Source: UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE submitted to
ASSISTING ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCERS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF NEW AND EMERGING MILK MARKETS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0226410
Grant No.
2011-51300-30766
Project No.
NHW-2011-01950
Proposal No.
2011-01950
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
113.A
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2016
Grant Year
2011
Project Director
Brito, A.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
(N/A)
DURHAM,NH 03824
Performing Department
Biological Sciences
Non Technical Summary
A formal needs assessment of organic dairy producers in the Northeast revealed that extending the grazing season and implementing strategies to facilitate value-added marketing of milk are major challenges for the industry. Enriching the concentrations of health-beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in milk from pasture-fed organic cows provides a potential marketing niche to dairy producers in the Northeast and beyond. However,it has been well documented that as dairy cows transition from summer pasture to winter feeding their milk production decreases and contains lower concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids. Through this project we will partner with 20 organic dairy producers across the Northeast to conduct on-farm research on the utility of advanced pasture production strategies and flaxseed supplementation to enhance the grazing season while simultaneously enriching milk composition. We hypothesize that milk concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids can be maintained year-round by enhancing and extending the grazing season, by capitalizing on variation in climate tolerance of pasture species and cultivars having high nutritional quality and agronomic feasibility, and by winter supplementation with flaxseed. With guidance provided by a Research and Extension Advisory Board, we will enhance learning opportunities among other organic dairy producers, researchers, and educators via workshops, field days, fact-sheets,newsletters, and eOrganic webinars. Producers participating in our peer learning program will become peer mentors within their rural community. This project will assist organic dairy producers to meet the demands of new and emerging milk markets.
Animal Health Component
5%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
70%
Developmental
5%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023410101035%
3013410102010%
6016030301020%
2051699106035%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management;

Subject Of Investigation
6030 - The farm as an enterprise; 3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal; 1699 - Pasture and forage crops, general/other;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
Project Goal: The goal of this proposal is to enhance the year-round capacity of Northeast organic dairy producers to produce high quality component-enriched organic milk. We will develop methods to enhance omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids content of milk by enhancing and extending the grazing season, by capitalizing on variation in climate tolerance of pasture species and cultivars having high nutritional quality and agronomic feasibility, and by winter supplementation with flaxseed. Research-based information from this project will improve farm production efficiency and expand the potential organic market to improve the economic and social sustainability of organic dairy farming in the Northeast and beyond. Project Objectives: Our regional interdisciplinary team (NH, ME, VT, NY, and PA), with the guidance from our major stakeholders, aims to enhance organic milk composition and production in the Northeast through the following objectives: 1) Develop practical strategies for Northeast organic dairy producers to enhance the nutritional quality of milk and viability of farms by evaluating advanced pasture production techniques as well as fine-tuned supplementation regimes; 2) Implement on-farm research trials to evaluate the best advanced pasture management practices combined with flaxseed supplementation trials and their impacts on milk production, milk composition, and herd health in a whole-farm setting; and 3) Deliver best management practices for producing nutritionally superior organic milk through enhanced learning opportunities among producers, industry, researchers, educators, and students in the Northeast and beyond via workshops, field days, and eOrganic webinars. Project Outreach Plan and Outputs: Peer learning opportunities, within our region and beyond, form the core of our outreach plan. Producers will share their expertise, experiences, and perspectives from this research at workshops and on-farm field days, and beyond our region via eOrganic webinars. Case studies and short video clips will be produced and shared via media outlets such as eOrganic, eXtension, and other social networking technologies (e.g., University Extension sites, Facebook, etc.). We will continue strengthening our outreach activities through a project newsletter and development of both economic decision tools and guides about pasture seeding and flax supplementation in the Northeast.
Project Methods
Our research will involve two phases. In Phase 1 (Objective 1), we will conduct University research that include screening of multi-cultivar forages, annual forage production systems, and flax variety trials. In Phase 1, we will also evaluate the impact of flax supplementation on milk quality. In Phase 2 (Objectives 2 and 3) we will initiate on-farm studies to further test the best management practices outlined in Phase 1 and their potential to enhance milk quality and farm profitability in a whole-farm setting. In Phase 2, we will also develop and deliver outreach materials to the farming community and industry. Phase 1, Objective 1: a) Multi-cultivar screening to identify how targeted augmentation of a perennial ryegrass-white clover mixture with cultivars adapted for an increasingly wider range of cold tolerance and drought affects organic pasture establishment and growth, DM production, grazing season length, nutritional quality, and resistance to pests; b) Identify annual cool and warm season forages and associated agronomic practices for the potential to extend the grazing season; c) Identify oilseed flax varieties and weed control practices that will enable producers to successfully produce this crop in the Northeast; and d) Evaluate if flax supplementation is a valid approach to enhance the nutrition quality of forage-based diets for milk production, milk composition, and herd health. Two feeding trials (winter and summer) using ground flax as the supplemental source will be conducted at the UNH. Phase 2, Objective 2: a) On-farm baseline data collection - In Years 1 and 2, 20 organic dairy producers across the Northeast will collect samples, and evaluate DHI records and grazing management systems to establish baseline parameters for on-farm research in Years 3 and 4; b) Implementation of new strategies on-farm - In Years 3 and 4, the herds from the 20 collaborating farms will be used to test the suitability of flax supplementation during the winter months. Estimates of DMI, milk production, animal health, and reproductive performance will be collected; c) Evaluating profitability and risk - We will develop user-friendly enterprise budgets to assist producers evaluating the potential profitability (or loss) of a particular enterprise or production option. Phase 2, Objective 3: a) Peer learning program - The 20 collaborating producers will become peer leaders sharing expertise and perspectives at workshops and field days; b) Outreach materials - we will contribute the following content to eOrganic: 1) video clips from workshops and field days; 2) pasture guide; and 3) webinars on extending the grazing season and flax supplementation. Project evaluation: The following approaches will be used to quantify the impact of this project: (i) Workshop/conference surveys will be delivered after every event. The surveys are designed to determine if the information is useful, if it will be implemented on farms, and if it will improve farmer livelihoods; and (ii) Organic dairy producers who participate in the on-farm research, peer-learning program, and the Advisory Board will be evaluated during and after completion of the project.