Champlain Valley CROP, SOIL & PASTURE Team

23 Pond Lane, Suite 300 • Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-4969 • champlain.crops@uvm.edu www.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

• StreamliningProgramsMeansLessEffortforFarmers,pg2• ManureTrainingforApplicatorsandFarmers,pg3• GrazingCharts:AnAdaptableRecordKeepingTool,pg4• CoverCrops:FromResearchtoReality,pg5• CropYieldandNManagementinaCoverCrop/No-TillSystem,pg6• VerticalTillage:HowDoesItFitintheTillageContinuum?,pg7

SPRING 2017

FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AND BEYONDBy Jeff Carter, Agronomy Specialist, Champlain Valley Crop, Soil & Pasture TeamAgronomy and Conservation Assistance Program

Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)classeshavebeenamajoremphasisofactivityforthepastmonthsand31farmerscompletedtheirNMPthroughtheUVMExtensiongoCrop™classesthatwereheldinRichmond,MiddleburyandPawlet.Statewide,over70farmerscompletedtheclassesofferedbytheSt.AlbansandMiddleburyExtensionCropteamssofarmerscandeveloptheirowncropmanagementplans.

Thereareplentyoffieldmeetings,cornplanterclinics,farmermanuretrainings,streamfloodplainrestrictiondiscussions,andbufferworkshopsgoingonnowandmoretocomethisspring,allgearedto-wardhowfarmerswilladoptpracticestomeettheRequiredAgriculturalPractices(RAP)rules.Stayupdatedaboutcurrenteventsviae-mail:joinouremaillistatwww.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops.

Field Research/Demonstration

WewillbestartingsomenewprojectsthisyearwithfinancialsupportfromtheNRCSVermontConservationInno-vationGrantProgram;theAgencyofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets;andtheNortheastSAREprogramtocontinueourworkwithlocalfarmers.Onestudywillstartabenchmarkprogramfortheeconomicsofgrowingcovercropsand

usingno-tillforcropplanting.Whatisthetruecostandbenefitofmovingtono-tillwithcover,andthenhowprofit-ableareyou?WeneedbetterdataabouttheVermontfarmswhohavechangedtothesenewcropsystemstobesureoftherightinvestmentsforyourparticularfarm.Startingwithahandfuloffarmswhohaveagreedtoprovidethedetailsabouttheiroperations,thedatafromthisprojectwillreflectcurrentfinancesoftheseconservationpracticesastheyareusedhereonoursoils.

Whole-farmphosphorus(P)massbal-ancehasbeenaroundforsometime,butfewfarmscompletetheaccountingofwheretheextraPcomesfrom.Wehaveaprojecttoworkwithseveralfarm-ersandtheirfeedconsultantstocollectdataontheextentofPimportedtolocaldairyfarms.Thisisgoodinformationtohave,butreallytheissueiswhattodothen?NotallPisleavingthefarms,andthatiswhyfarmersusetheP-IndextobetterunderstandtheriskofPlossand“plug”anyleaksinthefarmsystem.Wewillbefieldtestingthenew2017VermontP-IndexandanewNortheastP-Indexonseveralfarmsandrelatethatdatatowhole-farmP-Massbalancesandfarmconservation.WewillcollectdatatohelpfarmerswithcropmanagementdecisionsundertherevisedVermontP-Index.Thiswillthenbeusedtoaddress

theNMP590standard,whichistheba-sisforallfarmnutrientplans.Whattodothenifyouhaveahighphosphorussoiltest?AnotherstudywehaveistoevaluatetheuseoffieldapplicationsofamendmentstoreducesoiltestPinthefield.Wewillbelookingatthreetypesofgypsum,includingonewithhumates,alsocontrastedwithshort-paperfiber(SPF).Whenspringdoesgethere,wewillalsoseehowgoodthecovercropsperformthatweplantedlastfall.

