Assessing pasture grasses, legumes and pasture blends for varying soil conditions in New England and Pennsylvania

Assessing pasture grasses, legumes and pasture blends for varying soil conditions in New England and Pennsylvania

Summary

Many farmers contact Extension and USDA-NRCS seeking information and recommendations on pasture species and varieties. This topic is mentioned often by farmers at meetings with requests for information on pasture varieties, and was reaffirmed by the Northeast Pasture Consortium in 2006 as a research priority. Our hypotheses are (i) that with improved information on forage species and varieties interest and adoption of pasturing will increase because of economic benefit to farmers, and (ii) that this can be integrated into farm practices through a participatory project with farmers, complemented with outreach and education. All producers who pasture animals stand to benefit, and 15-20 dairy/livestock farmers who will participate will plant new species to counter increased costs in production of homegrown forages.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Involve more than 50 pasture producers from New England and Pennsylvania in pasture forage evaluations at the UMass Research Farm, a Vermont (UVM) site, and USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Mgt Res. Unit (PA). Over a two- to three-year period, variety plots will be mob stocked to determine yield and adaptability under grazing. Of these particiapting farmers, 15 or more will choose from more than 25 new pasture varieties and blends, and plant the chosen species/varieties in on-farm trials for local adaptability, make management changes, and increase reliance on pasture for livestock.

Objectives

i. Evaluate forage species/varieties for varying soil conditions/locations

ii. On-farm evaluation and cost/benefit of adopting newly released new pasture varieties.

A secondary goal of this project is to develop a network of uniform standardized grazed forage evaluation trials across New England that will be self-sustaining through private producer or industry funds.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Three field experiments were established at the UMass Research Farm, a Vermont (UVM) site, and a Pennsylvania site (USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Mgt Res. Unit). These research sites included 25 to 28 pasture blends varying in complexity from two species (a grass and a legume) to seven species with varied varieties in different blend from several commercial seed companies that market pasture blends and varieties to farmers in the New England and northeast region. All studies were seeded in the fall of 2007. In addition, one to three farmers in each New England state planted three to five selected blends in on-farm trials. This was first year of the project and seeded plots and fields will be evaluated for establishment and winter survival in spring of 2008. Some data on establishment was collected by cooperators at the three main field experimental sites. All sites will be further evaluated under grazing in 2008.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The three research experimental sites all reported successful establishment of the 25 to 28 pasture blends, although there was some seeding variability due to equipment problems and some damage from unwanted animal intrusion. Similarly, some farmers also reported successful establishment from their fall seeding.

Collaborators: