Pasture Research Center for New England and Eastern New York
Report of the Second Regional Meeting held at
UMass Crops and Animal Research and Education Center Deerfield, Massachusetts
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Attendees: Click for List
Welcome and Introductions - Dr. Stephen Herbert, UMass Amherst Plant, Soil & Insect Science Department faculty member, adjunct faculty member of UMass Veterinary & Animal Science Department and UMass Extension Crops, Dairy, Livestock & Equine Team welcomed the 34 participants. One year ago the first meeting occurred at the Deerfield site to explore the feasibility of developing a grazing center.
Chuck Krueger, Executive Director of the Northeast Pasture Consortium discussed the growing interest in grazing and the need for more research and education in this area. Chuck introduced Ed Rayburn from West Virginia University as the incoming Executive Director of the Northeast Pasture Consortium effective September 2006. In his spare time, Ed raises a small grass based beef herd in West Virginia. Chuck and Ed just drove in from UNH after visiting with Chuck Schwab and his staff and touring the new organic dairy facility.
Brian Stone, a dairy grazer and consultant from Berkshire County spoke on the need for animal performance trials to put more substance behind the numbers. It is important to identify genetics that will perform well under a grass based system. The new folks who are exploring the grass based farming business are searching for this information.
Carl DeMatteo, Deputy Executive Director, of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau advised the group that they need to organize and to contact their county and state Farm Bureau to say that there is a need for this grazing center. He has put the message out on the Center to the northeast Farm Bureau staff and to the livestock producers from southeast Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island who are researching the creation of a slaughter facility in their area.
Angus Johnson, New Hampshire beef producer and dairy grazer and northeast rep for the Northeast Pasture Consortium reiterated the need for more research on grazing. Topics such as which forages perform the best on my farm, where do I take my livestock to be slaughtered, what species graze well together, etc. We need to work with our politicians and stress the need to keep animal agriculture in the northeast since this allows for open space.
Special thanks were given to John Stowell, Director of Fresh Meats and Sustainable Programs at Dole & Bailey, Inc. for providing the beef used in the burgers at lunchtime. John gave a brief overview on Dole & Bailey, Inc., a family-owned and operated food business headquartered in Woburn, MA. The company was founded in 1868 and they are committed to preserving their agricultural legacy, sourcing quality, healthy, great-tasting foods and educating the culinary community about these distinctive products. Beef is purchased from members of the Northeast Family Farms which was formed to recreate an efficient supply chain between New England's Artisan Farmers and the regions premier chefs, specialty retailers and quality conscious, socially aware individuals. Currently they are purchasing beef and poultry and plan to offer in the future pork and lamb. Major issue is the limited amount of slaughter facilities in the northeast.
Jerry Grabarek, dairy producer from Connecticut mentioned that he recently hosted a pasture walk and one of his state senators spent the evening visiting with the farmers. An important fact to remember is that 10% of the Senate is comprised of senators from the northeast.
Don Minto, Rhode Island beef & sheep producer asked how many scientists were at the ARS Pennsylvania facility.
Chuck Krueger: Currently 17 scientists and they have offered to assist us with this center.
Ed Rayburn: Need to look at what the market is and create a business plan around this niche. Incorporate into the plan, how the market niche compliments UNH, how much it is going to cost and how many scientists are needed and then you will tie this back to your strategic plan.
Chuck Krueger: Concerns about the duplicating or competing with the newly granted Maine-NH organic dairy project were discussed. The need for pasture focused research center that serves multiple species and is not necessarily organic was agreed. The potential for collaboration between sites and projects was mentioned. Chuck will contact UNH to get contact names who might be interested in serving on the Grazing Center Committee.
John Winsten, (VT) Winrock International studies the impact of agriculture in the northeast and he is concerned about all aspects of agriculture in New England. Rural communities are disappearing. It is ironic that we are meeting a defunct dairy facility today. Need to develop momentum from the fringe into the mainstream. How many dairies are left in the state of Massachusetts?
Carl DeMatteo: At this time, there are only 178 dairies left in the state.
Bob Richardson, Dairy grazer in Warren, MA and 2006 Green Pastures Farmer of the Year mentioned that we need to change the mindset of the dairy experts. Grazing is a feasible alternative to conventional systems.
Sue Ellen Johnson, New England Small Farm Institute asked what our approach should be.
Angus Johnson: We have gathered the ideas from producers and we need to get cost figures together. Decide on how big of a program and get assistance from the Farm Bureau. Legislative folks in Massachusetts are behind it.
Ed Maltby from the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers stressed that we need a base of scientific education since we do not have a large enough base of farmers at this time to have them take the risk through trial & error.
Ed Bourgeois: Need committees to determine the educational piece, the economics and the research component. Determine the target audience.
Carl DeMatteo: Work up a proposal and then use farm Bureau to get the message out.
New Proposal Committee Members: Don Minto – RI, Jerry Grabarek – CT, Rebecca Elwood – CT, and John Winsten – VT.
Meeting adjourned at 3:05 PM. followed by a tour of the farm.