Have a question for Jeff? JeffCarter(802)388-4969ext.332

jeff.carter@uvm.edu

In T

his

Issu

e

VERMONT RAP RULESThe Vermont Required Agricultural Prac-tices Rule affects all farmers this year, and so it affects our Extension work. Focus on Agriculture means a focus on helping you to learn (like Poop Skool) and then figure out the best next steps to take (whatever that is). Give us a call, or just come to the meetings that we host with the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition. This is a great way to keep up with new ideas so you can deal with changing times in Vermont agriculture.

RMA UPDATE: STREAMLINING PROGRAMS MEANS LESS EFFORT FOR FARMERSAcreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI)Farmersaretime-strappedfolks.Havingtoreportthesamethingtomultipleagenciescanseemlikeawasteoftime.Welcome,ACRSI.

ACRSIisajointeffortamongproducers,FarmServiceAgency(FSA),RiskMan-agementAgency(RMA),andthecropinsuranceindustry.TheAcreageCropReportingStreamliningInitiative(ACRSI)replacesduplicativecropreportingofcommonacreageinformationbypro-ducerstoboththeFarmServiceAgency(FSA)andRiskManagementAgency

(RMA).Producersnowhavemultiplewaysinwhichtoreporttheircommonacreagedataandwillnothavetore-portthesameinformationtwicetobothFSAandtheircropinsuranceagents,savingtimeandpotentiallyreducinginadvertenterrors. ACRSIisavailablenationwideforthe2017acreagereport-ingseason.

CropssharedunderACRSIincludealfal-fa,barley,canola,corn,grass,oats,rye,sorghum,soybeansandwheat,aswellasacresundertheConservationReserve

Program(CRP)andfallowfields.Othercropsinthisprogram:cotton,peanuts,riceandsunflowers.

Thesecoverapproximately94%ofthecroplandacresreportedtoFSAandRMA,andhavesimilarreportingrequirementswithbothagencies.FSAandRMAwillgainexperiencecollectingandsharingdataforthesecrops,andwillusethelessonslearnedtomakeinformedde-cisionswhethertoincludeadditionalcommoditiesinthefuture.

UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION FOR SUCCESSPlanter Clinics: Getting Ready to No-TillForthethirdyear,ourteamishostingno-tillcornplanterclinicsincoordinationwithChamplainValleyFarmerCoalition.Areyouonoure-maillisttofindoutdatesanddetails?Likeconventionaltill,successfulno-tillcomesdowntohealthysoil,aproperlyset-upplanter,andtherighttiming:they’reevenmorecriticalsinceyoucan’tcorrectmistakeswithanextraharrowpass!

No-Till Resourcesatwww.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops IncludingFactsheets,No-TillCornPlanterTuneUpChecklist,andClosingWheelGuide

Buffers and Grassed Waterways, Oh My!Weknow,buffersandgrassedwaterwaysarenotalwaysthefavor-itetopicsoffarmers,butwhenitcomestowaterquality,theycanmakeabigdifference.WithourgrantfocusintheMcKenzieBrookwewillbehostingspringandsummerfieldevents.Lookforeventdetailssoon,andpleaseletusknowifyouwouldliketohostoneonyourfarm.Wewilldiscuss:

New RAP rule on buffers in effect April 15, 2017.AllfarmerscoveredundertheRAPswillberequiredtohavea25-footbufferonstreamsanda10-footbufferonditches.Let’sfaceit,thiswillmeanadjustingplowingandplantingpracticesthisspring.

Grassed waterways.Althoughnotmandated,thesecanbeveryeffective,particularlywhereotherpracticesaren’tenoughtopreventgullyerosion.

Welcome, Claire!

Claire Bove is the newest addition to the Middle-bury UVM Extension of-fice, hired in February as the Vermont Coordinator for the High School Equiv-alency Program (HEP). HEP helps migrant and seasonal farm workers or their children obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma, and subsequently gain employment or pursue postsecondary education.

About Claire & HEP: blog.uvm.edu/cvcrops About Farm Worker Programs: uvm.edu/extension/agriculture/farmworker

Contact Claire: 802-388-4969 x 338, claire.bove@uvm.edu

UPDATES ON EVENTS & MORE SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER AT

WWW.UVM.EDU/EXTENSION/CVCROPS

Spring 2017 Newsletter2 www.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

MANURE TRAINING FOR APPLICATORS & FARMERS: PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASONBy Nate Severy, Agronomy Outreach ProfessionalThiswinterwehavebeenverybusyput-tingtogetherworkshopsandmeetingsfocusedonnewmanurespreadingrulesandhowfarmersandcustomapplicatorscanmakethemworkontheirfarms.Manureorother“agriculturalwastes”cannotbespreadwithin25feetofastreamand10feetofaditch.Therearealsonewrestrictionswhenspreadinginfloodplains,trainingrequirements,andrecordkeepingrequirements.Everyoneunderthecertifiedsmall,mediumorlargefarmdefinitionmustspreadma-nureaccordingtoaNutrientManage-mentPlan(NMP),andallfarmsmustapplymanurebasedonagronomicrates.

WereceivedagrantlastfallfromtheVt.AgencyofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets(VAAFM)todevelopaneducationalandcertificationprogramforcustomma-nureapplicatorsincoordinationwiththeNorthwestCropandSoilTeam.ThisprogramwillbeverysimilartothePes-ticideApplicatorProgram:applicatorswillhavetotakeandpassanexam,re-certifyyearly,andaccumulate8hoursofprofessionaldevelopmentover5yearstomaintainthecertification.Thefirstexamwilltakeplacenextwinter,mostlikelybeforeChristmas.

Forthisupcomingcroppingseason,eventhoughcustomapplicatorswillnothavetheirapplicatorcertification,thesebusi-

nesseswillbeexpectedtofollowalloftheRAPspertainingtospreadingma-nure,includingkeepingapplicationre-cords.TohelpeveryonelearnabouttheRAPsandwhatrecordsneedtobekept,wehelpedorganize3custommanureapplicatorworkshopsand5farmerandcustomapplicatoremployeeworkshopsthroughoutVermont.Attheseevents,attendeeslearnedaboutthenewrulesandwhatisexpectedfromthem.TheseworkshopsalsoprovidedaforumwherepeoplewereabletoaskquestionsandengageinopendialoguewithVAAFMstaff.Ateachmeetingthereweregoodconversationsthatgeneratedimportantquestionsanditisgreattohearrespect-fulconversations.Evenwhenpeopledonotagreetheycanstillhaveagooddiscussion.Weareheretohelpappli-catorssortouttheirquestionsabouttheRAPsandwillcontinuetokeepthedialoguegoing.

Goingintothe2017croppingseason,Ibelievethatrecordkeepingisgoingbeabigobstacleformanypeople.Goodre-cordkeepingtakesextratime,patience,anddedication,evenonasmallfarm.Ifsomeoneisnotprepared,recordkeepingcouldbechallengingforacustomappli-catorthatspreadsmanureonthousandsoreventensofthousandsofacresonmanydifferentfarms.Atourmeetings,westressedthatthekeytogoodrecord-

keepingistoseamlesslyintegrateitintoyourbusiness.SomearealreadydoingthisthroughtechnologieslikeUVM’sgoCrop™orflowmeterswherefield-by-fielddataisautomaticallyrecordedanddownloadedintoacomputer.Otherpeoplehaveputrecordkeepinglogsonthebackofemployeetimesheetsandre-quirethattheemployeefillouttheloginordertobepaid.Forcustomapplicatorswhoneedhelpwithrecordkeeping,UVMExtensionhasdevelopedarecordkeep-ingbook(copiesavailableatouroffice).Eachpagehasacarboncopysoattheendofthedaytheapplicatorcanfilloutthepage,tearoffthetopandgiveittothefarmerforhis/herrecords,andthentearoffthecarboncopyandputitinafileathome.Allofthesesystemsareacceptable,butitisimportanttousethesystemthatwillworkbestforyou,andwillstrengthenyourbusinessgoingintothefuture.Eventhoughthereisaninitialinertiarequiredtomakerecordkeepingsuccessful,thehopeisthatitcanalsopayoffforthefarmerbydocumentingandimprovingonagronomicpractices.