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:We directly served organic dairy farmers across the Northeast region, specifically New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania and New York. To this end, we directly collaborated with 14 organic dairy farmers and collected baseline data (i.e., pasture quality, pasture intake, dairy herd improvement records, etc.) that helped them and peers across the region to improve management practices leading to more sustainable, environmentally-friendly organic dairy systems in the Northeast. We also served extension educators across the region via on-farm demonstrations, field days, eOrganic webinars, and workshops. In addition to farmers and extension educators, we educated industry personnel (e.g., organic milk processors, nutritionists, veterinarians) about organic practices to improve milk quality and composition, as well as forage production through workshops, conferences, field days, popular-press articles, and webinars. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project trained organic dairy farmers across five northeastern states (NH, ME, BT, NY, and PA) on how to better manage their pasture-based operations by sharing research information, as well as teaching them how to use of practical tools to measure pasture biomass such as the rising plate meter. We also released videos, webinars, field days, workshops, and scientific presentations to educate farmers, extension agents, industry personnel, veterinarians, and the scientific community. We also trained five post-doctorate and over 25 graduate and undergraduate students on how to conduct research and be involved in a multi-disciplinary integrated research and extension project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Over 4,000 stakeholders including organic dairy farmers, extension educators, students, industry personnel, and veterinarians attended our pasture walks, workshops, webinars, field days, and scientific presentations. We published eight peer-reviewed articles to date and over 12 additional articles have been submitted or are in preparation. We expect to publish approximately 25 peer-reviewed articles as a result of our OREI project. We also published over 30 research reports, popular-press articles, and fact-sheets, and more than 35 conference papers were also published to date. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Impact: Our project needs assessment of organic dairy producers in the region revealed that extending the grazing season, complying with the new pasture rules, and implementing strategies to facilitate value-added marketing of milk are major challenges to the industry. Opportunities exist to enhance the capacity of producers to extend the grazing season and profitably produce and market high quality, component-enriched organic milk through targeted diversification of pasture and feed supplementation with flaxseed. Our research with annual forage crops demonstrated that is possible to extend the grazing season with target plant species while providing high-quality forage for grazing and/or conserved forage (e.g., hay and silage). Extending the grazing with annual forage crops has the potential to reduce the reliance on grain, thus enhancing the economic sustainability of organic dairy farmers in the Northeast. Our two flaxseed supplementation trials conducted at the University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm showed that it is possible to enrich milk with beneficial components (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids) for human health. Our on-farm research feeding trials conducted in 9 organic dairy farms in the Northeast also revealed that feed ground flaxseed improve omega-3 fatty acids in milk. Two additional studies conducted the University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm showed that flaxseed oil combine with corn meal resulted in the greatest concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in milk, and feeding flaxseed meal and molasses improved milk antioxidant content. Naturally enriching organic milk with beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants has potential to develop niche markets for organic farmers in the region. Project major impact was to enhance the sustainability of organic dairy farms in the Northeast by reducing grain costs via research-based information on the use of annual forage crops while supporting milk markets with nutrient dense milk. Perennial ryegrass trials in NH, ME, VT, and PA were conducted and results on yields, nutrient composition, disease control, and environmental stress were presented in professional meetings and producers field days. Monthly data collection from 14 participant farms were completed and data also presented in professional meetings and field days. Results from controlled feeding trials at the University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm were presented in different outlets including scientific meetings, field days, workshops, eOrganic webinars, etc. Annual forage crops and flaxseed variety trials were conducted with results presented to the dairy community via workshops, field days, and eOrganic webinars.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., R. Tacoma, S. Greenwood, K. Juntwait, A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. Summer annual forages offered to mid-lactation jersey cows altered milk fatty acid contents without changing key rumen microbial fatty acids and taxa.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., R. Tacoma, S. Greenwood, K. Juntwait, A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. Spring annual forages offered to mid-lactation Jersey cows altered milk fatty acid contents without changing key rumen microbial fatty acids and taxa.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Ghedini, C. P., A. F. Brito, S. F. Reis, D. C. Moura, A. S. Oliveira, R. A. V. Santana, and A.B.D. Pereira. (in preparation). Liquid molasses decreases production linearly and changes enterolactone concentrations as a corn meal substitute in organic dairy cows fed flaxseed meal.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brossillon, V., S. R. Frotas, D. C. Moura, J. G. B. Galv�o, C. C�rtes, and A. F. Brito. (in preparation). Production performance, milk and plasma fatty acid profile, and nitrogen balance in organic lactating Jersey cows fed flaxseed oil.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Juntwait, Kelsey A., A. F. Brito, K. S. OConnor, R. G. Smith, K. M. Aragona, and A. B. D. Pereira. (in preparation). Feeding annual forage crops to organic dairy cows during spring and summer seasons in Northeast United States.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lichtner, F. J., and Broders, K. D. (in preparation). Environmental and plant genotype effect on fungal and bacterial communities spanning a broad latitudinal gradient of perennial forage stands.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lichtner, F. J., and Broders, K. D. (in preparation). Spatial and temporal patterns of microbial communities associated with a perennial forage crop in northeastern United States.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hafla, A.N., K.J. Soder, A.F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, A.F. Benson, H. Darby, M.D. Rubano, S.L. Dillard, J. Kraft, and S.F. Reis. Winter supplementation of ground whole flaxseed impacts milk fatty acid composition on organic dairy farms in the northeastern United States.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. Pasture inclusion of spring annual forages alters relative abundances of prevalent rumen methanogens from lactating dairy cows.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., K.R. Elkin, R.B. Bryant, and K.J. Soder. Targeted screening of individual glucosinolates in Brassica spp. by mass spectroscopy.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., A.I. Roca-Fern�ndez, R.J. Tillmann, M.D. Rubano, and K.J. Soder. Evaluation of a novel continuous culture fermentor system for determination of ruminal fermentation and methane production.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goslee, Sarah C., Jeffery M. Gonet, and R. Howard Skinner. (Submitted). Freeze tolerance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and implications for future distribution.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goslee, S.C., J.M. Gonet and R.H. Skinner. (in preparation). Intraspecific trait variability in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under drought and nitrogen stress.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goslee, S.C., R.H. Skinner, R. Smith, et al. (in preparation). Winter environmental factors affecting perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goossen, C.P., Bosworth, S.C., Darby, H.M., Kraft, J. (in preparation). Maturity and nitrogen fertility effects upon the fatty acid content of two summer annual forages.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Isenberg, B. L. 2014. Effects of ground flaxseed supplementation on animal production and milk fatty acid profile in organically-certified lactating Jerseys during the grazing season. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (M.Sc. Thesis).
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Brossillon, V. 2016. Potential of grain processing and flaxseed oil to enhance milk fatty acids profile of lactating Jersey cows. Ecole Sup�rieure dAgricultures dAngers, Angers, France (M.Sc. Thesis).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2014. Vermont Organic Dairy Producers Conference. Summer annuals, forage fatty acids, flax weed control, cool season annuals. Randolph Center, VT, March, 2014. (Producer meeting; 100 attendees; 75 producers).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Vermont Organic Dairy Producers Conference. Annual forage and forage quality. Randolph Center, VT, March, 2015. (Producer meeting; 91 attendees; 65 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Managing Cows, Pasture, and Nutrients Field Day. Westfield, VT, July, 2015. (Field day; 56 attendees; 49 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Annual Crops and Soils Field Day. Focus on summer annuals, flaxseed trials, and cool season annuals. Alburgh, VT, July, 2015. (Field day; 236 attendees; 115 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Fertility Improvements and Organic Transition. Focus on soil fertility, species selection. St. Albans, VT, August, 2015. (Field day; 28 attendees; 22 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Seeding, Infrastructure, and Zero-Grain Field Day. Focus on no grain feeding, pasture renovation, pasture fertility. Addison, VT, August, 2015. (Field day; 37 attendees; 29 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Irrigation, Pasture Renovation, and Cow Health Field Day. Focus on pasture renovation, pasture irrigation. Enosburg Falls, VT, September, 2015. (Field day; 19 attendees; 10 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2015. Fall Feed Inventory and Land Improvements Field Day. Focus on pasture renovation and annual forages. East Montpelier, VT, September, 2015. (Field day; 28 attendees; 21 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: C. Goossen and M. Bainbridge. 2015. Bovine Fatty Acids: From Forage to Milk. eOrganic webinar (https://youtu.be/fH7YUsBvsWI) (39 attendees; 9 producers; 412 YouTube views; webinar).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Vermont Organic Dairy Producers Conference. Dairy cow nutrition and low grain feeding, annual forages, pasture fertility, milk fatty acids. Randolph Center, VT, March, 2016. (Producer meeting; 111 attendees; 52 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby and A. F. Brito. 2016. Supplementing the Organic Dairy Herd Diet with Flaxseed. eOrganic webinar (https://youtu.be/X81GshkxJwk) (42 attendees; 6 producers; 372 YouTube views; webinar).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Annual Crops and Soils Field Day. Focus on summer annuals, flaxseed production, and cool season annuals. Alburgh, VT, July, 2016. (Field day; 185 attendees; 84 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Integrating Irrigation into your Grazing System. Focus on pasture irrigation and forage quality. Shoreham, VT, Auguts, 2016. (Field day; 35 attendees; 20 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Calf Care, Herd Health, and Farm Management. Focus on pasture fertility and milk fatty acids. Guilford, VT, August, 2016. (Field day; 27 attendees; 19 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Calf Care, Herd Health, and Farm Management. Focus on pasture fertility and milk fatty acids. Enosburg Falls, VT, August, 2016. (Field day; 31 attendees; 25 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2016. Calf Care, Herd Health, and Farm Management. Focus on pasture fertility and pasture renovation. Washington, VT, September, 2016. (Field day; 28 attendees; 19 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: P. Gruber. 2015. Flax shows promise for Northeast farms. September, 2015, (http://www.lancasterfarming.com/Flax-Shows-Promise-for-NE-Farms) (Popular press article).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: C. Goossen and M. Bainbridge. 2015. Summer annuals for maximizing grazing. Vermont Grazing Conference. Fairlee, VT, January, 2015. (15 attendees; 10 producers).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, S. L., A. I. Roca-Fernandez, A. N. Hafla, M. D. Rubano, A. F. Brito, and K. J. Soder. 2016. Effect of summer annuals on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):565.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Smith, R.G., Warren, N.D., Juntwait, K., Crook, S. 2016. Effects of alternative forage crop mixtures on the abundance and functional composition of weed communities. Annual Meeting of the Weed Science Society of America, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Feb. 8-11.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Juntwait, K. A., A. F. Brito, K. S. OConnor, R. G. Smith, K. M. Aragona, C. P. Ghedini, and A. B. D. Pereira. 2016. Performance and rumimal metabolism are not changed in lactating dairy cows offered spring available annual forage crops during a short-term grazing experiment. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):289.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Juntwait, K. A., A. F. Brito, K. S. OConnor, R. G. Smith, K. M. Aragona, C. P. Ghedini, and A. B. D. Pereira. 2016. Performance and ruminal metabolism in lactating dairy cows offered summer available annual forage crops during a short-term grazing experiment. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):289-290.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Galv�o Jr. J. G. B., A. F. Brito, A. H. N. Rangel, and J. B. A. Silva. 2016. Seasonal effects on milk yield and somatic cell score in organic dairy farms from the Northeast United States. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):577-578.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., R. Tacoma, S. Greenwood, K. Juntwait, A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. 2016. Characterization of rumen bacterial and protozoal fatty acid compositions from lactating Jersey cows offered alternative forage crops. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):629.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., R. Tacoma, S. Greenwood, K. Juntwait, A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. 2016. Alternative forage crops modify the composition and content of bovine milk fatty acids. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):675.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Santana, R. A. V. 2016. Economic and environmental evaluation of organic dairy production in the Northeast United States using the Integrated farm Systems Model. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil (Ph.D. Thesis).
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Galv�o J�nior, J. G. B. 2017. Milk production and quality in organic dairy farms in the Northeastern United States. Universidade Federal do Semi-�rido, Mossor�, RN, Brazil (Ph.D. Thesis).
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Souza, I. A. 2017. Growth and nutritional composition of annual forage crops and soil physicochemical properties in organic forage production systems. Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Itapetinga, BA, Brazil. (Ph.D. Thesis).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Pollnac, F.W., Smith, R.G., Warren, N.D. 2015. Are multi-cultivar forage stands more effective at suppressing weedy species than single cultivar stands? Annual Meeting of the Weed Science Society of America, Lexington, KY. Feb. 9-12.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Smith, R.G., Warren, N.D., Juntwait, K., Brito, A. F. 2016. Effects of forage crop mixtures on the abundance and functional composition of weed communities. 7th International Weed Science Congress, Prague, Czech Republic. June 19-25.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Pereira, A. B. D., A. F. Brito, T. L. Resende, D. H. Woitschach, R. B. Reis, and K. J. Soder. 2016. Feeding ground flaxseed to lactating dairy cows decreases the ruminal proportion of Archaea, but does not change the major species of cellulolytic bacteria. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):784.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cersosimo, L. M., R. Tacoma, S. Greenwood, K. Juntwait, A. F. Brito, and J. Kraft. 2016. Rumen protozoal community structures are not altered in lactating dairy cows offered alternative forage crops during short-term grazing experiments. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (E-Suppl. 1):792-793.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Juntwait, K. A., A. F. Brito, K. S. O'Connor, R. G. Smith, K. M. Aragona, and A. B. D. Pereira. 2016. Feeding annual forage crops to organic dairy cows during spring and summer seasons in Northeast United States. Pages 1-8 in Proceedings of the Organic Agriculture Research Symposium, Pacific Grove, CA. http://eorganic.info/sites/eorganic.info/files/u27/3.2.1-Juntwait%20et%20al_Revised%20Version_UNH-final.pdf.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Feeding Flaxseed to Organic Dairy Cows. 2015 Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium Annual Meeting. Morgantown, WV, March, 2015 (40 attendees; 15 producers).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: R. H. Skinner. 2015. Productivity and Persistence of Multi-Cultivar Perennial Ryegrass Mixtures. 2015 Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium Annual Meeting. Morgantown, WV, March, 2015 (40 attendees; 15 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: C. Goossen and S. Bosworth. 2016. Summer annuals for maximizing grazing. In-Service Training for Agricultural Service Providers. Portsmouth, NH, February, 2016. (65 attendees; 25 producers).