• 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.

COVID-19 Outreach Opportunities and Resources

To keep you all informed and provide a place to find COVID-19 agricultural outreach related information, we have created this section which includes fact sheets and links to other informative sites.

GENERAL

UVM Extension protocols when working with all Producers (PDF), including contacts and field and farm visits.

COVID-19 Information for Farmers and Food Producers, a UVM webpage of resources - http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer/?Page=covid19.html

News Release: Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 By Wearing a Cloth Face Mask (PDF)

Alltech COVID-10 Resource Portal - https://www.alltech.com/covid-19

Here is an update on what has been happening on Covid-19 for dairy including a Cornell’s Dairy Workforce Webinar on Covid-19 form Friday (3/20/2020), that was at max participants.

https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/Covid-19+and+Your+Dairy_Final_Mar+20+2020/1_xxtkmch6 (Video)

https://cornell.app.box.com/s/bydy2fo8oucojrfzu7qak0u0j8jkmtj8 (PDF)

Also, here is a RFD Segment I (John Winchell) was in last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRiXxS51Cjk (YouTube video)

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets related website - https://agriculture.vermont.gov/covid-19-information

Economic Relief Available for the Food and Agriculture Community due to COVID-19 byVAAFM - https://agriculture.vermont.gov/sites/agriculture/files/doc_library/2020-04-27_VAAFMFederalStimulusFAQ.pdf

Op-ED: Farmers and Food Business Lead Vermont in the Age of the New Normal from Vermont Agricultural Secretary Anson Tebbetts

DAIRY

Relief for Farms During COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF), April 23, 2020

AgriSafe Learning Lab. What Ag Producers Need to Know About COVID19 (Recording) https://learning.agrisafe.org/products/what-ag-producers-need-to-know-about-covid19-recording

Center for Dairy Excellence COVID-19 Farm Resources - https://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/covid-19-farm-resources/

Farm Commons - taped presentation of the Unemployment Insurance Benefits for Farmers and Ranchers webinar on their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/FarmCommons/videos/663956751088874/

Please let us know if you have any questions - contact Eva Moss, p: (336)-541-6851 | e: eva@farmcommons.org

PASA Sustainable Agriculture COVID-19 related website - https://pasafarming.org/covid-19-guidelines-for-farmers/

What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Your Dairy (PDF-English) from Alltech On-Farm Support

What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Your Dairy (PDF-Spanish) from Alltech On-Farm Support

FOOD

An Online Conversation Series: Sourcing & Selling Vermont Food in the Time of COVID-19 - https://www.uvm.edu/extension/sustainableagriculture/online-conversation-series-sourcing-selling-vermont-food-time-covid

Farmers interested in direct sales, as well as agricultural service providers and others supporting farms are invited to join with professionals from UVM Extension, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, NOFA-VT, Vermont Fresh Network, Vermont Farm to Plate, and farming peers to share strategies, challenges, and resources in a series of online conversations.

American Farmland Trust (AFT) announces application period for Farmer Relief Fund. AFT will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis. Eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers. These are defined as producers with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products as inputs. The initial application period goes until April 23, with grants beginning to be made by May 1. View the website for more information and to apply - https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/

COVID-19 Resources for Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers - http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Covid-19.html

Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus and COVID-19 by UVM Extension - https://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/2020/03/18/considerations-for-fruit-and-vegetable-growers-related-to-coronavirus-covid-19/

Small Farms, Local Food, and COVID-19: What do you need to know? PDF from Oregon State University

Small Farms, Local Food, and COVID-19: What do you need to know? https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/covid-19?fbclid=IwAR0yn6VOntRk2I3pL2xpt6VrI5NvLYjm5F5Wv9pFlOLBdFlpdte8BJaOZDg

ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Farmer to Farmer Discussion Groups (PDF), next one scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Introduction to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for food manufacturers by UVM Extension. This class includes a review of the HACCP principles, the current food safety regulations in the US, the importance of prerequisite programs and how to design, build and implement a HACCP plan that meets state and federal regulatory requirements. Several auditing schemes within the Global Food Safety Initiative, such as SQF, also require food facilities to develop and implement a HACCP plan. Upon completion of this class, participants will receive a certificate with the International HACCP Alliance seal. The class takes at least 16 hours and participants can complete this class at their own pace. Registration is $400 per participant and discounts are available if two or more individuals from the same company register. The registration link is: http://go.uvm.edu/haccpba

UVM Extension Northwest Crops & Soils Program Online Educational Resources (PDF)

Staying Connected and Learning Together (PDF) - are free offerings of Organic Dairy online learning opportunities incuding UVM organized virtual discussion groups and eOrganic webinars in March and April.


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.