Assessing forage research and education needs of organic dairy farms in the United States

Authors: HATUNGIMANA, ERIC - University Of Vermont; DARBY, HEATHER - University Of Vermont; Soder, Kathy; ZIEGLER, SARA - University Of Vermont; BRITO, ANDRE - University Of New Hampshire; Kissing Kucek, Lisa; Riday, Heathcliffe; BRUMMER, E. - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2023
Publication Date: 1/9/2023
Citation: Hatungimana, E., Darby, H.M., Soder, K.J., Ziegler, S.E., Brito, A.F., Kucek, L.K., Riday, H., Brummer, E. 2023. Assessing forage research and education needs of organic dairy farms in the United States. The University of Vermont Extension. Available: www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Northwest-Crops-and-Soils-Program/2022%20Research%20Reports/OREI_Forage_Survey_Highlights_FINAL.pdf

Interpretive Summary: Production of high yield and quality forages is critical to the sustainability of organic dairy farms, especially with the ongoing erratic weather conditions. The results of this survey and the focus groups provided insights on current forage production practices and management, factors affecting forage operations, and effects of climate on forage systems. Knowledge gaps and skills needed by organic dairy and forage producers were identified and can be used for developing effective educational and outreach programs to create resilience in organic forage production. Results from these efforts identified these most critical areas of research and education: climate resilience, forage quality, economic viability, and versatile, adaptive forage options. Continuing these efforts to create and disseminate this critical information in coordination with the organic forage and dairy communities is integral to the viability of these industries into the future.

Technical Abstract: Production of high yield and quality forages is critical to the sustainability of organic dairy farms, especially with the ongoing erratic weather conditions. The results of this survey and the focus groups provided insights on current forage production practices and management, factors affecting forage operations, and effects of climate on forage systems. Knowledge gaps and skills needed by organic dairy and forage producers were identified and can be used for developing effective educational and outreach programs to create resilience in organic forage production. Results from these efforts identified these most critical areas of research and education: climate resilience, forage quality, economic viability, and versatile, adaptive forage options. Continuing these efforts to create and disseminate this critical information in coordination with the organic forage and dairy communities is integral to the viability of these industries into the future.