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

This project is in response to farmer interest in gaining information and recommendations on pasture species and varieties. To meet this need three field experiments where established in 2007 at the UMass Research Farm, the Vermont Technical College dairy farm (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. Ten farmers were provided five seed mixes for planting in this first year. Information was shared with farmers in four field tours at the Massachusetts site and one at the Vermont site, and in a pasture walk at a participating farm site in Connecticut.

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 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.

Accomplishments/Milestones

The first milestone involved project leaders meeting in the 2007 at the Northeast Pasture Consortium meeting, in conference calls, and by email to develop protocols for forage evaluations at research sites and farms. Three field experiments where established in the fall of 2007 at the UMass Research Farm, the Vermont Technical College dairy farm (UVM site), and a Pennsylvania site (USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Mgt Res. Unit).

The three 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. Farmers and seed industry at the pasture consortium, at extension meetings and pasture walks gave input to project leaders on specie choices, varieties and mixes/blends. All studies were seeded in the fall of 2007. In 2008 these three studies were rotationally (mob stocked) grazed as many as seven times during the grazing season. Data on establishment was collected by project leader teams and cooperators at the three main field experimental sites. All plots were evaluated for establishment and winter survival in spring of 2008 and deemed to be adequate.

Ten farmers some indicating a desire to evaluate pasture forages, and others recruited were provided five seed mixes for planting in this first year and assistance in planting was provided to some as needed. This included one to three farmers in almost all New England states who planted three to five selected blends in on-farm trials. Reports from farmers on establishment and winter survival in spring of 2008 were positive. A further conference call involving participating farmers is planned for mid-March 2009 to review progress and research methodologies for on-farm evaluations, and to present results from the first grazing at three main evaluation sites. All farmer sites were further evaluated under grazing in 2008. Farmers reported positive animal responses or preferences for the newly seeded pasture mixes. Further farmers will be provided seed in 2009 to fully meet the fourth milestone of 15 to 20 farmers participating.

The fifth and sixth milestones in part were met with field tours at Massachusetts (4) and Vermont (1) full experimental sites, and a pasture walk at a participating farm site in Connecticut. Further field tours are planned for 2009 at all three main experiment sites and farm sites through on-farm pasture walks.

At this time the first two of seven milestones have been completed and the next four have been completed for the first year and will be ongoing in future years.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Farmers at a pasture walk in Southern New England viewed five pasture mixes seeded by a famer and heard him enthusiastically express his dairy cows preference for grazing the new pastures.   Research experimental sites reported as many as seven grazing cycles producing 6 ton/ac of dry matter with 5 and 6 specie blends having the highest productivity in this first year after establishment at two sites.

Collaborators: