Consortium member Troy Bishopp reviewed the 2020 Consortium meeting for Country Folks.
FAIRLEE, VT – With millions of acres of pastureland and hay crops, the wise use and management of grasslands and forage systems to power the Northeast economy, regenerate agriculture, feed the populace and provide ecosystem services is immense. These humble sods contain opportunities to improve agriculture sustainability while solving many climate resiliency and food sovereignty issues. However, the quiet grass needs some PR now and then to accentuate the positives.
For 24 years, the head cheerleader in this effort has been the Northeast Pasture Consortium. Since its inception, the consortium comprised of member states Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia has driven timely, pasture-based information and collaborative research among land grant universities, USDA-Agriculture Research Service (ARS), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.
The annual meeting of private and public sector stakeholders held this year in Vermont focused on the misunderstood fescue species, pastured pigs, silvopasture, winter grazing, soil compaction in pastures and pasture practices to achieve Chesapeake Bay’s TMDL pollution diet.
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