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Reis, S. F., A. F. Brito, P. Y. Chouinard, K. J. Soder, and S. Ross. 2015. Supplementation of herbage-based diets with corn meal or liquid molasses changes the milk fatty acids profile in grazing dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 98 (Suppl.2):451.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Goossen, C.P., S.C. Bosworth, H.M. Darby, and J. Kraft. 2015. Maturity is a larger driver of fatty acid content in summer annuals than nitrogen fertility. Presented at the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association (ASAS-ADSA) Joint Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, USA. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98, Suppl. 2:282.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ghedini, C. P., A. F. Brito, S. F. Reis, D. C. Moura, A. S. Oliveira, R. A. V. Santana, and A. B. D. Pereira. 2016. Liquid molasses decreases production linearly and changes enterolactone concentrations as a corn meal substitute in organic dairy cows fed flaxseed meal. Pages 1-8 in Proceedings of the Organic Agriculture Research Symposium, Pacific Grove, CA.(http://eorganic.info/sites/eorganic.info/files/u27/4.6-Ghedini&al-2016-Replacing_Corn_Meal-OARS_Proceedings-Final.pdf).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Soder, K. J., A. N. Hafla, A. F. Brito, M. D. Rubano, and C. J. Dell. 2015. Effect of starchy or fibrous carbohydrate supplementation of an herbage diet on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 98 (Suppl.2):49.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Nutrition and performance of lactating dairy cows in organic dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci. 98 (Suppl.2):83 A. F. Brito. 2015. Nutrition and performance of lactating dairy cows in organic dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci. 98 (Suppl.2):833.3.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: F. Lichtner and K. D. Broders. 2015. Soil microbial community investigation associated with Lolium perenne in northeastern United States. Oklahoma State University Soil Biology Symposium. Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., and K.J. Soder. (In press). Forage quality and yield of brassicas during the fall grazing season. Progressive Forage Grower.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Soder, K.J., A.N. Hafla, A.F. Brito, M.D. Rubano, and C.J. Dell. 2015. Effect of starchy or fibrous carbohydrate supplementation of an herbage diet on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. Proceedings of the Northeast Pasture Consortium Meeting, Mar. 10-11, 2015. Morgantown, WV.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Soder, K.J., A.N. Hafla, A.F. Brito, and M.D. Rubano. 2015. Feeding strategy and pasture quality relative to nutrient requirements of organic dairy cows. Proceedings of the 2015 National Grazing Lands Coalition meeting, Dec. 13-16, 2015, Grapevine, TX.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Soder, K.J., A.N. Hafla, A.F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, A.F. Benson, H. Darby, and M.D. Rubano. 2016. Feeding strategy and pasture quality relative to nutrient requirements of grazing dairy cows in the northeastern U.S. Proceedings of the 2016 American Forage and Grassland Council annual meeting, Jan. 10-13, 2016, Baton Rouge, LA. 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Soder, K.J., A.N. Hafla, M.D. Rubano, and R. Stout. 2016. Application of a rising plate meter to estimate forage yield on dairy farms in Pennsylvania. Proceedings of the 2016 American Forage and Grassland Council annual meeting, Jan. 10-13, 2016, Baton Rouge, LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, S.L., A.I. Roca-Fern�ndez, M.D. Rubano, and K.J. Soder. 2016. Nutritive quality and forage yield of three brassica varieties for use in livestock grazing systems. J. Anim Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 5):284.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, S.L., A.I. Roca-Fern�ndez, K.J. Soder, A.F. Brito, A.N. Hafla, and M.D. Rubano. 2016. Effect of summer annuals on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Anim Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 5):565.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Roca-Fern�ndez, A.I., S.L. Dillard, M.D. Rubano, R.J. Tillmann, and K.J. Soder. 2016. Use of a novel continuous culture fermentor system for in vitro determination of enteric methane output from ruminants. J. Anim Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 5):564.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Soder, K.J., A.N. Hafla, A.F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, A.F. Benson, H. Darby, and M.D. Rubano. 2016. Feeding strategy and pasture quality relative to nutrient requirements of grazing dairy cows in the northeastern U.S. Proceedings of the 5th Grazing Lands Nutrition Conference, Jul 16-19, 2016. Park City, UT.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, S.L., A.N. Hafla, M.D. Rubano, R. Stout, and K.J. Soder. 2016. Application of a rising plate meter for estimation of forage yield in multi-species swards. Proceedings of the 5th Grazing Lands Nutrition Conference, Jul 16-19, 2016. Park City, UT. 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., Ana I. Roca-Fernandez, M.D. Rubano, and K.J. Soder. 2017. Potential of forage brassicas for use in pasture-based livestock systems. Proceedings of the 2017 American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting, Jan. 22-25, 2017, Roanoke, VA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., A.I. Roca-Fern�ndez, M.D. Rubano, K.R. Elkin, and K.J. Soder. (Submitted). Enteric methane production from forage brassica diets fed in continuous culture. Proceedings of the 2017 ASAS meeting, July 5-8, 2017, Baltimore, MD. 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., Ana I. Roca-Fernandez, M.D. Rubano, and K.J. Soder. Potential of forage brassicas for use in pasture-based livestock systems. Proceedings of the 2017 NE Pasture Consortium meeting, Mar 2-3, 2017, Hagerstown, MD.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hafla, A.N., K.J. Soder, A.F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, F. Benson, H. Darby, M.D. Rubano, S.L. Dillard, J. Kraft, and S.F. Reis. (Submitted). Winter supplementation of ground whole flaxseed impacts milk fatty acid composition on organic dairy farms in the northeastern United States. Proceedings of the 2017 ADSA meeting, June 25-28, 2017, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hafla, A.N., K.J. Soder, A.F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, F. Benson, H. Darby, M.D. Rubano, S.L. Dillard, J. Kraft, and S.F. Reis. (Submitted). Winter supplementation of ground whole flaxseed impacts milk fatty acid composition on organic dairy farms in the northeastern United States. Proceedings of the 2017 ASAS meeting, July 5-8, 2017, Baltimore, MD.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Soder, K.J. 2016. How well does pasture meet the nutrient needs of dairy cows? USDA-ARS fact sheet.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, S.L. Forage brassicas: establishment, management, and challenges. 2016. USDA-ARS fact sheet.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goslee, S.C. (Submitted). Planning pastures: Taking species attributes to the landscape. US-IALE 2017 Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Parsons, R. Variation in Profitability Between Vermont Organic Dairy Farms for 2015. Lancaster Farming (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Parsons, R. Organic Dairy Farms Profitability in 2015. Lancaster Farming. Vol. 62-#7, Section A, Pages A47-48. Feb. 18, 2017 (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Parsons, R. Grass Fed Milk Organic Milk  A Small Niche Market. Lancaster Farming. Vol. 61-#52, Section A, Pages A26. Oct 1, 2016 (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Parsons, R. Comparing the Profitability of Vermont Organic Dairies. Lancaster Farming. Vol. 61 #20, Section A, Page A47-A48. February 20, 2016 (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Parsons, R. Comparing the Profitability of Northeast Organic, Conventional Dairy Farms. Lancaster Farming. Vol.61-#15, Section E, Page E17. January 16, 2016 (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Parsons, R. Profitability or Organic Dairy Farms Up Slightly in 2014. NODPA E-Newsletter (electronic). Volume 16, #1. January 2016. http://www.nodpa.com/Jan2016-low-res-final.pdf (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Parsons, R. Profitability Declines Slightly in 2013. NODPA E-Newsletter (electronic). Volume 15, #1. January 14, 2015. http://www.nodpa.com/in_vermont_dairy_study_01142015.shtml. (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parsons, R. Economic Sustainability of Vermont Organic Dairy Farms: How Strong Is the Economic Leg? NODPA E-Newsletter (electronic). January 20, 2014. http://www.nodpa.com/in_vermont_dairy_study_01202014.shtml (Extension article).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Benson, A.F. 2014. No tilling brassicas in pastures touch and go. http://mysare.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/1007994No-tilling%20brassicas%20in%20pastures%20touch-and-go.pdf. Agri-View Magazine, December 14, 2014.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Monahan, E. Cummings, S. Ziegler, and J. Post. 2015. 2014 Flax Weed Control Report. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. Available online at: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2014-Flax-Weed-Control-Report.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Monahan, E. Cummings, S. Ziegler, and J. Post. 2015. 2014 Winter Small Grain Forage Report. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. Available online at: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2014-Winter-Small-Grain-Forage-Report.