Ifyouhavequestionsaboutmanureap-plicationorwouldlikemoreinformationormaterialsonrecordkeeping,contactouroffice.IfyoudonothaveanNMPandneedtoobtainone,contactyourlocalconservationdistrictorNRCSofficeforfundingpossibilities.

Copies of UVM Extension’s nutrient application recordkeeping book are available by contacting our office, (802) 388-4969.

3University of Vermont Extension | Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team

GRAZING CHARTS: AN ADAPTABLE RECORDKEEPING TOOLBy Cheryl Cesario, Grazing Outreach SpecialistThereisasaying,“Youcan’tmanagewhatyoudon’tmeasure,”andthisholdstrueforpastureaswellascrops.Therearemanywaystomonitorandkeeprecordsofpastureyieldsandgrazingactivity.Personally,Iamafanofwhat-everrecordkeepingsystemworksfortheindividualfarmer,asithastobeefficient,straightforwardandprovideusefulinformationtobeworthwhile.

OnetoolIhaveseenusedwithsuccessistheHolisticManagementGrazingPlan-ningChart.Thistoolwasinitiallydevel-opedbyHolisticManagementInterna-tionalasapartoftheiroveralldecisionmakingframeworkforfarmplanning.TroyBishopp,oftheMadisonCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrictincentralN.Y.,wasabletobringthecharttothemassesthroughaNortheastSAREgrant,withthehelpofanetworkofserviceproviderswhothenreachedouttoindividualfarmers.In2013,Ibegandistributingthesechartssofarmerswhowereinterestedcouldtrythemoutandevaluatetheirusefulness.

Onthesurface,thechartisjustalargesheetofpaperwithalotofrowsandcol-umnsthatformagrid.Thisgridisreallya“year-at-a-glance”calendarthatcanbeapowerfulplanningandrecordkeeping

tool.Withasimpledailyactivityoffillinginaboxthatcorrespondstothedayandthefieldorpaddockwheretheanimalshavemoved,apatternformsprovidingavisualrecordoftheentireseasonlaidoutatonce.Withthischart,thereisnoflippingpagesbackandforthinacal-endartofigureoutwhatanimalswerewhereandwhen.IpersonallylikebeingabletolookatachartandseehowmanydayssinceIlastgrazedagivenarea,andithelpsmereadjustmyplan.Attheendoftheseason,Ifinditinformative(orinthecaseoflastsummer,depressing)toseehowmanytimesIwasabletograzeagivenfield.Forexperiencedgrazers,tryplanningamonthaheadbyfillinginthechartinpencilandthenhavefunseeinghowcloseyouwere.

ThiswillbethefifthyeardistributinggrazingchartsandIamseeingfarm-erstrackallkindsofinterestingdataincludingdailytemperatureandrainfall,periodsofhayfeedingand/orconfine-ment,applicationsofchickenmanure,bullintroductionandfrostdates.Organicfarmersfindtheserecordskeeptheiran-nualorganicinspectorhappy,andtheyareacceptablerecordsforNRCS“pre-scribedgrazing”payments.Onefarmeriscomparinghisgrazingcharttohismilkproductionrecordstounderstandmilk

peracre.Anotherfarmerchartscrops,color-codingthedailyentriesforplant-ing,spraying,harvestingandmanurespreading.Whenhecomesineachfalltoupdatehisnutrientmanagementplan,alltheinformationisathisfingertips.

