Learn more about the following New England Extension highlights:
Regional Training Highlights
Manure and Nutrient Management Assistance: Projects and Programs
Soil Testing
Regional Training Highlights
The New England
Regional In-Service Training for Agricultural Service Providers Program
Since 1996,
University of Maine (UMaine) Cooperative Extension coordinates and
conducts an annual two-day collaborative workshop in southern
New Hampshire. This program provides New England agricultural service
providers with
Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) recertification credits
and encourages these providers to use research-based agricultural BMPs in
addition to presenting on emerging research, technology and policy issues.
Extension educators and affiliates from various agencies and organizations
throughout the northeast and Canada present subject matter that is integrated across all CCA competency areas.
ANNUAL WINTER TRAINING
2007 Program Summary
2006 Program Summary
SUMMER FIELD TRAINING: UMaine coordinates a summer CCA field training program each year. The event is often combined with other organizational events such as the Northeast SARE annual summer tour and rotated around the New England States. View our 2006 summary report.
Regional Workshops, Field Days and Farm Tours
Each year, New England Extension conducts a series of workshops, farm tours and field days that highlight research and train farmers, agricultural service provides and partners. Visit our events page for highlights including the annual UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Field Day at the Rogers Research Farm. 
Manure and Nutrient Management Assistance: Projects and Programs
SMALL ACREAGE LIVESTOCK and horse EDUCATION PROGRAMs:
URI Cooperative Extension created an education
program for small acreage livestock owners . Manure management research will be incorporated in this program.
An existing
fact sheet and self-assessment series
developed in April 2005 as part of the URI CE Healthy Landscapes
Program (a three year Extension education grant funded by USDA CSREES
NIWQ in September 2002) was shared with the New England Region Water
Quality Program Agricultural and Sustainable Landscapes Focus Areas.
The University of New Hampshire CE and the New England Small Farm
Institute have incorporated some of the fact sheets to enhance small
acreage livestock education programs. Program information is also
being distributed through the southern New England grazing network,
which formed as a result of coordination for the
UMASS Pasture Research Center Proposal.
UMASS Extension conducts seminars on horse manure and pasture management and other related topics through the MASS Aggie Program each year. In 2007, UMASS Extension received an EPA 319 grant to develop and conduct an Equine Education Program. UMASS and URI are collaborating and sharing resources.
National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Activities
:
URI Cooperative Extension is a team member on the Small Farm Animal Waste Management Group. One main activity of this group is to develop small farm content for an eXtension Community of Practice. UMASS served on a webcast panel and presented research on manure applications to legume crops, February 2007.
MA FEED MANAGEMENT SURVEY AND FECAL P INDICATOR TEST:
UMASS Extension conducted a five page in-depth survey with over 40 dairy farmers through face to face collection of farm data and manure samples for running the fecal P indicator test during the winter 2006. This one hour plus farmer interview enabled much individual farmer education on feed and nutrient application issues related to phosphorus management. The survey data was summarized and presented at the 2007 New England In-service Training for Agricultural Service Providers.
VT FARMER's WATERSHED ALLIANCE AND NUTRIENT NANAGEMENT PLAN CURRICULUM:
UVM Extension developed and completed a 5 week curriculum and needs assessment to teach livestock farmers
how to develop a Nutrient Management Plan that meets NRCS and Vermont Department of Agriculture nutrient
management standards during February and March 2006. As of February 2007, 30 farms have taken the 5 week course (3 hours/week) and 28 farms have developed plans on a total of 14,342 acres. 50% of farmers will apply less nitrogen and phosphorus and 67% will save money. UVM partners with VT NRCS to hold the courses and is developing a course curriculum that will be available for the region. UVM, The University of Rhode Island, and RI NRCS plan to adapt the curriculum for RI livestock and turf farms, and to pilot a course in 2008.
The development of the UVM nutrient management plan curriculum resulted from the creation of the Farmer’s
Watershed Alliance (FWA) by local farmers and the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension. The FWA, which
encompasses two targeted sub-watersheds within Lake Champlain, works to increase farmer awareness and adoption
of best management practices that protect and improve water quality by acting on new knowledge gained through
farmer to farmer networking, self evaluation, nutrient management plan development, and on-farm demonstration.
There are currently 36 farm members that have made significant accomplishments in reducing the agricultural
impact on water quality. In the fall of 2006, a farm assessment program was started to help farmers identify
environmental risks on their farms. All participating farms have addressed at least one identified
environmental risk. For more information about the nutrient management curriculum and Farmer Watershed
Alliance, contact Heather Darby.
UCONN NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS:
UCONN partners with CT NRCS and CT Department of Environmental Protection to develop performance-based Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans that incorporate current research on soil and tissue testing and comprehensive field data collected over multiple years. UCONN has over 9,500 acres under these performance-based plans.
For more information on manure and nutrient management tools including use and refinement of the
Phosphorus Index and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System, visit the
Animal Waste Management research page. Visit the
Nutrient Management Tools and Technology research page
for additional information on nutrient management planning software and technology.
Soil Testing
Soil testing offered through New England Land Grant Universities enables farmers to assess the condition
of their soil so that they only add the fertilizer or manure needed. This prevents excess nutrients from
entering ground and surface water.
University of Connecticut Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
Maine Soil Testing Service
University of Massachusetts
Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
Analytical Services Lab
University of Vermont
Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab
