NEPC Research Priorities

2019 Research Priorities

1. Explore new methods to transfer knowledge and information to increase adoption of research findings within the agriculture community; incorporate social science research into increased adoption and technology transfer

   • Including Farm Bureau to additionally influence regulations and legislations

   • USDA-ARS—-keep working with and building partnerships

   • Seek new contact with USDA-NRCS Chief, commitment to encourage reps from every state (electronic options for joining?)

   • Strengthen Extension research connections, work listservs and across communication methods

   • University research connections, work listservs and across communication methods—-use OREI funding opportunity

   • Invite farmers from all NEPC states (Cedar Tree grant—-NE states, could apply to USDA OTT, USDA-NIFA Scott Angle)

2. Ecosystems Services and Disservices from Pasture Systems and Grazing Management

   • Impacts to riparian areas

   • Impacts to water quality (citizen involvement)

   • Wildlife benefits to adaptive grazing management

   • Impacts of permanent stream and streambank exclusion from livestock grazing riparian area pastures

   • Economic models for ecosystem service payments (measurement, payment, structure)

   • Silvopasture contributions to carbon sequestration; adaptive strategy in changing climate conditions

3. Research adjustments in forage management needs in a changing climate

   • Regional management approaches (understanding variability)

   • Species adaptation and evaluation (meadow fescue, use of annuals, increase in invasive plants)

4. Soil biology and management impacts on animal health and human health

   • Small ruminant parasite research at WVU, Rhode Island, Cornell

   • Red and white clover functions in animal and soil health, pollinators, forage and animal production

   • Grazing management as it affects soil health (compaction, worms)

5. Further research in meat and dairy products regarding human nutrition and health

   • Fatty acid updates, importance of side chains on long chain FAs (Jana Kraft), and short chain FAs

   • Artificial gut for milk digestibility

   • Whole milk/fats

   • Probiotics/prebiotics

   • C3, C4 grasses, forbs, and effects on O-3 in milk and meat

6. Addressing the Heavy Use Area/Pasture interface (vegetation management)

   • Comparison of options (deep-bed packs, composted packs, wood chips)

   • Biological composition of bedded packs and livestock health (mastitis—-John Barlow & Deb Neher)

   • Bale grazing & in-field winter management/calving

   • Species evaluation for vegetated heavy use areas

7. Farm profitability and upcoming cultural/societal changes

   • Compare different philosophies, results, benchmarks

   • Development of artificial meat (and other animal products) and how will that affect our work, audience, research

   • Ecological/carbon footprint of animal production compared to ecological footprints of alternative products

   • Quality assurance program requirements; impacts on profitability