By Blake Jackson
Researchers are exploring new cultivation techniques to improve the sustainability of dairy forage farming. This involves finding ways to reduce environmental impact while maintaining consistent crop yields for farmers.
The research is part of a larger project studying soil health and manure management in dairy production across the United States. It aims to identify strategies that benefit the environment, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving water quality, without sacrificing farm productivity.
One approach being investigated is a soil health management system (SHMS). This system compares practices like reduced tillage and cover crops to conventional methods that involve tilling the soil and applying manure. Early results show promise for the SHMS in reducing environmental impact, but it has led to a slight decrease in crop yield in the first two years of the study.
Researchers believe this yield gap may shrink over time, as the benefits of the SHMS on soil health take hold. They are also studying the impact of these practices on soil biology, which plays a crucial role in overall soil health.
By understanding how different management techniques affect both yield and the environment, researchers hope to provide farmers with practical strategies for achieving a more sustainable approach to forage production. This could involve adopting practices like reduced tillage and cover cropping, while potentially needing to adapt management methods to maintain yields in certain areas.
The ultimate goal is to help dairy farmers achieve environmental stewardship while ensuring the long-term viability of their operations.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: New York, Livestock, Dairy Cattle