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Monahan, E. Cummings, S. Ziegler, and J. Post. 2015. 2014 Summer Annual Variety Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. Available online at: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2014-Summer-Annual-VT-Report.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Ziegler, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, A. Gupta, and J. Post. 2015. 2015 Cool Season Annual Forage Mixtures Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. Available online at: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Cool-Season-Annuals.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Darby, H., H. Emick, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, A. Gupta, and J. Post, and S. Ziegler. 2016. 2015 Forage Brassica Variety Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Forage-Brassica.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Darby, H., A. Gupta, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, J. Post, and S. Ziegler. 2016. 2015 Flax Planting Date Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Flax-PD.pdf. (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Ziegler, L. Calderwood, J. Cubins, E. Cummings, A. Gupta, and J. Post. 2015. 2015 Perennial Forage Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Perennial-Forage-Trial.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Ziegler, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, A. Gupta, and J. Post. 2015. 2015 Summer Annual Forage Mixtures Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Summer-Annual-Forage-Mixtures.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., S. Ziegler, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, A. Gupta, and J. Post. 2015. 2015 Summer Annual Variety Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Summer-Annual-VT.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Darby, H., A. Gupta, L. Calderwood, E. Cummings, J. Post, and S. Ziegler. 2016. 2015 Flax Variety Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2015-Flax-VT.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Darby, H., K. Blair, E. Cummings, S. Monahan, J. Post, S. Ziegler. 2015. 2014 Forage Brassica Planting Date Trial. University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program, St. Albans, VT. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2014-Forage-Brassica-Planting-Date.pdf (Research Report).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: R. Smith. 2016. Forages, and forests, and weeds (and organic no-till cabbage)! Oh, My! Agriculture and the Environment Seminar Series, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VT (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: R. Smith. 2015. A tale of two strategies: sustainable intensification and extensification of agriculture in northern New England. Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: R. Smith. 2015. Environmental Research Group (ERG), Department of Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Tour of the University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm for students of Great Bay Community College (Portsmouth, NH), Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, October 2015 (educational workshop; ~16 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm Field Day, Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, November 2015 (producer field day; ~35 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Brito, A. F. 2015. An overview of the organic dairy research at the University of New Hampshire. Oral presentation at the Scientific Colloquium on Dairy Production, Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2015 (producer and industry personnel symposium; ~150 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm Field Day, Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, November 4, 2015 (producer field day; ~40 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Workshop highlighting dairy research at the University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm Lee, NH, October 9, 2015 (producer workshop; ~25 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Brito, A. F. 2015. Annual crops as alternative forage sources for grazing dairy cows. University of New Hampshire Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Seminar Series, Durham, NH, October 2, 2015 (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Production of Organic Milk. Zootec Congress, Fortaleza, Cear�, Brazil, May 2015 (~300 attendees).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015. Nutrition and Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows in Organic Herds. 2015 ADSA-ASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, July 2015 (~100 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Integrating Forage Crops and Grazing Workshop. Organized by A. F. Brito and NH Granite State Graziers, Concord, NH, March, 2015 (~25 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: R. Smith. 2015. A Diversity of Forage Crops,University of New Hampshire Woodman Farm Research Field Day, NH Agricultural Experiment Station. Durham, NH. June 17 (Producer Field Day; ~40 stakeholders).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: R. Smith. 2015. New strategies for increasing forage productivity, New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo, Manchester, NH. February 6 (Producer Workshop; ~30 stakeholders).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. Pastureland Ecology II, UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, July 2015 (extension educator workshop; ~50 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. Summer Organic Dairy Series, UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, October 2015 (producer field day; ~30 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: F. Lichtner. 2014. Dont let your pasture rust. Fight Puccinia. On Pasture, Online Magazine (popular press article). www.onpasture.com.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2015 NH Risk Management Workshop for Agricultural Professionals, University of New Hampshire Organic Dairy Research Farm, Lee, NH, October 2015 (agricultural professionals workshop; ~30 attendees).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Transitioning Dairy Cows to a no Grain or High Forage Diet Workshop. Organized by A. F Brito. 2016 Northeast Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting, Freeport, ME, March, 2016. (~70 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2014. Manipulating Diets to Improve Milk Bioactive Compounds and the Carbon Footprint of Dairy Farms, University of New Hampshire Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series, Durham, NH, November 21 (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: F. Lichtner. 2016. Front Range Student Ecology Symposium- Soil Microbial Community Investigation. Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO, February, 23, 2016 (University Seminar Presentation).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: K. J. Soder. 2015. Pennsylvania State University Extension Grazing Guides for Dairy Systems Webinar Series: Alternative Supplementation Strategies for Grazing Dairy Cows (Webinar).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Pollnac, F.W., Smith, R.G., Warren, N.D. (2014) Cultivar diversity as a means of ecologically intensifying dry matter production in a perennial forage stand. Ecosphere 5(9):115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00139.1
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smith, R.G., Skinner, H., Bosworth, S., Kersbergen, R., Pollnac, F., et al. (in preparation). Effects of cultivar diversity on forage crop productivity and yield variability.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smith, R.G., Skinner, H., Bosworth, S., Kersbergen, R., Pollnac, F., et al. (in preparation) Productivity and persistence of perennial ryegrass cultivars across a climatic gradient.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: DeGenring, L., Smith, R.G., Warren, N., Lowry, C., et al. (in preparation). Effects of genotypic diversity on forage stand invasion.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S. L., A. N. Hafla, A. I. Roca-Fern�ndez, A. F. Brito, M. D. Rubano, and K. J. Soder. 2017. Effect of feeding warm-season annuals with orchardgrass on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 100:1179-1188.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dillard, L. S., A. N. Hafla, M. D. Rubano, R. C. Stout, A. F. Brito, and K. J. Soder. 2016. Evaluation of a rising plate meter for use in multispecies swards. Agric. Environ. Lett. 1:160032.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hafla, A. N., K. J. Soder, A. F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, A. F. Benson, H. M. Darby, M. D. Rubano, and S. F. Reis. 2016. Case Study: Feeding strategy and pasture quality relative to nutrient requirements of dairy cows in the northeastern United States. Prof. Anim. Sci. 32:523-530.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Soder, K. J., A. F. Brito, A. N. Hafla, and M. D. Rubano. 2016. Effect of starchy or fibrous carbohydrate supplementation of orchardgrass on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 99:4464-4475.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Brito, A. F., H. V. Petit, A. B. D. Pereira, K. J. Soder, and S. Ross. 2015. Interactions of corn meal or molasses with a soybean-sunflower meal mix or flaxseed meal on production, milk fatty acids composition, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows fed grass hay-based diets. J. Dairy Sci. 98:443-457.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Resende, T. L., J. Kraft, K. J. Soder, A. B. D. Pereira, D. E. Woitschach, R. B. Reis, and A. F Brito. 