Upper Northeast Pasture Center Teleconference
April 4, 2006
Teleconference participants included: Sue Ellen Johnson, Ray Bryant, Dick Starkey, Matt Sanderson, Jim Cropper, Kevin Kaijja, Rachel Gilker, Ed Rayburn, Rebecca Elwood, Barbara Miller, Kenneth Miller, Stephen Herbert and Carrie Chickering-Sears.
Call start time: 12:31 PM
Dr. Stephen Herbert from UMass opened with a request to the participants to send names of farmers from each state who want to be involved in the project. Names and contact information can be forwarded to Stephen Herbert - email sherbert@pssci.umass.edu
Stephen summarized the minutes of from the recent Chicopee Basin Conservation Partnership for Grazing conference call on March 23rd. The purpose of the conference call was to decide the first products to create with this Partnership. The conversation was based on the summary of Focus Groups with local officials. Sue Ellen noted that the three priority topics that were determined were:
1. Stocking rates (for small and large land owners)
2. Manure management (especially on small acreage)
3. Introductory summary of the benefits of grazing
For more information on the partnership contact Sue Ellen Johnson - email sejohnson@smallfarm.org
Stephen - the UMass Crops, Dairy & Livestock Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for April 20th to be held at the UMass Hadley Horse Farm. He will update the members on the Upper Northeast Pasture Center and request input from the committee. The question was asked if there were grazers on the committee. Yes, at least five of the members utilize pasture grazing.
There is a need for a brief descriptive piece on the Pasture Center that can be handed-out. Stephen will work-on the piece and send to the local coordinating committee to review then to the wider email list to review within the next two weeks. There is the need to formulate how to carry forward to legislatures. Angus Johnson would be a good resource person. Stephen will discuss with Angus.
Ray Bryant introduced Ed Rayburn as the replacement for Chuck Krueger, Executive Director of the Consortium. The transition will take place over this summer.
Ed Rayburn reviewed the six priority research needs set by ARS and who is already starting to work on these areas (in parenthesis):
1. Determine the management strategies and costs of transition or conversion from row crops to productive and sustainable grazing lands and soils.
2. Quantify the economics of whole-farm systems including the effects of breed selection, livestock diversification, and grazing management on animal and pasture health and well-being.
3. Evaluate new forage species and improved varieties under grazing management and different climatic and soil conditions with emphasis on extending the grazing season.
4. Determine the environmental impacts and profitability of alternative supplemental feeding strategies for animals on high-protein pastures. (Penn. State with Cornell)
5. Evaluate the production and management aspects of pasture-based animal products for their human health benefits. (Winmore)
6. Evaluate the limiting factors and marketing opportunities in organic dairy and livestock pasture-based production systems. (Univ. of New Hampshire)
Ray – suggested #2 might be the best priority issue for this center based in Massachusetts.
Sue Ellen – Massachusetts is underrepresented at the coand we need to make sure to talk to farmers and their connections.
Barb – Multi species – need to figure out an effective way to attract farmers to the project.
Rebecca – Could we have Angus Johnson’s cell phone & email if available. His cell phone is 603-325-5300. Email contact is limited.
Rachel – Ron Holter from MD is a good resource to have at Pasture Walks this summer. She will work with Juli Brussell on possible scheduling him in the northeast. Sue Ellen and Barb Miller will be working on developing the pasture walks for 2006.
Next teleconference date: May 2, 2006 12:30 PM
Call ended at 1:00 PM