Iwouldlovetohearfromfarmerswhoareutilizingsomeofthenewer“apps”suchasPastureMap™orGrazingCalcula-tor™.AlsoonthehorizonisgoGraze™currentlyindevelopmentasacompan-iontoUVMExtension’sgoCrop™nutri-entmanagementsoftware.Ultimately,therearetoolsavailableforeveryone,whetheryouwanttoenterdataonthegowithyourphoneorlikethecomfortofhavingatangiblepaperrecord.

AlimitednumberofprintedplanningchartsareavailableatourMiddleburyoffice,ordownloadavarietyoftem-platesat:

www.madcoswcd.com/grazing-charts

Rotations are tracked with the grazing chart at Elysian Fields in Shoreham, Ver-mont.

Spring 2017 Newsletter4 www.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

COVER CROPS: FROM RESEARCH TO REALITYBy Kirsten Workman, Agronomy Outreach ProfessionalForthelast5years,ourteamhashadgrantfundingfromtheUSDAtodoresearchanddemonstrationprojectsinvestigat-ingnovelwaysofcovercroppingincornsilageandsoybeansystemsinVermont.Westartedwithasmallprojectin2013inFerrisburghatDeerValleyFarmcomparing2differentcovercropmixturesplantedintothestandingcornanddrilledafterharvest.Thatprojectwassuccessfulandprovideduswithenoughpreliminarydatatostartinvestigatingadditionalcovercropmixturesandplantingtimingonalargerbasis.

In2014,westartedourNRCSConservationInnovationGrant,“BetterCoverCropMixesinVermont.”Thisprojectenabledustoevaluateseveralthree-waycovercropmixturesalongsideawinterryemonoculture.Thecovercropswereplantedintostandingcorn(atV5/V6growthstageandattassel)aswellasdrilledafterharvest.Similarly,weinterseededintosoybeansatR3-5andR6-8.Asaresult,weultimatelyevaluated15differentthree-waycovercropmixturesduring29differentplantingeventsforatotalof319researchplots.Thisworkcouldnothavehappenedwithoutourfarmpartners.Forthisprojectalone,wecollaboratedwith10farmson13fieldsin7Vermonttowns.

So what? youmaywonder.Theseplotsprovideduswithvaluabledatatosharewithproducers,NRCSstaff,technicalserviceprovidersandagencyfolks,andthatinformationishelpingusmakesoundrecommendationsforsuccessfulcovercroppinginVermont.However,thetruevalueofthisproject(andourothercovercropprojects)istheabilitytoenablehundredsofVermontfarmerstowitness,learnaboutandadoptthispractice.Inthissinglegrantprojectdescribedabove,wewereable todosomeamazingoutreachtofarmers.Thisincluded12fielddays,6presentations,7newsletterarticlesand5Across the Fencetelevisionepisodes.Ourfielddaysinvolvedover200farmers,61agriculturalbusinessemployees,and112agencystaff.Ourworkshopsandconferencesreached153farmers,81ag.businessemployeesand221agencystaff.Andwhilethatinitself isatremendousfeat,therealso what isthatwehaveseenexponentialincreasesintheadoptionofcovercropsinVermontoverthelast3to5years.

AccordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofAgri-culture'sNaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)data,“Vermontfarmersplantedarecord-setting25,727acresof

covercropsonmorethan2,000fieldsin2016onapproxi-mately25%ofallannualcroplandinVermont.That'sa58%increaseintheacresofprotectivewintercovercropsplantedin2015.”Bymycount,itisa250%increasefrom2014.Whiletheseresearchanddemonstrationprojectsarebynomeansthesolereasonforthisimpressiverateofadoption,Idobelievetheyareanimportantpieceofthepuzzle.EnablingfarmersintheChamplainValleytoapproachtheseconserva-tionpracticeswithsolid,localinformationthatallowsthemtobesuccessful.Theyareabletoinvestigatespecies,plantingmethods,potentialpitfallsandseeforthemselveswhenandifthesecovercropsmakethemostsenseontheirfarms,intheirsoilandweatherconditionsandwiththeirequipment.Andmostimportantlytheyaregettingthemostoutoftheircovercropsbyestablishingtheminatrulyeffectiveway,meaningthecovercropsarefunctioningasintendedandprovidingerosioncontrol,takingupmanurenutrients,andprotectingwaterquality.Inaddition,thefarmersarefiguringouthowtodoitmoreprofitably,utilizingthesecovercropsforforageorasakeycomponentintheirno-tillsystems,usinglessseedandplantingitbetter,andevengrowingtheirownseed.Essentially,Vermontfarmersaremakingthemanintegralpartoftheirfarmingoperations.Thisisthetruemeaningofadoption.Notjustthrowingseedouttherebecausethereiscost-sharemoney,butREALLYMAKINGITWORK.

