Objective 4: Quantify the net return and exposure to risk and identify the economies of scale for each system. Objective 3: Quantify the efficacy of direct weed control tactics in the cropping systems, and determine the effect of weeds on total yield, quality and net return. Objective 2: Identify systems that reduce the importation of grain and prevent the accumulation of nutrient excesses to enhance the sustainability of organic dairies. Objective 1: To evaluate the milk yield and forage quality of four contrasting cropping systems and to identify the level of grain importation needed for each system. The project will be a collaboration of the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, USDA-ARS NewĮngland Plant, Soil and Water Lab and the Maine Organic Milk Producers (MOMP). An interdisciplinary team of farmers and researchers will analyze the systems for their impact on profitability, risk management, herd nutrition, nutrient cycling, and weed management. The merits of each of these systems is a frequent source of debate within the agricultural community, and determining which is the best fit for an organic dairy farmer requires a holistic analysis of each system. The four cropping systems characterize farmers with different answers to two important questions, "Should I grow grain?" and "Should I grow corn silage?" These systems were chosen by a team of organic dairy farmers, processors, and non-profit farm organizations to represent the cropping systems and rotation sequences typical in New England. Goals / Objectives Overview This project will contrast four cropping systems for supplying conserved forages and grains to an organic dairy herd. Measurements of milk yield and quality will be used in an economic analysis of each system for profitability and risk. Rations will be developed from each cropping system, and fed to two dairy herds, a certified organic herd at the University of New Hampshire and a "transitional" herd at the University of Maine. A large-scale systems experiment will compare these systems using measurements of yield, forage quality, expense and nutrient changes. This project will explore how these factors vary among the cropping systems in use on organic dairy farms in Our meetings with organic dairy farmers, dairy processors and non-profit farm organizations have highlighted areas which need to be considered in comparing cropping systems: impact on herd nutrition, nutrient cycling, weed management, profitability, risk, and the amount of feed that must be imported.
With many suitable cropping options, it can be difficult to decide which cropping system and crop mix is most appropriate for an individual farm. Farmers are interested in cropping systems that can reduce their feed costs, either by increasing the quality of their forage or by including grains in their rotation. Imported grains account for a large portion of the expense organic grain costs 1.7 to 2.3 times the cost of conventional grains. Non Technical Summary Feed is the single largest expense for organic dairy farmers in the Northeast, averaging 44% of the annual operating expenses.
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