Progress report for ONE24-458
Project Information
This project seeks
to:
1. Complete and document a pilot season of AMP
grazing operation on VTSU farmland, to conclude in November 2024.
- Between August 1, 2024 and grazing
season end, NGBI will provide an average of 21 hours per
month of grazing training, adaptive planning, site and partner
coordination, technical assistance, project management,
documentation, and administration. - NGBI will document grazing pilot
season progress, such as grazing plan adaptations, challenges
encountered and solutions found, milestones achieved, and
farmer experience. Methodical photographic documentation will
show visible progress and specific
procedures.
--> Update 1/15/25: fewer hours than projected were spent with Clark, due to scheduling constraints. Grazing training began with 2 in-person visits; all the listed topics were covered. Phone call and email correspondence supplemented in person meetings, and advanced the project.
- Track and analyze key environmental
metrics and changes to soil and forage.
- Perform In-Field Soil Health
Assessments (IFSHA) and soil testing in May
2025. - Compare results from May 2025
assessments to results from May 2024 to determine whether
conclusions can be drawn regarding the environmental impact of
grazing at the sampled sites.
---> Update 1/15/2025: this is still our plan for 2025
- Track and analyze financial
metrics.
- Track farm input expenses and income
attributable to the grazing operation during the pilot
season. - Compare pilot season data to
historical farm financial data to determine any financial
impact from grazing implementation.
---> Update 1/15/2025: Farm input expense tracking has commenced; the rest is upcoming
- Condense documentation together with
environmental metrics and financial findings into an engaging
summary of an AMP grazing pilot season.
This project addresses two critical challenges to sustainable agriculture: profitability and farmland stewardship.
Small farms face harrowing economic conditions. Two-thirds (64%) of the nearly 31,000 farms in New England operate at a net loss (USDA, 2022). The effects of climate change, which are expected to intensify in the coming years, impact agricultural resources and productivity and imperil farmer livelihood.
Environmental challenges for agriculture involve soil fertility and productivity, compacted soils, and water quality. Conventional beef cattle production generates high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing systems combat these challenges. Research shows that grazing benefits farm net profitability by lowering input expenses. Evidence also shows that AMP grazing systems produce restorative ecosystem effects, such as increased carbon sequestration, improved soil ecological function, and improved water quality.
Increased local knowledge about grazing is needed to meet community demand for grazing support and achieve VT-NRCS goals (NRCS, 2023). Evidence shows that soil health is an important farmer concern (Bagnall et al.; Ruxton et al.), suggesting an opening for future discussion about grazing as a way to meet farmer soil health goals.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project represents a partnership between VTSU, Parmelee Farm, and NGBI. The project will complete and document a pilot season of AMP cattle grazing at the VTSU farm. Grazing activities, soil assessments and analysis, and grazing input expenses and income will be documented during the pilot season. Outcomes will be condensed into an engaging story format, which will be disseminated through an outreach campaign to provide insight into the multi-dimensional nature of a transition to AMP grazing practice.
Project planning began in 2023 in anticipation of launching the AMP grazing pilot season in spring 2024. Current resources are available to initiate the pilot season but will not cover project activities to completion. This proposal seeks funding beginning on August 1, 2024 to complete and fully document the grazing season through its conclusion, to facilitate collection of environmental and farm financial data, to analyze grazing outcomes, and to implement an outreach campaign that raises awareness about the project and its results.
PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS
VTSU will provide access to 18 acres of its pasture for grazing. VTSU will also contribute in-kind 4 hours per month for land lease management, coordination, administration, and outreach.
Parmelee Farm will implement AMP cattle grazing by rotating its herd through its own pastures and the provided VTSU pasture. Parmelee Farm owns cattle that it will incorporate into this project, but will retain ownership of the herd and claim any income derived from the cattle. Parmelee Farm will contribute any grazing supplies it deems necessary, and will also contribute in-kind labor for all herd management.
NGBI will provide farmer training and advising, technical assistance, selected cattle handling equipment, documentation, outreach, and administrative functions. During the grazing season, project leader and technical advisor Ridge Shinn will provide on-site and remote AMP grazing training and consultation to Clark Parmelee. NGBI staff will additionally work to document the grazing season, implement an outreach campaign including an on-farm event in spring/summer 2025, develop a project summary with outcomes as a final deliverable, and administer the grant.
SHORT-TERM IMPACTS
This project will contribute to Northeast SARE’s outcome statement by supporting economic viability and environmentally sustainable agriculture.
1) Reduced costs.
We expect that this project will result in lower cattle-related input expenses for Parmelee Farm. The access granted to VTSU pasture will enable the Parmelee herd to avoid feed and subsist entirely on grazing. The primary category of reduced expense will be cattle feed; other expense categories may also be reduced depending on land and herd management needs.
2) Conservation of soil, improvement of water quality, and protection of natural resources.
This project will improve resource stewardship in support of sustainability. In 2020, VTSU was fined $100,000 by the State of Vermont because of improper nutrient management on its pastures. Implementation of AMP grazing, an agricultural best practice, will improve the stewardship of VTSU land. We expect significant improvements to ground cover and to soil water infiltration rate during the grant period. Other environmental metrics, including per-acre biomass, fungus to bacteria ratio, and soil hardness ratings, may show differences during the grant period, but, because of ecological timeframes, will achieve maximum benefit after the grant concludes.
LONG-TERM POTENTIAL
This project could derive increased stability for Parmelee Farm. As soil health improves, the pasture could support more cattle, which would facilitate multi-year grazing contracts between VTSU and Parmelee Farm.
This project will enable a pipeline of future educational programs and research in support of sustainable agriculture. The grazing model at VTSU will offer a ready environment for future learning and research into grazing practices of the type called for by Teague (e.g., 2011, 2017) and others. Educational activities would support farmer skill development to financially benefit farmers, and would improve the ability of educators and professionals to advise farmers about AMP grazing.
Cooperators
Research
Objective 1. Complete and document a pilot season of AMP grazing operation on VTSU farmland.
Between the grant start date of August 1, 2024 and the grazing season end (November 2024), Ridge Shinn will provide combined on-site and remote grazing training and consultation to Clark Parmelee. Though the grazing season will be well underway by August 1, and the detailed grazing plan co-created by project partners will suggest the plan for cattle rotation, farmer observation and adaptation are core principles of AMP grazing practice that warrant ongoing training and advising.
Training topics will focus on the stated goals and interests of Clark Parmelee, the observed needs of the cattle and pasture land, specific grazing techniques and practices, and adaptive planning. Depending on Clark’s needs, trainings may combine with technical assistance and site coordination. Advising may include recommendations for procurement or additional resources, troubleshooting, introduction to alternative methods, and otherwise as required.
NGBI staff will provide an average of 6 hours per month of partner coordination, project management, grant administration, and documentation to support grant objective #4 and VTSU educational goals. During the pilot season, NGBI will document progress such as changes to the grazing plan, challenges encountered and solutions found, milestones achieved, and farmer experience. NGBI will methodically collect photographic documentation that shows visible change, such as changes to forage and animals, and specific procedures, such as moving fences and rotating cattle.
Objective 2. Track and analyze key environmental metrics and changes to soil and forage.
An In-Field Soil Health Assessment (IFSHA) and soil testing will be performed on VTSU pasture in May 2025, a timeframe selected according to NRCS technical advice. To allow longitudinal comparison, assessment and sample site locations in 2025 will remain consistent with 2024 site locations. Sites are selected using USDA Web Soil Survey data in combination with historical land management data and physical site review by a qualified technician.
IFSHA methodology. A qualified technician will conduct the IFSHA at designated sites. Staff will follow quality assurance sampling and on-site testing protocols (Cornell Soil Health Lab, Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health, 27-29; NOFA/Mass, “Soil Carbon Grower On-Site Test Protocols & Data Sheets, Version 4”) and will generate appropriate process documentation.
The IFSHA will be conducted on representative sample areas within larger fields. It involves a 200’ transect with 10 sample points.
- Cornell CASH NRCS 216, plus Available Water Capacity and Bulk Density tests, 1 sample per transect (mixed from 10 points). Samples will be stored and transported according to Cornell Soil Health Lab guidelines.
- Estimated Soil Carbon: assessed per acre at 6 inches depth.
- Penetrometer (soil hardness) readings: assessed to 18 inches depth at each of 10 points along the transect.
- Infiltration Rate: assessed at each of 10 points along transect.
- % Soil surface cover, crusting, ponding, and erosion: assessed at each of 10 points along transect.
- Surface Biodiversity and Earthworm Presence: assessed at 2 of 10 points along transect.
- Topsoil depth and Root Behavior: assessed at 2 of 10 points along transect.
- Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon; Fungal: Bacterial ratio: assessed at 2 of 10 points along transect.
- Soil Food Web diversity analysis will be assessed via a composite sample along the transect.
- Pasture Condition Score.
Laboratory assessment of samples. The Cornell Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) soil test will be performed by the Cornell Soil Health Lab. A Biological Qualitative Assessment will be performed by the NOFA/Mass Soil Test Analysis Lab. Results and reports will be provided to NGBI within 6 to 8 weeks of sampling.
Cornell Soil Health Lab Standard Operating Procedures:
- CSH01 Sample Intake and Processing SOP 4-2022
- CSH02 Texture SOP 4-2022
- CSH03 Wet Aggregate Stability SOP 4-2022
- CSH04 Active Carbon SOP 4-2022
- CSH05 Available Water Capacity SOP 4-2022
- CSH06 Respiration SOP 4-2022
- CSH07 ACE Protein SOP 4-2022
- CSH10 Soil Organic Matter Loss-on-Ignition, Total C, Soil Organic Carbon, and Total N SOP 4-2022
- CSH11 Field-Composited Soil Core Bulk Density SOP 4-2022
- CSH12 Low Pressure Soil Water Desorption and Bulk Density SOP 4-2022
- CSH13-Modified Morgan Extraction and pH Measurement SOP 4-2022
For laboratory protocol and scoring functions, see “Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health - The Cornell Framework,” 32-73.
NOFA/Mass Soil Test Analysis Lab: Standard Operating Procedures for the Biological Qualitative Assessment are proprietary and follow Ingram Soil Food Web protocols. A Soil Food Web Certified Lab Technician will conduct a Soil Food Web visual assessment with brightfield microscopy. Reports will use the standard Soil Food Web template. Questions can be directed to Info@soilfoodweb.com.
Data interpretation. A qualified evaluator will interpret the lab results to contextualize the soil health indicators, carbon stocks, and associated ecosystem services found in the samples and to make appropriate comparisons to 2024 results. These comparisons may allow for conclusions about the impact of land management practices on the soil and forage at the sites sampled.
Objective 3. Track and analyze financial metrics.
Track farm input expenses. Input expenses incurred by VTSU or Parmelee Farm that are directly attributable to the grazing operation, such as required supplies and materials, equipment, and services will be reported to NGBI for standardized tracking. General-use farm inputs that are partly attributable to the grazing operation may be recorded at a partial rate if the inputs can be tracked and itemized for project-specific purposes. Asset depreciation will not be considered. Farmer labor hours will not be considered a direct input expense, but will be tracked separately to allow for its analysis.
Track income attributable to the grazing operation. Examples of income attributed to the grazing operation (as distinct from general farm income, which involves other revenue streams) include, but are not limited to, sales of grass-fed products, agency subsidies for grazing management practices, new farm contracts related to grazing practice, and income from on-farm grazing events.
Income and expense records will be tracked in spreadsheets that detail the amount, date, and nature of the transaction. Receipts and invoices will be stored as documentation when possible. Financial data will be maintained in a centralized location with limited staff access. Income and expenses will be used to calculate an annual Operating Expense Ratio according to the formula
[Total Grazing-Related Expenses / Total Grazing-Related Income] x 100
Compare pilot season financial records to historical cattle production financial data. To the extent it is available, farm input expenses and income from previous years will be compiled. If specific records are unavailable but can be reasonably inferred, such inferences will be allowed and the basis for their calculation will be recorded. Transactions will be categorized by type and organized into a format that allows categorical comparisons and longitudinal comparison between the grazing pilot season and seasons before grazing implementation. The analysis will determine any conclusions that can be drawn regarding the financial impact of grazing implementation compared to previous production methods.
Objective 4. Condense documentation together with environmental metrics and financial findings into an engaging summary of an AMP grazing pilot season.
NGBI will create an engaging visual document that summarizes the pilot season transition, farmer experience, and any environmental and financial outcomes. The goal for this document is to promote AMP grazing generally and the specific AMP grazing model at VTSU. The document will be disseminated through a comprehensive outreach plan (see “Outreach Plan” section).
This project is underway; many of our activities are forthcoming in 2025 with the upcoming grazing season.
tbd
Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
Participation Summary:
Outreach goals for this project are:
- 12,000 (minimum) regional constituents are reached with information about the AMP grazing project, including 100% of degree-seeking VTSU students (approx. 2,500 students over two years).
Evaluation measure: Verification of email delivery in NGBI CRM system; confirmation from partners regarding delivery and reach; documentation of number of event attendees; confirmation from other promotional channels regarding audience reach.
- 10% (minimum) growth in size of project outreach audience by grant completion date.
Evaluation measure: Number of project audience contacts in NGBI database at grant start compared to number at grant completion.
- 25 (minimum) participants at on-farm event.
Evaluation measure: Photographic and/or written documentation of event attendees.
Goals will be achieved using a multi-level outreach strategy.
- Digital outreach. Project and event information will be sent via a series of emails to NGBI and VTSU email lists. The NGBI email list contains more than 2,000 contacts, including farmers, land managers and landowners, agencies, land trusts, municipalities, non-profits and conservation groups, and media. VTSU maintains multiple email lists totaling thousands of contacts, including hundreds of agricultural professionals.
- On-farm event. An on-farm event in spring/summer 2025 will be designed to raise awareness about the sustainable grazing model. The event will comprise a pasture walk led by expert graziers; guest speakers and hands-on learning; and beef sampling and discussion (depending on availability).
- Northeast Pasture Consortium Executive Director Jennifer Colby will speak and co-host.
- Other key participants will include Ridge Shinn and Clark Parmelee.
- Public relations. Press releases about project activities and outcomes will be broadly disseminated. Actions will include:
- Communicate with local and regional publications in hopes of broad media attention.
- Purchase advertising in trade and interest group publications.
- Collaborate with institutional partners to publicize project among partner networks. Partners include, among others: USDA-NRCS, American Farmland Trust, White River Natural Resources Conservation District, NOFA/Mass, The Trustees of Reservations, Mass-Audubon, and many Northeast farms.
- Material permanence. The project summary report will be permanently hosted on NGBI’s website, with backlinks requested from partners.
- Cross-collaboration. NGBI will leverage the frequent media and event appearances of Executive Director Ridge Shinn as opportunities to further promote this project. VTSU will leverage its ongoing student recruitment efforts to promote the AMP grazing learning model.
The target audience includes farmers, the VTSU community and alumni networks, technical service providers, NGOs and non-profit organizations, agencies, Conservation Districts, educational institutions, and municipalities. The target audience will be segmented and approached with appropriate, tailored messaging. Jenn Colby, Executive Director Northeast Pasture Consortium and an Advisory Board member for VTSU-CAFE, will consult on agricultural outreach strategy.
All project partners commit to inclusive outreach that supports fair and equitable treatment and breaks down barriers to access. Outreach efforts will be vetted for sensitivity and will proactively seek out networks for underserved communities (such as the RAFI-USA Farmers of Color Network and the New England Farmers of Color Land Trust). Events will be designed with the intention to eliminate or minimizing barriers (such as participant costs and the scheduling needs of students and agricultural communities).