An example of cover crop research plots comparing broadcasting seed on the soil surface versus planting with a no-till grain drill. Both were planted on the same day, after corn silage harvest, on Vergennes clay soil, and received aproximately 4,000 gallons of liquid dairy manure/acre. Pictures were taken about two months after planting and in the following spring.

5University of Vermont Extension | Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team

CROP YIELD AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN A COVER CROP/NO-TILL SYSTEMBy Kristin Williams, Agronomy Outreach ProfessionalWejustfinishedatwo-year,multi-farmstudyonthehealthofclaysoils,fundedthroughaVTConservationInnovationGrantthroughtheNRCS.Measuresofsoilhealth(usingCornell’ssoilhealthtest)werenotconsistent,andwefoundthatcompar-ingpracticesovertimewasmoreinformativethancomparingfieldtofield.Oneinteresting,andmaybeobvious,lessonwasthecorrelationbetweensoilhealthpracticesandcropyields.

So, how do soil health practices influence yield?Researchsuggestssoilhealthcanimproveyields.Itisimportanttonoteourprojectfocusedondemonstration,notreplicatedresearch.Wecomparedno-tillandconventional/reducedtillcornsilageon5farmswithclayfieldsinourregion.Asimplet-testrevealednosignificantdifferenceinyieldbetweenno-till(19.1tons/acre)andconventional(19.2tons/acre).Moreimportantly,wewereabletodemonstratethatafarmercangrowno-tillwithoutyieldlosses,andbesuccessfulwithgoodmanagementpractices.Ayieldgainmighttaketimeasthesoilbuildsupitscondition.

Wealsowonderedhowcovercropspeciesormixesmightaffectcornsilageyield.Wehadanopportunitytouseafieldwherethecornwasaccidentallykilled.Weplanted15differentcombinations,including4singlespecies,6two-waymixes,and5three-waymixes.ThisprojectwasaslightanomalyinthatthecovercropswereplantedwithadrillinlateAugust,whichallowedforamorevigorousproductionofallcovercrops.Radishwasastarinthefall,maximizingbothphosphorusandnitrogenuptake.Wedidnotmeasurephosphoruscontentinthespring,sowedonotknowhowmuchwasretainedinthesoil.Itseemstohaveallowedformoreavailablenitrogeninthesoilatthetimeofapre-sidedressnitrogentest(PSNT),thereforerequiringlessnitrogen.Surprisingly,legumemixcovershadgoodfallbiomass,butthatdidnottranslateintomoreNmineralization.

WeappliednitrogentoeachplotasperthePSNTrecommendationfor20tons/acrecornsilage.Attheendoftheseason,wemeasuredcornsi-lageyieldandcomparedthattonitrogenapplied(seegraph).Thewinterryeplothadalowercornsilageyieldandrequiredmorenitrogen.Otherthanthenutrienteffectoflessuptakeandslowerdecomposition,theremayhavebeenaphysicalbarriercreatedbythestandingryecrop,whichwasparticularlyvigorousinthespring.However,ourthree-waymix(winterrye–oats–radish)actuallyhadthehighestaveragecornsilageyield,eventhoughitrequiredmoreNatPSNTtimethanthepureradishstand.

