Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Organic dairy producers, conventional dairy producers, hay producers, dairy and natural resource outreach professionals, organic certification personnel, private crop and livestock nutrition consultants, agricultural lenders, local, state, and national policy makers, local and regional consumers, and the general public. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities Two graduate research assistantships were funded by this grant: Hunt, S.R. 2014. Stem development, seeding rate, and establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) for organic, grazing-based dairies. Master's Thesis, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT. Christensen, R. G. 2015. Improvement of nutrient utilization efficiency, ruminal fermentation, and lactational performance of dairy cows by feeding birdsfoot trefoil. Doctoral Thesis, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT. In addition to these graduate students, technicians, hourly professional research assistants and undergraduate students were trained in field data collection, sample processing and laboratory analyses by MacAdam, Brummer, Eun, Islam, Reeve, Shewmaker and Ward to carry out collection of field and laboratory data. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Dissemination Training workshops in pasture and grazing management, also funded by WSARE EW11-019, utilized data, publications and recommendations from this project and were targeted to outreach professionals to increase their understanding of the value of tannin-containing forages, particularly for organic producers, Cooperative Extension, forage seed industry and NRCS outreach personnel. Brummer and Shewmaker held workshops in Fort Collins, CO from 20-22 August 2013; Dallas, OR from 22-24 October 2013; and Logan, UT 27-29 May 2015. There were 80 students from: universities and extension (43), NRCS/CD (27), and industry and state agency (10). Instructors for the seminar/workshop used 12 extension employees from University of Idaho, Washington State University, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, Montana State University, Utah State University, and University of Wyoming; 1 USDA-ARS; and 1 industry instructor. Research and outreach publications not listed elsewhere: Brummer, J., G. Shewmaker, and C. Engel. 2011. Challenges and benefits of interseeding legumes into grass-dominated stands, p. 72-78. In: Proceedings, 2011 Western Alfalfa & Forage Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 11-13 December, 2011. UC Cooperative Extension, Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, CA. Brummer, J.E., G.E. Shewmaker, and C.L. Engel. 2012. Challenges and benefits of interseeding legumes into grass-dominated stands. In: Proceedings of the 5th National Conference on Grazing Lands, December 9-12, 2012, Orlando, FL. Brummer, J. and L. Villalobos. 2013. Nitrogen fertility of grass forages versus interseeded legumes. Western Alfalfa & Forage Conference, December 11-13, 2013, Reno, NV Clemensen, A.K., J.R. Reeve, and J.J. Villalba. 2014. Understanding plant secondary compounds in grazing systems; above and below ground. Society for Range Management, February 8-13, 2014, Orlando, FL. Islam, M.A. 2012. Birdsfoot trefoil: A bloat-free forage legume. Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Weekly News Source for Wyoming's Ranchers, Farmers, and Agribusiness Community, Vol. 24, No. 27, November 10, 2012. Shewmaker, G.E. and L. Hooper. 2013. Interseeding legumes into grass-dominated pastures, Abstract #25 Society for Range Management, 2-8 February, 2013 Oklahoma City, OK What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments This grant had three major goals: 1. Conduct advanced on-farm research on working organic dairy farms by comparing the daily milk production of cows grazing commonly used perennial grass pastures with the daily milk production of cows grazing pastures composed primarily of the tannin-containing, non-bloating perennial legume birdsfoot trefoil (BFT). Although we encountered some challenges with BFT establishment, we accomplished this goal by demonstrating that milk production on well-established BFT pastures averaged 18.5% greater than on well-established mixed grass pastures. This outcome directly addresses the production deficit incurred when organic milk producers are required by the "pasture rule" to use seasonal grazing to provide at least 30% of dry matter intake. 2. Examine optimal conservation and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products by quantifying the nitrogen use efficiency and methane gas emissions of cows fed the non-bloating, tannin-containing perennial legume BFT compared with cows fed alfalfa, a non-tannin-containing perennial legume or perennial grass pastures. We found that nitrogen use efficiency was improved, even on low-tannin BFT pastures compared with grass pastures. When a higher-tannin BFT hay was fed, rumen ammonia, milk urea nitrogen and the nitrogen concentration of urine were all reduced in comparison with alfalfa hay. In an in vitro study of rumen digestion, methane emissions were reduced regardless of supplementation when diets were based on BFT compared with orchardgrass. 