Project Reports - 2008

Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership

Project Leader: Jerome Schoen 

This project addressed the following UMass Extension Critical Issues:

• Ecosystem Management, Protection, and Restoration
• Water Resource Protection 

Description

In 2006, an Extension survey conducted on dairy and livestock farms highlighted various options for refining and optimizing nutrient planning and on-farm feed production.  Using this information, the Extension Nutrient Management: Livestock and Crops project proposes several alternatives to help dairy and livestock farmers off-set some the increased costs of feed and fertilizer and improve both the sustainability and viability of farming operations.

Nitrogen fertilizer is a major input for annual crops and grass forages. Project staff initiated several state wide on-farm demonstrations to provide information on various nitrogen sufficiency tests to ensure that nitrogen sources, including manure and commercial nitrogen fertilizers, are used efficiently in the production of feed and animal products, and in ways that protect the quality of air and water.  The project also addresses alternative nitrogen management to avoid leaching losses from corn fields in fall and winter.  The information and resources staff provide regarding the effective use of cover crops should also result in significant economic benefits to the farmers and greater protection of natural resources.

Activity Summary

We have demonstrated several statewide on-farm research projects on various aspects of nutrient management to improve the sustainability and viability of livestock farming and to protect environment. These projects consisted of the following
 
a) Use of earlier date of planting and earlier maturing corn hybrids to ensure early corn harvest. This alternative corn production management provides the opportunity for farmers to plant their cover crops by early September which maximizes nitrogen recovery. This reduces nitrogen application in next growing season which also help protect water resources. (8 farms)
b) Demonstrated the optimum planting date of cover crops for maximum nitrogen recovery that is released from nitrogen mineralization of fall-applied manure. (2 locations)
c) Use of various sufficiency tests to adjust current nitrogen management used by dairy and livestock farmers. Implementation of these methods will significantly reduce unnecessary nitrogen application for corn production. (8 locations)

Project staff generated 46 factsheets on Best Management Practices for livestock and equine, and provided 8 educational workshops (MassAggie Seminars) for horse owners at 3 locations. These workshops and other outreach activities including pasture walks (7 events), twilight meetings (2 locations), field day, and farmer meetings (2 locations) help educate farmers and horse owners about various aspects of nutrient management that reduce production costs and protect environmental quality.

Summary of Activities 

Among the most important successes of this project are the significant reduction in the use of commercial fertilizer and off-farm feed purchase. Producing more home-grown feed will also reduce the need for imported nutrients, reduce energy expenses, and lessen the impact of nutrients in the environment.  Project staff have also demonstrated an improved pasture management for land that is currently under-grazed. Making better use of pastures provides more spring, summer, and fall feed and should allow farmers to devote some of their crop land to production of grain corn.

Planned outcomes and observed or measured progress 

• 1,060 youth demonstrated science skills in their 4-H project area and in other venues
• 45 participants increased their knowledge/ability to distinguish and monitor nutrient imbalances on their farm
• 43 participants learned to manage manure and chemical use, including fertilizers, in ways which optimize agricultural benefit and minimize negative environmental impacts
• 20 participants learned practices that reduced the risk of environmental pollution of equine operations including pest and odor control, fencing, grazing, runoff, etc…
• 12 livestock producers adopted a relatively simple method to determine if the current nitrogen application rate on their crops is excessive
• 5 participants adopted environmentally sound grazing systems
• 5 participants reduced off-farm purchases, including fertilizer, feed, etc…

Activities, delivery mode and participants reached

Agronomy research reports
10 completed, 10 adult participants

Animal biosecurity trainings
5 completed, 14 adult volunteers, 7 UMass Students, 61 youth participants

Applied research on different aspects of cover crops for effective nutrient removal from soil, pasture and grazing management
2 completed, 150 adult volunteers

Crops, Dairy, Livestock Newsletter
4 completed, 3400 adult participants

Fact sheets on different aspects of nutrient management
43 completed, 2200 adult participants

On farm research demonstration
40 completed, 80 adult participants

Presentation at American Society of Agronomy annual meeting
2 completed, 4000 adult participants

Publications: Agronomy Journal and the International Journal of Plant Production
1 completed, 10000 adult participants

UMass Crops, Dairy, Livestock, Equine website
1 completed, 1200 adult participants

Visiting Dairy and Livestock Farms and Equine facilities
65 completed, 50 adult participants, 8 adult volunteers

Workshops presenting the results of on-farm research, field days, and MassAggie seminars
8 completed, 430 adult participants, 5 Extension staff participants

This project is part of the Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation program