Research and Education Grant Examples

Corn grown for silage is the dominant crop in New England, and it is responsible for significant erosion potential. The short growing season and an emphasis on growing longer season, high-yield hybrids have also made it difficult to plant cover crops. The project manager will focus on participatory learning among farmers as they explore reduced tillage, alternative cropping systems. Farmers will also help design research components that fit their system and environment. As a result, 60 dairy farmers in Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts will adopt cover cropping and reduced tillage strategies on at least 3,000 acres, reduce fossil fuel costs by $30-$35 per acre, improve soil and nitrogen conservation by $20 per acre, and improve forage quality and profitability through reduced purchased grain inputs by $65 per cow each year.