2015. Incremental amounts of ground flaxseed decrease milk yield but increase n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in dairy cows fed high-forage diets. J. Dairy Sci. 98:4785-4799.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: K. J. Soder. 2015. 2015 Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium Annual Meeting: OREI On-farm Research Results, March, 2015 (40 attendees; 15 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Rubano, M. D., and K. J. Soder. Flaxseed demo plots at the Penn State Ag Progress Days, August, 2015 (producer fair and meeting).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2016. PA Grazing Conference: Forage Brassicas, January, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2016. Forage Brassicas, Lancaster Farming, February, 2016 (popular press article).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2016. Fitting brassicas into your pasture rotation. Pennsylvania State University Extension Forage Series, Lycoming County, PA, March, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2016. Incorporating forage brassicas into your grazing system, Cornell Small Farm Quarterly, Jul 2016 (popular press article).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2016. Brassica pasture demo plots at the Penn State Ag Progress Days, August, 2016 (producer fair and meeting).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: S. L. Dillard. 2017. Incorporating brassicas into your grazing system. Pennsylvania State University Dairy Grazing Guides Webinar, January, 2017 (Webinar).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: R. H. Skinner. 2014. Perennial ryegrass productivity and persistence. Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2014. Brassicas in pastures. eOrganic webinar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOAI5NV-N3I)(90 attendees; 36 producers; 724 YouTube views; webinar).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Extending pastures with brassicas. Northern NY Grazing School Meeting. Carthage, NY, March, 2015 (38 attendees; 20 producers; workshop).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Extending pastures with brassicas. Northern NY Grazing School Meeting. Malone, NY, March, 2015 (44 attendees; 35 producers; workshop).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Soil health and brassicas. Pasture walk. Groton, NY, August, 2015 (14 attendees; 10 producers; pasture walk).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Season extension with brassicas. Northeast Organic Dairy Producer Alliance Annual Conference and Field Day. Pavilion, NY, October, 2015. (Poster Presentation; ~115 attendees).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Season extension with brassicas. 6th Annual Conference on Grazing Lands. Grapevine, TX, December, 2015. (Poster Presentation; ~600 attendees).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2015. Season extension with brassicas. Vermont Grazing Conference. Fairlee, VT, January, 2015. (Poster Presentation; ~120 attendees).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2016. Growing flax experience. NY Certified Organic Meeting. Geneva, NY, March, 2016. (Producer meeting; 105 attendees; 88 producers).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2016. Season extension with brassicas. Northeast Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting. Freeport, ME, March, 2016. (Poster Presentation; ~70 attendees).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: R. Kersbergen. 2016. Season extension with grazing annuals. Farmer to Farmer Conference Northport, ME, November, 2016 (65 attendees; 55 producers).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: H. M. Darby and R. Kersbergen. 2015. Organic Dairy Forages: Focus on Summer Annuals. eOrganic webinar (https://youtu.be/6H6VFxKJwaI) (94 attendees; 30 producers; 652 YouTube views; webinar).


Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: We are directly serving organic dairy farmers across the Northeast region. To this end, we are collaborating with 14 organic dairy farmers to collect baseline data (i.e., pasture quality, pasture intake, dairy herd improvement records, etc.) that will help them to improve management practices leading to more sustainable organic dairy farming in the Northeast. We are also serving extension educators across the region via on-farm demonstrations and field days. In addition to farmers and extension educators, we are educating industry personnel (e.g., organic milk processors, nutritionists) about organic practices related milk quality and composition as well as forage production through workshops, conferences, and field day presentations. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project is training organic dairy farmers across 5 northeastern states on how to better manage their pasture-based operations by sharing with them research information as well as teaching them the use of practical tools to measure pasture biomass such as the rising plate meter. We also released videos, webinars, field days, workshops, and scientific presentations to educate farmers, extension personnel, and the scientific community. We are also training post-doctorates and graduate and undergraduate students on how to conduct and be involved in a multi-disciplinary research and outreach project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Over 2,000 people including organic dairy farmers, extension educators, students, and industry personnel attended our pasture walks, workshops, webinars, field days, and scientific presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Project PDs will meet in person this coming November and will continue to work together to accomplish all goals of the project including economic analyses, milk composition analyses, perennial ryegrass analyses, and on-farm research. Project PDs also meet regularly through conference calls. Project PDs also have been meeting and consulting with members of the Stakeholder Advisory Board on a regular basis through phone calls, visits, workshops, and organic dairy conferences.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Impact: Our recent needs assessment of organic dairy producers in the region revealed that extending the grazing season, complying with the new pasture rules, and implementing strategies to facilitate value-added marketing of milk are major challenges to the industry.Opportunities exist to enhance the capacity of producers to extend the grazing season and profitably produce and market high quality, component-enriched organic milk through targeted diversification of pasture and feed supplementation with flaxseed. Our research with annual forage crops demonstrate that is possible to extend the grazing season with target plant species while providing high-quality forage for grazing and/or conserved forage (e.g., hay and silage). The flaxseed supplementation trials showed that it is possible to enrich milk with beneficial components (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids) for human health. Extending the grazing with annual forage crops has the potential to reduce the reliance on grain, thus enhancing the economic sustainability of organic dairy farmers in the Northeast. Naturally enriching organic milk with beneficial fatty acids for human health also has potential to develop niche markets for organic farmers in the region. Project major impact is to enhance the sustainability of organic dairy farming in the Northeast by reducing grain costs via research-based information on the use of annual forage crops while supporting milk markets with nutrient dense milk. We are successfully completing the project goals to date. Perennial ryegrass trials in NH, ME, VT, and PA were conducted and preliminary results on yields, nutrient composition, disease control, and environmental stress were presented in professional meetings and field days. Monthly data collection from 14 participant farms are ongoing with preliminary results presented in professional meetings and field days. On-farm feeding trials with flaxseed were conducted in nine participant farms and data are currently being analyzed. Two controlled feeding trials were conducted in NH with data presented in different outlets including scientific meetings, field days, workshops, etc. Annual forage crops and flaxseed variety trials were conducted with results presented to the dairy community via workshops, field days, and eOrganic webinars.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: F. Lichtner and K. D. Broders. 2014. Characterization of foliar pathogens infecting Lolium perenne in the northeastern U. S. American Phytopathological Society, Minneapolis, MN, August 9-13, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Pollnac, F.W., Warren, N.D., Smith, R.G. 2014. Genotypic diversity and forage productivity: Meeting the challenges of increased demand and climate change in perennial forage systems. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Sacramento, CA. Aug 10-15.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Smith R.G, Pollnac F.W., Warren, N.D. Effects of genotypic diversity on forage stand productivity. NHAES Farm and Forest Expo, Manchester, NH, February 7, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brito, A. F., Smith, R.G. 2014. Flaxseed and perennial ryegrass for improving milk fatty acids and forage production. NOFA-NY Winter Conference: Preserving the Past, Seeding the Future. Saratogoa Springs, NY. Jan 24-26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Goslee, S.C. 2014. What's in a species: Cultivar differences in perennial ryegrass. Presentation at the Northeastern Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting, Feb. 4-5 2014, State College, PA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Gonet, J.M., S.C. Goslee and R.H. Skinner. 