• On-farm research and demonstration projects on a wide range of agronomic crops

    From small grains and corn to hops and oilseeds, 3,500+ experimental plots are established and evaluated annually, and results are shared through our  40 research reports per year.  

  • Industrial Hemp Project Crowdfunding Opportunity

    We began our industrial hemp research program in 2016 with the help of program donations – thank you! Interest in the crop and research-based guidance has continued to grow, and we need your help to keep this research project going. Our goal is to raise $25,000 specific for our Industrial Hemp Research Project to keep the research going and help our farmers succeed! Please help support our Hemp Research and visit our crowdfunding page today.

  • Through our on-farm field days, conferences, and other outreach efforts, our team spreads the word about our latest research results and practical on-farm guidance for implementing agronomic practices. Most importantly, we bring farmers together to foster farmer-to-farmer learning. View our Conferences and Events page to see current events as well as past webinars and event proceedings that were taped.

  • We provide hop, grain, and other growers with access to quick and easy lab assessments to monitor the quality and safety of their products before it is distributed to the marketplace through our Quality Testing Laboratory.

  • Interested in Trying Cover Crop Interseeding?

    NWCS recently received a grant to work with farmers to adopt cover crop seeding. We are seeking out interested farmers in the Champlain Valley and Northeast Kingdom. See our fact sheet and enrollment form (PDF).

  • In addition to conducting research on cover cropping, reduced tillage, and soil fertility practices, our NWCS team works directly with farmers on soil health and nutrient management strategies to improve farm profits while protecting our natural resources.

  • New - Thanks to new grant funding by USDA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), current research on grass fed dairy production will be expanded to a larger geographic region and scope, addressing more of the key issues in grass-fed dairy production. Click here to read more about this Expanded grass-fed dairy production research project (PDF).

The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program (NWCS) aims to provide the best and most relevant cropping information, both research-based and experiential, delivered in the most practical and understandable ways to Vermont farmers. The bulk of trials are conducted at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont.

NEW - There is a statewide Emergency Snow-Covered Ground Agricultural Waste Spreading Exemption.

To utilize the exemption (link below), your farm must read and follow the requirements of the exemption to ensure any manure or agricultural waste spreading activities comply with the requirements of the exemption as well as the RAPs.

This emergency exemption will expire on December 15, 2019.

This Emergency Snow-Covered Ground Agricultural Waste Spreading Exemption does not exempt your farm from complying with any other laws or regulations.

The Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets will be conducting field investigations across the state to ensure farms are complying with this emergency exemption. Records of all manure or agricultural waste applications must be kept by your farm and be made available for inspection by the Agency.

Please do not hesitate to call the numbers at the bottom of the exemption with any questions.

Here is a copy of the PDF icon AAFM Emergency Spreading Exemption (PDF).

Outcropping blog

Our Outcropping blog focuses on timely field crop updates - from first sightings of armyworm to grain quality testing, RAPs, and more.  View the blog and/or sign up to receive email alerts.

Hops blog

What's Hoppening is our blog focused on hop production in the Northeast.  Posts include timely production tips and alerts.  View the blog and/or sign up to receive email alerts.

 

Instructional videos

Our Instructional YouTube videos include over 90 videos from building a hop yard to planting dry beans to small-scale oilseed presses, as well as recordings of past webinars that have been offered such.