3. Determine desirable traits for organic commodities by comparing the quality of cheese made from the milk of cows on organic dairy farms grazing BFT pastures or grass pastures with cheese made from the milk of cows on a conventional dairy fed a total mixed ration (TMR). Cheddar cheeses made from the milk of cows grazing BFT or grass pastures were compared with cheddar made from the milk of cows fed a TMR in confinement. While an expert sensory panel detected some less-desirable taste characteristics, particularly in the grass-based cheese, both the grass- and BFT-based cheeses had significantly higher concentrations of anti-carcinogenic conjugated linoleic acid. Both pasture-based cheeses, but particularly the BFT-based cheese, had much more favorable ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Our research and extension efforts were organized around five objectives: Obj. 1. Determine the potential value for organic dairies of BFT pastures compared with grass pastures for forage dry matter production, intake, milk production, and milk quality. On seven cooperating organic dairy farms, 10 acres of existing grass pasture was replaced with BFT pasture. Existing pastures were plowed in the fall of 2010 and oats were planted in spring of 2011. In early fall of 2011, oats were cultivated and BFT was broadcast seeded. The two WY farms ceased milk production before data could be collected, although excellent stands were established on one and on a 6-acre pasture at Aurora Organic Dairy in Platteville, CO, and remained productive through 2015. Two of the remaining five farms carried out milk yield and quality studies in 2012, but one of these stands was so severely overgrazed that the BFT did not recover in 2013. The BFT stands on the remaining three organic dairy farms were compromised by weeds or poor irrigation. Therefore, our analysis of forage and milk production has focused on the dairy farm where a good stand of BFT was achieved in the year after planting, and maintained by good grazing management. Successful establishment was due to a well-established system of crop rotation that minimized the weed bank; a lateral-roll sprinkler rather than flood irrigation; and the ability to greenchop weedy spring growth in 2012, which allowed optimal development of seedling BFT plants. On well-established BFT, intake and milk production were significantly greater in both 2012 and 2013 than on grass pastures. Obj. 2. Compare the fate of the feed nutrients from organic BFT and grass by studying intake, partitioning, and excretion by organic dairy cows (total collection study). Nitrogen use efficiency of pasture-fed cows was improved on BFT pastures due not only to the presence of tannins, but also to lower fiber and higher non-fibrous carbohydrate concentrations in BFT compared with mixed-grass pastures. Cows were fed either BFT or alfalfa hay as part of a TMR (40:20:40 hay:corn silage:concentrate) in a crossover design. This BFT cultivar had a tannin concentration approximately twice that of the cultivar used in the grazing study. Both the milk urea nitrogen concentration and the ratio of urinary-to-fecal nitrogen concentration were lower for cows fed BFT hay. Ruminal ammonia concentration was approximately half as great for cows fed BFT as for cows fed alfalfa hay. In a further study, cows were fed TMRs differing in the source of hay; treatments were BFT hay, alfalfa hay, or an equal mixture of both. The cows fed BFT hay or mixed alfalfa and BFT hay tended to have higher milk production, which was attributed to improved fiber digestion in these two treatments. In an vitro study, diets were based on either BFT or orchardgrass that was unsupplemented, supplemented with ground barley, or used as part of a TMR. These supplements did not change the results, which were that rumen ammonia nitrogen concentrations and enteric methane emissions were lower for BFT- compared with orchardgrass-based diets. Obj. 3. Compare the rate of mineralization of fecal nutrients from organic cows fed BFT or grass and determine the potential effect of these forages on soil organic matter content. In a study of the nitrogen mineralization of feces collected from cows grazing BFT or mixed grass pastures, no significant difference was found. However, in a separate experiment, the nitrogen mineralization of the feces of steers fed the higher-tannin legume sanfoin plus tall fescue grass was reduced compared with feces of steers fed the non-tannin legume alfalfa plus tall fescue grass. These findings indicate that tannins do have the potential to slow the nitrogen mineralization of feces in the soil. Obj. 4. Compare the cheese-making characteristics and quality of organic cheese made with milk from cows fed BFT or grass. Cheddar cheese was made with milk collected on two dates from the milk of cows on a conventional TMR diet and from cows grazing either BFT or mixed grass pasture and supplemented daily with 10 lbs. of barley grain and minerals. The BFT- and grass-based cheeses differed from the TMR-based cheese by having 16 and 22% less fat, respectively. After aging, the three cheeses were compared by a trained descriptive sensory panel. For most flavor descriptors (e.g., sulfur, brothy, nutty, sour, salty, sweet), there were no differences. However, mothball and grassy descriptors were detected for both pasture-based cheeses, and were more pronounced for the grass-based cheese; barny was used to describe the grass-based but not the BFT-based cheese. When the fatty acid composition was assayed, the grass- and BFT-based cheeses had 54 and 56% greater conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), respectively, than the TMR-based cheese; CLA has anti-carcinogenic activity. Low omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio is a highly desirable trait, and the grass- and BFT-based cheeses were 55 and 66% lower than the TMR-based cheese. Obj. 5. Determine the economic risks and benefits for organic dairies of converting grass pastures to BFT pastures. The statistical analysis of milk production and milk components has just been completed (November 2015), so the economic analysis has not been finalized. However, BFT was established with minimal feed loss from the 10 acres of land used in this study, and where a good stand of BFT was established, milk production was 21% (P < 0.01) and 16% (P = 0.01) greater in the first and second years following planting.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Conference Proceedings
MacAdam, J. W., Hunt, S. R., Griggs, T. C., Christensen, R., Eun, J.- S., Ward, R. E., McMahon, D. J. (2015). Enhanced forage intake and milk production on birdsfoot trefoil pastures in the western US. Proceedings of the 2015 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium, 25-26 Feb 2015, La Crosse, WI.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Refereed Journal Articles
Hunt, S. R., MacAdam, J. W., Reeve, J. (2015). Establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) pastures on organic dairy farms in the Mountain West USA. Organic Agriculture, 5, 63-77
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Other
MacAdam, J. W., Hunt, S. R. (2015). Using a rising plate meter to determine paddock size for rotational grazing. AG/Forages/2015?01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15793&custom=1
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Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target Audience Organic dairy producers, conventional dairy producers, hay producers, dairy and natural resource outreach professionals, organic certification personnel, private crop and livestock nutrition consultants, agricultural lenders, local, state, and national policy makers, local and regional consumers, and the general public. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Opportunities I attended a meeting for project directors awarded grant funding by this program (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative) in October of 2014, and in early July of 2014, I participated in a grant review panel for this program reviewing 20 grant proposals. Both of these were excellent opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with other successful grant applicants, and to work with the national program staff to determine future awards. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Dissemination Two journal articles associated with this project are published or in press at the end of 2014, one in Crop Science and the other in the journal Organic Agriculture. In addition, three presentations were made in 2014 at national professional society meetings (Crop Science and Animal Science). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Plan of Work The field data collection for all objectives has been completed. In 2015, sample analyses, statistical analysis, interpretation and manuscript submission will be carried out.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments Obj. 1. Forage and milk production of cows grazing either BFT or grass pastures on a total of five commercial organic dairy farms were completed in 2013, but forage analysis is ongoing. These analyses require field samples to be freeze-dried, and our freeze dryer experienced a pump failure early in 2013, causing samples to become backed up in the lab. After a new pump was purchased and repairs were made, the old freeze dryer is back on line, and a new freeze dryer was purchased with assistance from the Plants, Soils and Climate Department and matching funds from the USU Office of Research and Graduate Studies, becoming available in mid-2014. All samples from this project have been freeze dried as of the end of 2014, and the last of the grinding and scanning for forage nutritive value determination will be carried out early in 2015. This will be followed by tannin analyses, statistical analyses, and preparation of manuscripts. Obj. 2. A total metabolism trial was carried out in 2014 using birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa