, beef, and sheep producers, government agencies, agricultural and food processing industry representatives PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Educational outputs include reports to stakeholders. Research reports have been distributed at the 2011 Family Farm Field Day and the OFFER Field Day. Results suggest an interaction of extreme weather events and conventional and organic management styles in their impact on water quality. HHEI results suggest no advantage to organic production practices on water quality. Resources from the project were used to conduct research on the 2 main objectives and to generate information for dissemination at meetings with stakeholders. The project evaluation revealed that all components/aims of the project are on schedule and no delays have been experienced.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Year 1 samples and data on the impact of organic and conventional grazing practices on water quality and quantity on headwater tributaries of the Muskingum River in NE Ohio have been collected. The experiment to determine effects of transitioning intensively and continuously grazed beef cattle to certified organic management on surface and subsurface water quality and quantity using replicated gauged watersheds at NAEW was initiated in April, 2010. Samples and data from Year 1 to compare water chemistry and Headwaters Habitat Evaluation Index (HHEI) on paired organic and conventional dairy farms in headwater streams of the Muskingum watershed have been collected. Monthly spring samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients and carbon; runoff samples were collected and analyzed on an event basis. Soil samples were taken at 5 interval depths on all of the watersheds and analyzed for total organic carbon. The transitioning to a organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.)Project outline and progress was shared with Board of Ohio Forages and Grassland Council. Identified two dairy grazing pasture groups in Mill Creek Watershed to participate in the farmers and extension teams meeting at NAEW in April 2011. Met with ATI staff on tying in their interest in hosting a grazing school and sharing the water quality components of research findings once the research is finished. Currently pulling together the potential survey questionnaires for pre- and post surveys of the farmers and extension teams meeting and evaluating which questions to use for pre and post knowledge evaluation for student interns and other students. Discussions that outlined research with five different organic dairy grazers in Holmes County area/Sugarcreek Watershed, as well as Organic Valley staff, OSU extension and county and state SWCD personnel during the past year. PARTICIPANTS: PI: S. Loerch Co-PI's: J. Bonta, L. Owens, D. Stinner, R. Moore, R. Taylor Sub Contract: L. Miller, small Farm Institute Technicians: P. Tirabasso,J. Felix, J. Saylor, J. Stinner, L. Shoup,W. Dreher TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are organic, transitioning and non-organic livestock producers. The transitioning to organic research site and discussion of current research was included in a variety of station tours (tours included scientists, students, agricultural groups, etc.) Project outline and progress was shared with Board of Ohio Forages and Grassland Council. Identified two dairy grazing pasture groups in Mill Creek Watershed to participate in the farmers and extension teams meeting at NAEW in April 2011. Conferenced with ATI staff on tying in their interest in hosting a grazing school and sharing the water quality components of research findings once the research is finished. Assembled potential survey questionnaires for pre- and post surveys of the farmers and extension teams meeting and evaluating which questions to use for pre and post knowledge evaluation for student interns and other students. Discussions that outlined research with five different organic dairy graziers in Holmes County area/Sugarcreek Watershed as well as Organic Valley staff, OSU extension and county and state SWCD personnel during the past year. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Project outputs to date are limited because by their very nature, changes in water quality occur slowly in response to animal production practices. Educational outputs have occurred regarding presentation of information outlined above (producer groups, politicians, etc.) Extension education planning and generation of producer surveys have occurred. More time is needed before impacts can be fully assessed. The project evaluation revealed that all components/aims of the project are on schedule and no delays have been experienced.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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