Performance targets from proposal:
1) Of the 160 organic dairy farms in Maine, and Vermont, five will become project partners with Extension and ARS researchers to help develop working models of integrated production systems that take advantage of high quality harvested forage, pasture, and complementary on-farm grain production, storage and utilization.
2) Using data from plot research and research partners, forty of the 160 organic dairy farms in Vermont and Maine will successfully invest in growing, harvesting and utilizing grains on over 1000 acres to improve the sustainability of their farm operations through the development of more integrated, profitable and environmentally sound farming systems.
Target Verification and Project Outcomes:
1) Data (production, financial, and environmental) collected from on-farm research and research plots will be summarized and the information disseminated through the MOMP, NODPA, NOFA-VT, and the Organic Seed Initiative membership along with the Northeast conventional dairy community.
2) Organic dairy certification data from NOFA-VT and MOFGA will document the change in organic grain acreage.
3) All farmers either growing or using local grains will be contacted through phone interviews in year 3 of the project. Buyers of local grain will be asked how the quality, price and risk have changed as a result of switching to local producers. Growers of organic grain will be asked how grain production has changed their crop rotation, nutrient management, financial return and economic risk.