hay as part of a total mixed ration. Data analysis is in process. Obj. 3. Feces from grass-fed and birdsfoot trefoil-fed cows were freeze dried and incubated in soil to determine rate of nitrogen mineralization. Although a similar study comparing the feces of alfalfa and sainfoin-fed cattle did demonstrate a reduction in the rate of mineralization of the feces of cattle fed sainfoin, no similar reduction could be detected for the feces of birdsfoot trefoil-fed vs. grass-fed cows. This was probably due to the fact that, although birdsfoot trefoil contains a low concentration of condensed tannins, which would slow microbial mineralization, it has a significantly higher nitrogen concentration and much lower fiber concentration than the mixed-grass pastures used by cooperators in this study. Higher nitrogen and lower fiber would result in an increased nutrient mineralization rate of the feces of BFT-fed cows compared to the feces of cows grazing grass pastures. Obj. 4. Milk of TMR-, BFT- and grass-fed cows was collected on one occasion in 2012 and on two occasions in 2013, and was used to make cheddar cheese. The cheese of cows grazing BFT had significantly higher omega-3 fatty acids than the cheese of cows grazing grass, which in turn had higher omega-3 fatty acids than the cheese of TMR-fed cows. The BFT and grass cheeses both had significantly higher CLA concentrations than the TMR cheese. In sensory panels, consumers tended to like the flavor of BFT cheese less than that of TMR (and grass) cheese, and preferred the texture and intensity of TMR cheese to either of the pasture cheeses by detectible margins. Expert panels did not detect many differences between the pasture cheeses and TMR cheese, but did find grass cheese to be more "grassy" than either the TMR or the BFT cheese from both years. A "mothball" flavor was detected in both pasture cheeses in both years, and stronger "brothy" and "sulfur" flavors were detected in the BFT than in the TMR cheese from 2013. In general, artisanal cheeses must have distinct flavors and textures, and these minor differences in a young cheddar (aged 6 months) will not be detrimental to marketing BFT or other pasture cheeses based on their significantly higher omega-3 and CLA concentrations. Obj. 5. Relevant economic data was collected from all producers involved in the organic dairy project between 2011 and 2014, and data for milk and forage production have been shared with the economist, but economic data have not yet been summarized.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hunt, S. R., MacAdam, J. W., Griggs, T. C. (2014). Lignification and tannin localization during the development of birdsfoot trefoil stems. Crop Science, 54, 1876-1886.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hunt, S. R., MacAdam, J. W. (2014). Effects of seeding rate, oat companion crop and planting date on organic establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). In Annual Meetings Abstracts. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., eXtension eOrganic Webinar, "Birdsfoot Trefoil as a Forage on Organic Dairy Farms." (2014)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., Project Director Meeting, "Results and Impacts of Mountain West Organic Dairy Research," USDA NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Program, Washington, D.C. (2014)
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Organic dairy producers, conventional dairy producers, hay producers, dairy and natural resource outreach professionals, organic certification personnel, private crop and livestock nutrition consultants, agricultural lenders, local, state, and national policy makers, local and regional consumers, and the general public. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The PI presented data from this project at the International Grassland Congress, and data from this project were also presented at the Crop, Animal and Dairy Science meetings. Students have gained skills from collecting data for these projects, writing manuscripts and making presentations based on the results. Technical skills were also gained from designing and building pasture enclosures. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The PI published a paper in the refereed proceedings of the International Grassland Congress and abstracts of presentations at the Crop, Animal and Dairy Science meetings were published as abstracts. A number of Extension publications and journal articles related to this project have been published or are accepted for publication. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The field work related to Obj. 1 has been completed, but field samples are being processed (freeze drying, tannin assays, forage quality assays) and data are being statistically analyzed. Obj. 2 will be carried out in the late spring and early summer of 2014. Some assays related to Obj. 3 are still in process. Milk was collected and cheese made for Obj. 4 in in 2013; those sensory data and analyses will be carried out in 2014. Economic data for Obj. 5 are still being collected and analyzed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj. 1. Milk production of cows grazing either BFT or grass pasture was investigated for six weeks on three commercial organic dairy farms. Ten to 18 multiparous cows in mid-lactation were paired by previous milk production, parity, and days in milk, and randomly assigned to the grazing treatments. Production from BFT-fed cows was significantly higher than from grass-fed cows. This result could increase milk production on pastures sufficiently to overcome the production gap with large industrial organic dairies that feed a primarily grain- or TMR-based diet year-round. Obj. 2. Fencing was completed on two dairies on which data had not been collected in 2012, and data for forage production and intake as well as forage nutritive value and tannin content were collected on the three organic dairy farms from which milk production data were collected. Forage production and intake was higher on BFT pastures than on grass pastures. Tannin and forage quality data have not yet been determined. The superior growth and quality of the deep-rooted perennial legume birdsfoot trefoil is advantageous compared with grass pastures in mid-summer. Obj. 3. Feces from grass-fed and birdsfoot trefoil-fed cows was freeze dried and incubated in soil to determine rate of nitrogen mineralization. This study is ongoing. Obj. 4. Milk of TMR-, BFT- and grass-fed milk cows was collected on two occasions and used to make cheddar cheese. Cheese from 2012 was tested for fatty acid content, and the omega-3 fatty acid content of cheese from BFT-fed cows was significantly higher than that of cheese from grass-fed cows, which was higher than the omega-3 fatty acid content of cheese from TMR-fed cows. Consumers are interested in the superior quality and potential health benefits of organic dairy products, and these results suggest a further added value from cows fed birdsfoot trefoil. Obj. 5. Relevant economic data was collected from all producers involved in the organic dairy project in 2012. Data have not yet been summarized.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., Hunt, S. R., Martini, S., Christensen, R. G., Eun, J.-S. (2013). In P. Nichols et al. (Ed.), Meat and milk production on irrigated birdsfoot trefoil pastures in the Mountain West USA (pp. 501-502). Proceedings, 22nd International Grasslands Congress, 15-19 September 2013, Sydney, Australia
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Hafla, A. N., MacAdam, J. W., Soder, K. J. (2013). Sustainability of US Organic Beef and Dairy Production Systems: Soil, Plant and Cattle Interactions. Sustainability, 5, 3009-3034.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Christensen, R.G., Eun, J.-S., Young, A., MacAdam, J. W. (2013). Lactational performance and ruminal fermentation profiles of dairy cows fed diets containing birdsfoot trefoil hay. ((Suppl. 1) ed., vol. 96, pp. 514). J. Dairy Sci.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Christensen, R.G., Eun, J.-S., Young, A., MacAdam, J. W. (2013). Milk production and ruminal fermentation characteristics of dairy cows grazing birdsfoot trefoil pasture on a commercial organic dairy farm. ((Suppl. 1) ed., vol. 96, pp. 511). J. Dairy Sci.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., Griggs, T. C. (2013). Irrigated Birdsfoot Trefoil Variety Trial: Forage Nutritive Value. AG/Forages/2013?02pr. Utah Cooperative Extension Service, Logan.Utah Cooperative Extension, Logan, Utah.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., Griggs, T. C. (2013). Irrigated Birdsfoot Trefoil Variety Trial: Forage Yield. AG/Forages/2013?01pr. Utah Cooperative Extension, Logan, Utah.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
MacAdam, J. W., Brummer, J., Islam, A., Shewmaker, G. (2013). The benefits of tannin-containing forages. AG/Forages/2013?03pr. Utah Cooperative Extension Service, Logan.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Soil samples were taken in mid-summer of 2010 from the land assigned to grass and birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) pasture treatments on all cooperator farms, analyzed, and amendment recommendations were made based on results. Initial economic data were also collected in mid-summer of 2010 and completed by spring of 2011. Pastures in which BFT was to be established, which were in long-established sod, were ploughed in autumn 2010. Through discussions with producers, and to address concerns that further cultivation would result in better establishment of a new perennial pasture, the decision was made to delay planting of birdsfoot trefoil until late summer/early autumn of 2011, and to plant oats in the spring of 2010. The additional cultivation would improve the seedbed and an oat crop would minimize weed establishment while providing feed. Spring of 2011 was cold and wet across the study area, so this was a good decision in retrospect. The graduate student supervised by MacAdam, Sara Hunt, spent a week on each cooperator's farm in the summer of 2011, contributing her work, getting to