This concluded our technical sessions. After a mid-morning break, we began our Pasture-Based Farming Research and Demonstration Needs Discussion Concurrent Sessions. This was held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Due to the lower than usual turnout of participants this year, we decided to have our private sector and public sector people participate in the discussions together. We had pre-arranged to have several researchable topics listed for discussion. They were:
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Riparian Pasture Grazing Management to protect water quality
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Orchardgrass Die-Off Investigation Action Plan
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Supplementation of Dairy Cows to enhance omega-3 content in milk
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New Forage Crops & Varieties to enhance and extend pasture productivity
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Energy Audits on Grazing Farms using the Self-Audit Form
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Promoting Dung Beetle Activity in Pastures
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Goat and sheep parasitology progress on pastures
Participants were to discuss progress, funding initiatives, demonstration projects, coordination efforts, collaboration opportunities, and explore new directions in doing research and demonstration work. Below are the list of topics and the people assigned to them to discuss research and demonstration needs based on their stated interests on the conference registration form.
Riparian Pasture Grazing Management to protect water quality
Leader - Peter Kleinman, USDA, ARS
First Hour Participants:
- Jenn Colby - University of Vermont, Pasture Network
- James Cropper - Northeast Pasture Consortium
- Michael Morris - West Virginia Farm Bureau
- Al Rotz - USDA, ARS
- Howard Skinner - USDA, ARS & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Lawrason Sayer - MD Farmer
Second Hour Participants:
- Fay Benson - Cornell University
- Ken Miller - MA farmer & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Peter Miller - CROPP-Organic Valley
- Kevin Ogles - USDA, NRCS
- Susan Parry - USDA, NRCS & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Les Vough - University of Maryland & NEPC Ex. Committee
Orchardgrass Die-Off Investigation Action Plan
Leader - Geoff Brink, USDA, ARS
First Hour Participants: - Sid Bosworth - University of Vermont & NEPC Principal Investigator - Joe Hatton - WV Farmer & USDA, NRCS & NEPC Ex. Committee - Gordon Jones - Virginia Tech - Ed Rayburn - West Virginia University & NEPC Ex. Committee - Les Vough - University of Maryland & NEPC Ex. Committee - Don Wild - NY Farmer & King’s AgriSeed
Second Hour Participants:
- Sid Bosworth - University of Vermont & NEPC Principal Investigator
- Jim Cropper - Northeast Pasture Consortium
- Joe Hatton - WV Farmer & USDA, NRCS & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Gordon Jones - Virginia Tech
- Michael Morris - West Virginia Farm Bureau
- Tracy Neff - King’s AgriSeed
- Ed Rayburn - West Virginia University & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Howard Skinner - USDA, ARS & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Genevieve Slocum - King’s AgriSeed
- Richard Swartzentruber - DE Farmer
Promoting Dung Beetle Activity in Pastures - 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Leader: Tom Griggs, West Virginia University
Participants:
- Fay Benson - Cornell University
- Matt Bertone - North Carolina State University
- Jasmine Dillon - Penn State University
- Kimberly Hagen - UVM, Pasture Network
- Jana Malot - PA Farmer
- Kevin Ogles - USDA, NRCS
- Susan Parry - USDA, NRCS & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Diane Schivera - ME farmer & Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Wes Watson - North Carolina State University
Supplementation of Dairy Cows to enhance omega-3 content in milk - 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Leader: Andre Brito, University of New Hampshire
Participants:
- Duane Hertzler - PA Farmer & PA Grazing Lands Coalition
- Ken Miller - MA farmer & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Peter Miller - CROPP-Organic Valley
- Kathy Soder - USDA, ARS
New Forage Crops & Varieties to enhance and extend pasture productivity - 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Leader: Eric Noel, VT Farmer & NEPC Stakeholder Action Committee Chairman
Participants:
- Tracy Neff - King’s AgriSeed
- Genevieve Slocum - King’s AgriSeed
- Richard Swartzentruber - DE Farmer
Goat and Sheep Parasitology progress on pastures - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Leader: Scott Bowdridge, West Virginia University
Participants:
- Matt Bertone - North Carolina State University
- Tom Griggs - West Virginia University
- Kimberly Hagen - UVM, Pasture Network
- Diane Schivera - ME farmer & Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association & NEPC Ex. Committee
- Kathy Soder - USDA, ARS
- Wes Watson - North Carolina State University
Energy Audits on Grazing Farms using the Self-Audit Form - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Leader: Jennifer Colby
Participants:
- Jasmine Dillon - Penn State University
- Jana Malot - PA Farmer
- Eric Noel - VT Farmer & NEPC Stakeholder Action Committee Chairman
- Al Rotz - USDA, ARS
Reports were prepared for each session and these were presented in the afternoon of March 12 during the Reports Session.