2014. Freeze tolerance of perennial ryegrass. Poster at the Northeastern Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting, Feb. 4-5 2014, State College, PA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito, J. Kraft, T. L. Resende, A. B. D. Pereira, K. J. Soder, D. H. Woitschach, and R. B. Reis. 2014. Feeding incremental levels of ground flaxseed increased n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in organically-managed jersey cows. J. Dairy Sci. 97 (E-suppl. 1):318.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2014. Flaxseed for organic dairy cows. Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES) Conference, La Crosse, WI. February 27-27 & March 1.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2014. Organic dairy forages across the seasons. Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES) Conference, La Crosse, WI. February 27-27 & March 1.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2014. Effect of feeding pasture supplemented with ground flaxseed on milk production and composition in organic dairy cows. Presentation at the Northeastern Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting, Feb. 4-5 2014, State College, PA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: K. O'Connor, A. Catalano, B. Isemberg, and A.F. Brito. 2014. The effects of supplementing a pasture-based diet with ground flaxseed in organically-managed Jersey cows. Presentation at the University of New Hampshire 23rd Annual COLSA Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. April 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hafla, A. 2014. Assisting organic dairy producers to meet the demands of new and emerging milk markets. Presentation at the NIFA Organic Project Directors Meeting, Washington, DC. Jan. 13, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2014. Feed supplements to organic dairy cows. NHAES Farm and Forest Expo, Manchester, NH, February 7, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: K. J. Soder and B. Heins. 2014. Supplementation for the grazing cow: Corn and alternatives. Presentation at GrassWorks Grazing Conference, Wassau, WI. Jan. 16-17, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. Hafla and K. J. Soder. 2014. Forage quality of organic pastures relative to nutrient requirements of organic dairy cows. Presentation at the Northeastern Pasture Consortium Annual Meeting, Feb. 4-5 2014, State College, PA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2014. Overview of planting flax in New York. Presentation at the New York Certified Organic Meeting (NYCO), Geneva, NY. March 11, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: A. F. Benson. 2013. Assisting organic dairy producers to meet the demands of new and emerging milk markets: Project Research Update. Presentation at the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA), Mansfield, PA. Sept. 17, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: H. M. Darby. 2014. Assisting organic dairy producers to meet the demands of new and emerging milk markets: Project Research Update. Presentation at the Vermont Organic Dairy Producers Conference, Randolph Center, VT. March 5, 2014.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Resende, T. L. 2014. Effects of ground flaxseed on milk production, milk composition, and methane emissions in organically-certified Jersey cows. M. S. Dissertation. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. May, 2014.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2013. Assisting organic dairy producers to meet the demands of new and emerging milk markets: Project Research Update. Presentation at the NC-2042 Annual Meeting. University of Kentucky, lexington, KY. Oct. 10-12, 2013
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: B. Isenberg and A. F. Brito. 2014. Feeding flaxseed to cows offers multiple benefits. Organic Broadcaster, March-April 2014, p.1, 16 (popular press article).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: H. M. Darby and C. Gossen. 2014. Overview about summer annuals, cool season annuals, and low grain feeding to dairy cows. Presentation at the Vermont Organic Dairy Producers Conference, Randolph Center, VT. March 5, 2014.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Pollnac, F.W., Smith, R.G., Warren, N.D. 2014. Cultivar diversity as a means of ecologically intensifying dry matter production in a perennial forage stand. Ecosphere.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito, H. V. Petit, A. B. D. Pereira, K. J. Soder, and S. Ross. 2014. Interactions of corn meal or molasses with a soybean-sunflower meal mix or flaxseed meal on production, milk fatty acids composition, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows fed grass hay-based diets. J. Dairy Sci.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. N. Hafla, K. J. Soder, A. F. Brito, R. Kersbergen, A. F. Benson, H. Darby, and M. D. Rubano. 2014. Feeding strategy and pasture quality relative to nutrient requirements of grazing dairy cows in the Northeastern. J. Dairy Sci. 97 (E-suppl. 1):533.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: B. J. Isenberg, A. F. Brito, A. B. D. Pereira, N. L. Whitehouse, R. B. Standish, and K. J. Soder. 2014. Effects of ground flaxseed on milk production, milk composition, and methane emissions in organically-managed Jersey cows during the grazing season. J. Dairy Sci. 97 (E-suppl. 1):181.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. F. Brito. 2014. Feeding incremental levels of ground flaxseed linearly reduced milk yield and enteric methane emissions in organic Jersey Cows. Poster presentation to the Director of the USDA Climate Change Program, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. May 13th.


Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: We are directly serving organic dairy farmers across the Northeast region. To this end, we are collaborating with 14 organic dairy farmers to collect baseline data (i.e., pasture quality, pasture intake, dairy herd improvement records, etc.) that will help them to improve management practices leading to more sustainable organic dairy farming in the Northeast. We are also serving extension educators across the region via on-farm demonstrations and field days. In addition to farmers and extension educators, we are educating industry personnel (e.g., organic milk processors, nutritionists) about organic practices related milk quality and composition as well as forage production through workshops, conferences, and field day presentations. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project is training organic dairy farmers across 5 northeastern states on how to better manage their pasture-based operations by sharing with them research information as well as teaching them the use of practical tools to measure pasture biomass such as the rising plate meter. We are also training post-doctorates and graduate and undergraduate students on how to conduct and be involved in a multi-disciplinary research and outreach project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Over1,000 people including organic dairyfarmers, extension educators, students, and industry personnel attended our pasture walks, workshops, webinars,field days, and scientific presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Project PDs met during the summer and will continue to work together to accomplish all goals of the project including economic analyses, milk composition analyses, perennial ryegrass genotype analyses, and on-farm research.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The perennial ryegrass field experiment was established at each of the four collaborating research sites (UNH-Durham, NH; UVM-Burlington, VT; UMaine-Orono, ME; and USDA-ARS-RockSprings, PA) in fall 2012.Since then,wehave collected ryegrass productivity data throughout the2013 field season.These datainclude forage components and plant community composition.These data have been entered and we are currently in the process of analyzing the results of this first growing season.As this is a multi-year experiment, thisprocess will be ongoing throughout the next several years.Two controlled feeding trials were completed at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm to evaluate the impact of flaxseed supplementation on milk production, milk composition, and methane emissions during the winter and grazing seasons. We also collected baseline data (milk, feed, and pasture samples, pasture production, and herd records) from 14 collaborating organic dairy farmers in ME, VT, NH, PA, and NY.Summer annuals as well as spring (e.g., small grains) and fall (e.g.,) crops experiments were established in VT and ME. Several workshops, field days, webinars, popular press articles were delivered to the organic dairy community across the Northeast.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Pereira, A. B. D., A. F. Brito, L. L. Townson, D. H. Townson. Assessing the research and education needs of the organic dairy industry in the northeastern United States. J. Dairy Sci. 96:7340-7348.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Soder, K. J., A. F. Brito, and M. D. Rubano. 2013. Effect of supplementing orchardgrass herbage with a total mixed ration or flaxseed on fermentation profile and bacterial protein synthesis in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 96:3228-3237.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Soder, K. J., A. F. Brito, and M. D. Rubano. 2013. Short communication: Effect of oilseed supplementation of an herbage diet on ruminal fermentation in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 96:2551-2556.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: . Resende, T. L., A. F. Brito, K. J. Soder, D. H. Woitschach, A. B. D. Pereira, and R. B. Reis. 2013. Feeding incremental levels of ground flaxseed linearly reduced milk yield and enteric methane emission in organic Jersey cows. J. Dairy Sci.(E-Suppl. 1). 96:523.


Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities (Objectives 1 and 2): Site preparation for the multi-cultivar perennial ryegrass mixture field experiment occurred from mid-summer 2011 through August 2012 at 4 research sites (NH, ME, VT, and PA). In late summer 2011, lime and manure fertilizer were applied, sites were then plowed and disk harrowed, winter rye was sown in mid to late September of 2011, and crimson clover was frost seeded into the rye in March of 2012. The rye was mowed to 4-6 inches in early June 2012. The remaining crimson clover was tilled under in late July 2012 and the sites were disk harrowed twice prior to establishment of the treatments. During the winter of 2011-12, we sourced perennial ryegrass seed for 13 perennial ryegrass cultivars (and Alice white clover) differing in traits including winter hardiness, heading date, and ploidity. Treatments are currently established. At the VT site (10 varieties of Sudangrass, sorghum x Sudangrass, and pearl millet) a summer annual variety trial was established. A manure N fertility trial was also initiated at the VT and ME in a randomized complete block with split plots (main plot is manure N rate and split plots are annual forages. A flaxseed variety trial with 7 varieties was implemented in summer 2012 in VT and ME. A cool season cereal grain trial was implemented at the VT site to evaluate organic N sources and impacts on yield and quality of oats harvested in different vegetative stages. An in vitro continuous culture fermentor trial was conducted at the Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit to assess the effects of increasing flaxseed supplementation (0, 5, 10, and 15%) of an herbage-based diet on nutrient digestibility and methane output. A winter feeding trial was conducted at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm. A total of 20 lactating dairy cows were used to investigate the effects of incremental levels of ground flaxseed meal (0, 5, 10, and 15%) on milk production and composition, nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism, and methane emissions. We recruited a total of 14 organic dairy farms across the Northeast (2 farms in NH and 3 farms is ME, NY, PA, and VT) to participate in our project. All farms are enrolled in DHI (dairy herd improvement) allowing our team to collect information such as milk composition, management, and reproductive health. Our team is also visiting these 14 farms twice a month to gather data including pasture biomass and quality and pasture intake. Concentrate samples and body condition score are collected monthly. Events: Our team organized 2 pasture walks (ME and NY) and 3 workshops in VT highlighted the project and preliminary project results.Our team also met 2 times to discuss and organize project activities and future plans. Services: We are working with 14 organic dairy farmers across the Northeast helping them improve their pasture and herd managements. Products: A webinar highlighting fly control in organic dairy farms was produced and posted on eOrganic. Dissemination: Over 400 people including organic farmers, educators, students, and industry personnel attended our pasture walks and workshops. Our webinar was attended online by 59 participants. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: PI Brito (UNH) conducted the winter feeding trial at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm using 20 lactating organic dairy cows fed incremental levels of ground flaxseed. PI Brito also collaborated with co-PI Soder (ARS-USDA) in a vitro study, in which fermentors were fed an herbage-based diet supplemented with incremental levels of ground flaxseed. PI Brito has been coordinating and overseeing the general aspects of the project including the organization of conference calls, team annual meetings, and advisory board meetings. Co-PI Townson (UNH) has been involved in the organization of outreach activities (workshops and webinars) and in collection and evaluation of on-farm research data. Co-PI Broders (UNH) has been involved in the preparation of the methodology for characterization of soil microbial analysis in the multi-cultivar perennial ryegrass mixture field experiment and ancillary cultivar monoculture study. Co-PIs Heather (UVM) and Kersbergen (UMaine) have been conducting several summer annual, cool season, and flaxseed variety trials at the VT and ME sites, respectively. Co-PIs Smith (UNH), Skinner (ARS-USDA), Goslee (ARS-USDA), Bosworth (UVM), and Kersbergen (UMaine) have been involved in the implementation of the multi-cultivar perennial ryegrass mixture field experiment and ancillary cultivar monoculture study. All 5 sites and most PIs (Brito, Townson, Soder, Darby, Kersbergen, and Benson) are directly involved with the on-farm research component of the project. On-farm baseline data collection (i.e., pasture quality, pasture intake, herd DHI, etc.) started last June and will continue throughout the grazing and winter seasons. Collaborations and contacts: Project PIs have been collaborating with the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Pasture Consortium, StonyField Farms, Organic Valley, and eOrganic. These strategic partnerships are supporting project outreach efforts and delivery of project products. Our team is also collaborating with Dr. Jana Kraft (UVM) who will be responsible for conducting fatty acids analyses on pasture and milk samples. In addition to thesewe are closely collaborating with 14 organic dairy farmers across the Northeast. Training or professional development: The project is training organic dairy farmers across 5 northeastern states on how to better manage their pasture-based operations by sharing with them research information as well as teaching them the use of practical tools to measure pasture biomass such as the rising plate meter. We are also training post-doctorates, graduate and undergraduate students, and interns on how to conduct and be involved in a multi-disciplinary research and outreach project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences: We are directly serving organic dairy farmers across the Northeast region. To this end, we are collaborating with 14 organic dairy farmers to collect baseline data (i.e., pasture quality, pasture intake, herd DHI, etc.) that will help them to improve management practices leading to more sustainable organic dairy farming in the Northeast. Efforts: We delivered 2 pasture walks and 3 workshops highlighting different aspects of the project and needs of the organic dairy industry in our region. More than 450 people benefited from these project events. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Because the project recently completed its first year, our team cannot access changes in knowledge, actions or conditions as a results or project research and activities. However, the project already generated important data regarding the impact of ground flaxseed supplementation of milk production and composition, microbial protein synthesis, and methane output through in vivo and vitro studies. Preliminary results from the UNH in vivo feeding trial showed linear decreases in milk production, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk and yields of milk components (fat, protein, and lactose) when lactating organic dairy cows were fed incremental levels of ground flaxseed (0, 5, 10, or 15% of diet dry matter) in a 5 replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 14 days for diet adaptation and 7 days for data and samples collection. A 4-unit dual-flow continuous culture fermentor system was used to assess the effect of increasing ground flaxseed supplementation (0, 5, 10, and 15%) of an herbage-based diet on nutrient digestibility, microbial N synthesis, and methane output. Treatments were randomly assigned to fermentors in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 7 days for diet adaptation and 3 days for data and sample collection. Apparent dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities decreased linearly with increasing supplemental flaxseed. Molar proportions of acetate and propionate increased linearly, whereas those of butyrate and valerate decreased linearly with increasing flaxseed supplementation. Although methane output decreased linearly as supplemental flaxseed increased from 0 to 15% of diet dry matter, ammonia-N concentration, apparent crude protein digestibility, and microbial N synthesis did not differ across treatments. Incremental ground flaxseed supplementation of an herbage-based diet resulted in a corresponding decrease in methane output in a dual-flow continuous culture fermentor system. However, apparent nutrient digestibility also decreased with flaxseed supplementation, which, at the cow level, could result in decreased dry matter intake, milk production, or both.

Publications

  • Soder, K. J., A. F. Brito, M. D. Rubano, and C. J. Dell. 2012. Effect of incremental flaxseed supplementation of an herbage diet on methane output and ruminal fermentation in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 95:3961-3969.