Vermont Dairy Farm Sustainability Project, Inc.

Vermont Dairy Farm Sustainability Project, Inc.

Summary

The intent of the Vermont Dairy Farm Sustainability Project is to involve dairy industry stakeholders in demonstrating methods for improving water quality and sustaining the Vermont dairy industry. The project addresses whole-farm nutrient balances and management at the farm level through practical methods supported by farmers and their suppliers. Successful methods must maintain, or improve, farm profitability. Once demonstrated, these methods will be shared with dairy industry producers and professionals.

Preliminary results demonstrate the potential for reducing farm nutrient balances through increased precision in cropping and feeding programs. Eight farms are involved in data collection. Preliminary results on farm nutrient status and cropping system intervention strategies are available.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The original project objective was to enroll ten farms and demonstrate economically viable opportunity areas for decreasing nitrogen and phosphorus loading and improving nutrient management on each farm.

Data collection will be continuous for two years in order to compare baseline nutrient balances to nutrient balances after implementation of a farm developed Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). All enrolled farms will develop and implement a NMP developed in conjunction with their suppliers. Project personnel will analyze these plans.

Fifteen dairy support industry representatives will become aware of opportunity areas for improving nutrient management and decreasing nitrogen and phosphorus loading on participating farms.

Educational programs based on project findings will be developed and presented to 50 farmers, suppliers, and consultants who were not directly involved in the project, thereby increasing their awareness of methods to economically reduce nutrient loading and improve nutrient management. Educational material for farmers, support industry and consumers will be prepared and distributed based on the results of summarized baseline and post NMP implementation data.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Ten farms have been enrolled in the project. Baseline data collection has been ongoing throughout 2001 and is scheduled for completion by Dec. 31, 2001. Baseline data collection has included biweekly monitoring of rations fed to milking animals. Actual intakes are calculated, forages analyzed, production and physiologic state assessed and CNCPS model runs made for each group of lactating cows. Non-lactating groups are similarly treated on a monthly basis. Crop data collection has included manure sampling, and, on a per-field basis, yield, fertilizer and manure application and soil sampling information. Also, in conjunction with NRCS, data needed to implement the P-Index on each farm are being compiled. A pilot phase of the project (baseline data collection begun in 2000) on one farm is being used to refine techniques in data collection, nutrient management plan formulation and development of implementation strategies.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Preliminary results show that approximately 80% of imported N and P remain on farm over a one-year period. These results also indicate that purchased concentrate feeds are the greatest contributor to imported nutrients. Preliminary investigation into potential improvement areas for nutrient mass balances indicate that in some instances, starter fertilizer P application rates on corn can reach four times the University of Vermont recommended rate when crop history, manure application, soil test, and expected yield data are taken into account. A graduated plan for more precisely matching nutrient application to crop need resulted in an overall reduction of 2.85 tons of P2O5 applied and savings of over $2300 on one farm. Comparison strips were used to compare yield response of different starter rates. There was no decrease in yield using lowered starter fertilizer application rates.

Preliminary evaluation of nutrient status in lactating groups indicates that while the supply of metabolizable protein (protein available to the cow) more or less matches requirement (between 100 and 106 % of requirement), the average ruminal nitrogen balance was approximately 143 to 145% of requirement. This indicates a potential for increased precision in meeting ruminal protein needs and a potential reduction of nitrogen imported as purchased feed. An average across lactating groups shows P feeding levels at approximately 127% of requirement. A significant difference in P feeding levels was shown between feed companies (133% vs.111% of requirement).

Additionally, it has been observed that the non-scientific aspects of nutrient management play an immensely important role. Certain social and psychological factors such as risk aversion and farm-consultant-supplier-extension relationships play an important part in improving nutrient management. Just as each farm has unique physical and management factors, such as soil type and nutrient levels, cropping programs, capital, equipment, facilities and personnel there is also a unique psychological approach to management and relations with suppliers, consultants and extension which must be considered in nutrient management planning.

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