2002 Annual Report for LNE01-143
Farmer-Run Research Organization for Southern New England
Summary
Four Farmer Research groups designed experiments and collected data during 2002. Two groups conducted field trials in row crops, one group experimented with manure stacking, and another evaluated grass silage. All four groups plan to continue and expand their work in the coming year.
New members will participate in three of these groups next year. Two other farmer groups held conference calls, but have not proceeded with experiments. Three other groups, in the early stages of formation, are planning experiments or field trials for the upcoming season.
In addition to coordinating the groups and working on the principles and practical aspects of the design and implementation of experiments, we have continued general outreach to farmers. All the farmer research groups held a meeting together to review results and begin planning in early January. The FRGN team held one meeting with industry. The research and education function of the groups continue in tandem. We have received small amounts of funding from two additional sources.
Objectives/Performance Targets
Target 1. Functioning multi-farm farmer research groups generating scientifically valid results with demonstration trials and innovation trials.
Target 2. Formation of a farmer research organization in the southern New England region. The organization will develop and implement farmer-run research trials, generate and test new technologies for farm sustainability, and to educate farmers, environmental organizations and the public about their research results.
Accomplishments/Milestones
Target 1. Four farmer research groups have been established and will continue experiments, and two new groups will establish experiments this spring. A third new group will be starting field activities in mid-summer. The groups that have established experiments are the manure-stacking group, the soil amino sugar-nitrogen test group, a group comparing yields of corn when hen manure or commercial fertilizer is applied, and a group evaluating direct-cut vacuum grass silage.
The direct-cut vacuum grass silage conducted field demonstrations and a field day. The group competed for and received two small grants to purchase an implement named the Lacerator to direct-cut silage. The manure stacking group is attempting to develop a method to minimize the amount of leachate from manure stacks. The farmers’ first-year results for winter stacking were promising. The soil amino sugar test group implemented replicated field trials and reported on and presented their activities at a field day attended by 35 farmers. First year results indicate the test is promising. The hen manure group conducted field-scale replicated field trials to evaluate the yield of corn when fertilized with hen manure compared with corn that is fertilized with commercial fertilizer. The hen manure group also organized and hosted their own field day. Results from 2002 indicated no significant differences in yield due to fertility source. The new groups that will be implementing trials for the first time in 2003 are investigating minimum tillage organic vegetable production, use of a fisheries waste product in horticultural production, and handling of milk house waste.
Target 2. It is too early to report on the formation of a farmer-run research organization.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
There are four functioning research groups.
The NRCS has provided the Central Massachusetts Dairy Farmers with a grant of $8,800 from EQIP funds to establish farmer research groups. This grant was a direct result of education provided by our project. Massachusetts DFA awarded a $16,000 grant to the direct-cut vacuum grass silage group for purchase of a direct long-cut vacuum forage chopper, the Lacerator.