2010 Annual Report for LNE07-257
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 the first year. Three grazing seasons have been completed. Results have been summarized for the first two years while the third is in progress. Information was shared with farmers in many field tours at the Massachusetts and Vermont sites, and in a pasture walks at participating farm sites in New England.
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 (MA, 6 times in PA and 4 times in VT) 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. Again in spring of 2009 plots were evaluated for winter survival. In the spring of 2009 there was noticeable damage to perennial ryegrass in the Massachusetts field plots.
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. Farmer sites were further evaluated under grazing in 2008 and in 2009. Farmers reported positive animal responses or preferences for the newly seeded pasture mixes.
The fifth and sixth milestones in part were met with field tours at Massachusetts and Vermont experimental sites, and a pasture walk at a participating farm site in Connecticut. Further field tours at all three main experiment sites and farm sites in on-farm pasture walks were held in 2009 and 2010.
At this time most of the milestones have been more than completed and will be detailed in the final report.
Below are some significant findings.
The following is a description of the protocol used in Massachusetts. Grazing of the species mixes/blends in this field study began with beef cattle in May 2008 and in May in each of the following years. In Massachusetts in each year black Angus beef cattle purchased to graze the pasture plots, one replication per day, and after the fourth rep was grazed the plots were rested from grazing. The plots were again grazed in June and every month through to November, a total of 7 grazings in the first year and through October in subsequent years. Prior to each grazing yield of each plot was measured from two to three averaged 0.1 m2 quadrates per plot, and residue uneaten biomass was also determined following each grazing. This experiment was managed under grazing in 2008 and 2009 and continued in 2010.
Significant Results:
• Pasture yield varied between the two years and among the three state locations.
• Yields in 2008 were higher in Massachusetts while in Pennsylvania the yields in 2009 were higher (Figs 1 and 2). Yields and number of grazings were much lower for the upland Vermont location (Fig. 3).
• This was probably related to better growing conditions 2008 when seven grazing times were possible before freezing conditions in Massachusetts while in 2009 there was only six grazing times. Both years were wetter than average in the northeast. Pennsylvania had dryer conditions in 2009 than UMass.
• Festulolium, a cross between meadow fescue and annual ryegrass, initially dominated mixtures when present the first year but did not persist after the first year at three all sites.
• Two mixtures were ranked within the top 3 for highest yield in Massachusetts and were also the top two in the Pennsylvania study. This was consistent over two years.
• Most often blends including orchardgrass in Massachusetts, and red clover, perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass, or tall fescue in Pennsylvania and with more than 2 species had greater yields.
• Perennial ryegrass in Massachusetts and Vermont suffered some winter damage reducing yield in the second production year. Vermont plots contained significant amounts of weeds after winter thinning of susceptible species.
• Species in blends that included small amounts of a species in the mixtures(e.g. with less than 10%, of trefoil, timothy, or bluegrass) did not establish enough plants to contribute significantly to forage yield.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
Initial impacts include farmers at a pasture walk in Southern New England who viewed five pasture mixes seeded by a farmer 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 second years after establishment at two sites. Two blends/mixture were ranked within the top 3 for highest yield in Massachusetts and were also the top two in the Pennsylvania study. This was consistent over two years. While orchardgrass and perennial ryegrass performed well in Pennsylvania, the latter suffer winter damage in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Collaborators:
Univ. of Massachusetts