Project Overview
FNE03-484
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2003: $6,243.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2003
Region: Northeast
State: Massachusetts
Project Leader:
John O'Meara
O'Meara Family Farm
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: barley, corn, soybeans, grass (misc. perennial), hay
- Nuts: hazelnuts, walnuts
- Additional Plants: native plants, trees, ornamentals
- Animals: bovine, poultry, goats, sheep
- Animal Products: dairy
Practices
- Animal Production: grazing - multispecies, pasture fertility, grazing - rotational, feed/forage
- Crop Production: agroforestry, forestry
- Education and Training: farmer to farmer
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Many farms in the Northeast have excess woodland and relatively small amounts of pasture, and the farmer will develop a silvopasture system by clearing portions of his woody acreage. Valuable trees will be left standing and fruit and nut trees will be planted to improve profitability. He will calculate the forage value and productivity of this new pasture, track the timber harvest, note new tree survival rates, and forecast the fruit, nut, and timber harvest he can anticipate over time. Results will be offered in an article prepared for the agricultural media and for other presentations
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.