We research leading-edge practices and new approaches that help farmers and other food system stakeholders who are seeking profitability, incorporating environmentally regenerative practices, and addressing social and community-based food-related needs.
We bring a food systems focus to Vermont agriculture by conducting research, supporting new projects and bringing a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to the opportunities and challenges facing Vermont growers and agriculture-related businesses.
Areas of Research
Grass Farming & Livestock Production

Current research and projects are focused on:
- Soil quality impacts of farming methods, through trials of forage species, agroforestry projects, and research into compaction.
- Grass-fed beef production
- How small adjustments in management practices can affect milk production, in trials examining the timing of supplementation for organic dairy cows
- Investigating Vermont wool for non-traditional uses, including pellets for farms and gardens.
- The potential for alternative management practices to provide ecosystem services while increasing farm resiliency to climate change
- How we can affect water quality in the entire Connecticut River watershed by bringing a team problem-solving approach to work with individual farms
- Tools for grass farmers to monitor grazing behavior and forage utilization in real time.
- Understanding the potential for wood-chip pads to relieve pressure on recovering pastures and as out-wintering areas.
- Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program to help keep new and young livestock farmers learning what they need to be successful graziers.
- What impact we can have on the whole region's farm and food system, economy and ecosystem by a networked regional approach to good grazing.
- How we can improve grazing practices in order to support water quality.
Recently completed projects:
- Findings from Farmer Mini-Grants in partnership with the Vermont Grass Farmers Association.
- Vermont Organic Custom Grazing project (with report)
Bedded Pack Survey Report (PDF download)
Dairy Systems & Sustainability (PDF download)
- Equine Pasture Management Project (opens in a new window)
- Pasture forage quality and yield response to irrigation, N fertilizer, and organic amendments
- Biodiversity & Cattle Wellbeing
Soil Health
Improved soil health helps protect water quality, increases profitability, helps sequester carbon, and increases a farm's resiliency to withstand extreme weather events. Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable farming, and is a primary consideration in our research projects.
Though nearly all of our work is centered around soil health, the projects listed here have a particular soil health component:
- Pasture Management & Water Quality
- Enhancing Research & Education for Grass Farmers
- Increasing ecosystem services and climate change resilience on livestock farms.
- Connecticut River Watershed Assistance (Long Island Sound RCPP)
- Pollinator-Friendly Solar Resources
Recently completed projects:
Food Access & Food Security
Agricultural Water Quality & Quantity
- Connecticut River Watershed Assistance (Regional Conservation Partnership Program)
- Researching Tile Drainage Systems through Edge of Field Monitoring
- Increasing Ecosystem Services & Climate Change Resilience
- Designing variable-width filter strips on Vermont fields using the AgBufferBuilder ArcGIS tool
- Demonstrating effects of biological and mechanical compaction best management practices on soil properties and water movement
Market Research & Enterprise Viability
- Investigating Vermont Wool as a Material for Building & Other Industrial Uses
- Economic Case Studies of Climate Adaptation Practices
- Milkweed as an Alternative Crop for Climate Adaptation
Recently completed projects
- Guide to Farming-Friendly Solar
- Elderberry as a Commercial Crop
- Shiitake Mushrooms as a Farm/Forest Enterprise
Swine Industry Research final report, 2016 (PDF download)
Establishing Market Presence for New American Farmers
Dry Beans in Vermont
Land Access

We are here to help new and existing farmers find the land they need to sustainably grow crops and raise livestock while achieving financial viability.
Recently completed projects in this area:
- Launch of the newly improved New England Farmland Finder website to improve regional access to farmland
- The New Farmer Project, originally a project of the Center is now a vibrant and active stand-alone program within UVM Extension.
Farming & Climate Change Research
Our current Farming & Climate Change Research projects include:
- Economic Case Studies of Climate Adaptation Practices
- Increasing Ecosystem Services & Climate Change Resilience
- Designing variable-width filter strips on Vermont fields using the AgBufferBuilder ArcGIS tool
- Demonstrating effects of biological and mechanical compaction best management practices on soil properties and water movement
Social Components of Sustainability
We have a special interest in understanding how community structures and relationships are part of lasting, vibrant farm and food systems. Current and recent work in this area includes:
- The Who Farms? project.
- New American Farmer Project
People Who Do:
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Extension Research Associate
- Sustainable agriculture and environment
- ...
Director, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Extension Associate Professor; Nutrition Specialist
- Food Security
- Food Access
- Farm to...
Pasture Program Coordinator
- Grazing
- Grass-based livestock production...
Research Assistant Professor and Farming and Climate Change Program Coordinator
- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Water...
Grazing Specialist
- Grazing
- Grass-based livestock production ...
Sustainable Agriculture Outreach Specialist
- Climate change and economic assessment
- ...