So,donotgoabandoningyourwinterryejustyet.Infact,wethinkthisthree-waymixhaspromiseandwearelookingforamixthatgivesbothfallandspringsoilconservation.Radishalonewillwinterkill,whichmaybegoodformineralization,butnotasgoodforspringsoilconservation.Oatsalsowinterkillbutprovidefasterfallsoilcoverthanryebyitself.

Whenusinganover-winteringcovercrop,itisclearthattim-ingandsuccessofterminationiscriticalforsubsequentcropyields.Nitrogenmineralizationmayhappenlaterintheseasonwithaplantsuchaswinterryethathasaheaviercarboncon-tent.Inano-tillsystemparticularly,youmayneedtoadjustyournitrogenrates/timingandputmoreonupfront.Ifyouareusingcovercrops,aPSNTseemslikeawiseinvestment.

Itisalsoimportanttorememberthatsoilhealthisalonggame,anditmaytaketimetoseetheresultsofyourlaborswithcovercrops.Wehavereplicatedthisprojectbyreplant-ingthesecovercropsinthefallof2016,thistimeplantedinSeptember,andwilllookatthisagainthiscomingseason.

MoreinfoaboutUVM’sPSNTtestcanbefoundat:go.uvm.edu/getpsnt

Corn silage yields for 2016 in tons/ac on cover plot plots, standardized to 35% dry mat-ter, compared with nitrogen applied in lbs/ac using urea fertilizer at sidedress time. Cover crop plots are divided into single species, 2-way mixes and 3-way mixes. ARG-Rad numbers are actually the average of 4 different plots, but all had very little to no ARG established. Cover crops were planted with a no-till drill in late August.

ARG-Rad*

W Rye Oat

Buck

Radish

W Rye

-Oat

W Rye

-Buck

W Rye

-Rad

W Rye

-Pea

W Rye

-Vetch

W Rye

-Oat-R

ad

W Rye

-Oat-R

Clover

W Rye

-Oat-V

etch

W Rye

-Oat-V

etch

W Rye

-Oat-B

uck

Corn Silage Yield and Nitrogen Applied at Side-Dress Time

Yield@35%DM-tons/ac NAppliedlbs/ac

*TheAnnualRyegrass(ARG)didnotestablishwell,sothisplotwaseffectivelyjustradish

Single Species 2X MIX 3X MIX

Corn

Sila

ge Y

ield

at 3

5% D

ry M

atter

tons

/ac

Nitr

ogen

App

lied

lbs/

ac

ARG: Annual Rye Grass; Buck: Buckwheat; Rad: Tillage radish; W: Winter; R: Red

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Spring 2017 Newsletter6 www.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

VERTICAL TILLAGE: HOW DOES IT FIT IN THE TILLAGE CONTINUUM?By Rico Balzano, UVM Extension Agronomy Outreach ProfessionalHere inVermont,when farmersareconsideringano-till system, severalquestionsoftenarise:Whataboutin-corporatingmanure?Whataboutcoldsoils?Whataboutrutsleftoverfromharvest?Verticaltillageoffersasolutionwithminimalsoildisturbanceandvirtu-allynosoilinversion,therebymaintain-inganaturalsoilstructureessentialforsuccesswhenotherwiseno-tilling.

Verticaltillagecanbeavagueandcon-fusingtermforbothequipmentdealersandfarmers,mostlybecausetherearesomanyimplementsthatclaimtoac-complishverticaltillage.Averygeneraldefinitionofverticaltillageequipmentisanyimplementwithdisks,shanks,orteeththatenterANDleavethesoilvertically,onlymovingsoilupanddown.Implementsthatmovesoilhorizontally,suchasmoldboardplowsanddiskhar-rows(withconcavedisks),createrestric-tionlayersthatimpedewatermovementandrootgrowth.These implementsshearorsmearthesoil,whichcanleadtocompactioninorbelowthetillagedepth.

