2003 Annual Report for LNE01-143
Farmer-Run Research Organization for Southern New England
Summary
This year our project worked with 4 existing Farmer Research Groups, and worked to start 2 new groups. While planning went forward with a large number of farmers in most groups, weather and economic (dairy) conditions affected implementation of the field trials of all 5 groups. Approximately 85% of the farmers who participated in planning, but were not able to participate in 2003 field tests have indicated they intend to participate in 2004.
Field tests are in progress or were completed by six groups.
1. Soil Amino Sugar test (3 farmers),
2. Vacuum grass silage (1 farmer)
3. Manure stacking (6 farmers)
4. Organic GEM fish emulsion (2 farmers)
5. Hen manure –fertilizer comparison (3 farmers)
6. Fall rye seeding, harrowing, and manuring, our newest group, did not implement a trial.
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. 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.
Target 2. In our winter meeting of 2003, farmers elected not to create a formal organization, but wanted to have another season and more results before increasing their outreach to farmers that are not participating in the research. More farmers recruited other farmers to participate in research groups in 2003. We have discussed joining with an existing non-profit farmer group in Connecticut, the Connecticut Agricultural Businesses Cluster, to form a formal farmer research group. Discussions are continuing.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
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.
Manure Stacking groups farmers served as consultants in an April advisory session that is developing the research station iteration of their project.
Groups looking at Bird Control, Pasture Reclamation, and Methane and Energy alternatives remain latent. Interest and individual and group conversations continue, but defined researchable questions have not yet been decided. Other ideas have come forward, but groups have not yet been initiated or developed. These ideas include water harvest and no-till grain.
Effort and energy intensified towards increasing understanding of farmer research among other agriculture groups including important meetings with the University departments and specialists, the Departments of Agriculture in Connecticut and Massachusetts, Farm Bureau sponsored farmer Group in Connecticut, and industry. Individually, we have worked with improving Extension and NRCS adoption of the farmer research group approach. Support and understanding of the objectives of the Farmer Research Group concept is growing.
Referrals of farmers from outside agencies increased in 2003. There was less direct recruitment than in the projects first year (via phone and direct contacts of farmers by the project.) Outreach to vegetable producers increased. Recruitment was primarily through farmers, conferences (6), and in the case of the Fish Emulsion group, through industry. Interest from farmers from other states (in specific groups) continues. These inquiries have been a challenge to manage. We have also been contacted directly by extension agents in NH and NY. In 2004 we will be including farmers form NH (and possibly NY) in several projects. For the second year we and one of the farmers from the Network were involved in service provider/extension activities with the ME-NH SARE On-Farm research project.
Presentations about the Farmer Research Groups were made at the NEBASA meeting in Burlington in July and at the National Agronomy Society meetings in November.