know the producers and becoming familiar with their operations. OMRI-certified seed coating was carried out just before seed was shipped, and BFT pastures were planted on all cooperator farms between late July and early September. To facilitate the on-farm research that is planned for 2012, grazing cells were designed for each cooperator farm, and initial fencing and watering infrastructure was installed. A seeding rate study begun in June of 2010, after announcement of the award but before funding was awarded, was harvested twice in 2011. An establishment study was carried out on the Idaho and Utah producers' BFT pastures following planting in autumn of 2011. During spring of 2011, BFT tannins were purified and preliminary assays on BFT and grass herbage, root and soil samples were carried out. Dissemination: Three articles were disseminated to producers on this project as well as to other Organic Valley dairy producers, and to the members of the Advisory Panel. Their titles are How Does Birdsfoot Trefoil Increase Ruminant Productivity, What is the Best Seeding Rate for Birdsfoot Trefoil, and Establishment of Birdsfoot Trefoil. These articles are also available through the project's web space on eOrganic Dairy. PARTICIPANTS: Cooperators: The project originally included seven cooperators; one of these was Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD). Their participation became circumscribed to the extent that we felt the data collected from their pasture would not contribute to the project, so we essentially replaced them with a seventh Organic Valley producer. Our only AOD expenditure was for seed. A birdsfoot trefoil pasture was established at AOD and should allow them to make some worthwhile observations. Having this pasture on the AOD farm will also give co-PI Brummer (Colorado) the opportunity to continue to interact with AOD on this and other projects, and to deliver information on BFT, its benefits and use. Individuals: In this initial year of the project, the participants were the project director, Jennifer MacAdam, co-investigators Wilson Gray, Jennifer Reeve, Anowar Islam, Joe Brummer, and Glenn Shewmaker, graduate research assistant Sara Hunt, and technician Lance Pitcher. MacAdam worked with producers to determine the best strategy for establishment, acquired seed and seed coating, and made arrangements to deliver seed to co-PIs or producers. Gray worked with producers to acquire economic data, and Reeve sampled or supervised soil sampling and analyses, and made amendment recommendations. Islam, Brummer and Shewmaker advised producers and facilitated economic and soil data collection. MacAdam worked with producers on initial grazing cell designs, and Pitcher and Hunt continued this interaction with producers in acquiring materials and carrying out initial fencing infrastructure installations. MacAdam and Reeve designed the seeding rate study, and MacAdam, Pitcher and Hunt seeded the study and harvested it in 2011. Hunt designed the establishment study and carried it out in autumn of 2011. MacAdam and Hunt developed a protocol for tannin purification and assay, and Hunt carried out initial tannin assays. MacAdam wrote the first draft of the three articles that were disseminated to organic dairy producers, and solicited input from Islam, Brummer and Shewmaker to develop these articles into Extension publications. TARGET AUDIENCES: MacAdam participated in three focus groups comprised of beef producers. Information from work done on this organic dairy proposal, such as the seeding rate study, was disseminated informally to these individuals. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Organic Seeding Rate Study: The generally recommended seeding rate for birdsfoot trefoil is 6.7 kg/ha (6 lbs./acre) pure live seed (PLS). Planting a companion crop is not recommended for conventional establishment, and autumn planting of birdsfoot trefoil and other perennial legumes is recommended because annual weed competition is less than in spring. The organic seeding rate study was designed to test spring and autumn planting, with and without an oat companion crop, and to test seeding rates of 3.4, 6.7, 20.2, and 33.6 kg/ha (3, 6, 18 and 30 lbs./acre) PLS. Initial results from the organic seeding rate study indicate that yield in the year following establishment is higher when BFT is seeded without a companion crop, regardless of whether seed is planted in spring or autumn. A seeding rate of 20.2 kg/ha (18 lbs./acre) results in higher yield and (by observation) fewer weeds than lower seeding rates, and no benefit accrues to a higher seeding rate. A second year of data will be collected before the results of this study are published. Establishment Study: Preliminary data indicate that irrigation has a significant impact on germination of fall seedings, with sprinkler irrigation showing the greatest success. Additional data will be collected in spring of 2012 to assess winter kill and germination of hard seed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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