Bydefinitionin-linerippersandchiselplows(withstraightpoints)areverticaltillagetools,andcanbeusedto“reset”thesoilprofilewhenrestrictionlayer(s)

arepresent.Ideally,this“reset”shouldhappenonlywhennecessaryandnotonanannualbasis,whichwouldjustamounttoaconventionaltillagesys-tem.Mostoften,verticaltillagereferstoshalloworsurfacetillagethatsizesandincorporatesresidueandmanurewithoutcreatingastratificationlayer.Usuallythedepthislimitedto2”toavoidcreatingacompactedlayerundertheseed.Thisallowsverticaltillagetofitintoareducedtillagesystem,withthegoalofseedingatorbelowtillagedepth.Otheradvantagesofverticaltillageinareducedtillagesystemincludewarmingtheseedbedinthespring,incorporatingcovercropseedinthefall,incorporat-ingmanure,andlevelingoutrutsfromharvestorotherfieldactivities.

Mostverticaltillagetoolsconsistofverti-calcuttingbladessetstraightorataveryshallowangletosizeandincorporateresiduewhileminimizinghorizontalsoilmovement.Also,mostimplementshavesomecombinationofrollingbasketsandcultivatorwheelstobreakupclodsandleveltheseedbed.Aeratormachinescanbeeffectiveverticaltillagetools,especiallywhenequippedwithsomecombinationofcoulters,rollingcultiva-tors,orrollingbaskets.Somemanufac-

turers’verticaltillageimplementshaveconcavedisksorstraightdiskssetonanaggressiveangle.Theseset-upscanhelpincorporateresidueandmanure,butincreasethechancesofsmearingsoilandcreatingcompactioninthetillagezone.CaremustbetakennottouseANYtillageimplementwhensoilmoistureistoohigh,asmoreharmthangoodwillbedone.

WhendoneattherighttimeandrightdepthverticaltillagecanbeaneffectivemanagementtoolforreducedtillagepracticeshereinVermont.

(above) Vertical tillage implement (Great Plains) with straight cutting disks, rotary harrow and rolling baskets.

(right) Aerator machine (Gen-Til) equipped with coulters for vertical tillage.

Where’s Rico?

Rico Balzano has moved to the Rutland Extension office, but he is still an active part of our team and continues to be involved in pro-gramming content and outreach.

Contact him at:

(802) 773-3340 ext. 281, rico.balzano@uvm.edu

ARG-Rad*

W Rye Oat

Buck

Radish

W Rye

-Oat

W Rye

-Buck

W Rye

-Rad

W Rye

-Pea

W Rye

-Vetch

W Rye

-Oat-R

ad

W Rye

-Oat-R

Clover

W Rye

-Oat-V

etch

W Rye

-Oat-V

etch

W Rye

-Oat-B

uck

7University of Vermont Extension | Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team

23PondLane,Suite300Middlebury,VT05753

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. De-partment of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. Any reference to commercial products, trade names, or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended.

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014-68006-21864. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

UVM Extension is grateful to our supporters and funders:

Champlain Valley CROP, SOIL & PASTURE Team

Middlebury, VT (802) 388-4969 • (800) 956-1125

cvcrops@uvm.eduwww.uvm.edu/extension/cvcrops

SUPPORT THIS PUBLICATION & OUR RESEARCH:go.uvm.edu/donate-extension

UPDATES ON EVENTS & MORE INFO SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER AT

WWW.UVM.EDU/EXTENSION/CVCROPS

NortheastSARE,Project#s:ONE13-177;GNE14-091NIFAAgricultureFoodResearchInitiativeGrant,Project#2014-68006-21864VermontNRCSConservationInnovationGrants,Project#s:69-1644-13-5;

69-16944-13-4

Project LeaderJeffCarter,AgronomySpecialist

Agronomy OutreachRicoBalzanoCherylCesarioNateSevery

KristinWilliamsKirstenWorkman

AdministrationKarenGallott