Maintaining Persistence and Productivity of Perennial Forages in a Changing Climate

Project Overview

ONE24-438
Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2024: $29,862.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2026
Grant Recipient: University of Vermont Extension
Region: Northeast
State: Vermont
Project Leader:
Dr. Heather Darby
University of Vermont Extension

Commodities

  • Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage
  • Education and Training: farmer to farmer

    Proposal abstract:

    Cool season perennial forages are central to livestock operations in the northeast. Current harvest management includes frequent and low mowing to optimize forage quality and allow farmers to reduce expensive grain purchases. However, these same practices combined with an increasingly challenging climate may reduce forage persistence and overall above and below ground productivity. Increasing aboveground productivity of high quality forage is essential for farm viability while enhanced belowground productivity may help enhance carbon sequestration and soil health.  This on-farm project will evaluate the impact of cutting height (1.5, 4.0, and 6.0 inches) and harvest frequency (28, 30, 32, and 34 days) on forage persistence and productivity of cool season perennial forages. Forage yield, quality, and persistence as well as root biomass will be monitored over a two-year period.  Outreach and education will be delivered to the farming community through field days, conferences, webinars, factsheets, and video. These resources will provide critical management options to over 400 stakeholders so they can build more resilient forage systems in a changing climate.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    This project seeks to improve the persistence and productivity of perennial cool season forages in response to a changing climate. The objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of cutting height and harvest frequency on the above ground and below ground productivity of perennial cool season forages in the northeast.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.