On-Farm Demonstrations
Farmers who have attended Heart of Maine’s annual soil quality conferences have asked for help applying what they have learned, so we in the process of planning an On-Farm Demonstration program. Focused on helping farmers find practical, economical and environmentally sound alternatives to production issues, these demonstrations and field days are intended to serve as a forum for farmers to share and adopt practices that build soil health and improve crop quality and yield.
Project Update
Soil Quality Project
Last fall, Heart of Maine Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) received a Conservation Innovation Grant to demonstrate that planning for sustainable soil quality management on conventional row crop farms will improve soil health, improve tilth and increase crop productivity.
With funding from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), it has been an opportunity to bring together technical assistance, practical tools and techniques and other resources to help farmers plan for, monitor and improve their farms' soil quality.
Three farms were selected for the demonstration. A team of technical advisors visited each farm last fall to 1) inventory and assess soil health and biological activity; and 2) select practices and amendments to address root problems and crop concerns (this included the use of cover crops, reduced tillage methods and non-traditional amendments).
We looked at physical, chemical and biological indicators for soil health to get an overall picture of what is going on in the soil. Using the USDA Soil Test Kit, we measured bulk density, infiltration rates, respiration and compaction. Soil samples were collected and sent to three labs: University of Maine, International Ag Labs and Soil FoodWeb to determine reserve and available nutrients and biological activity.
Consultants Mark Fulford and Lauchlin Titus used the results of these observations and soil tests to put together recommendations for each farm. Amendments included hen manure, compost and a special blend of plant nutrients including trace minerals from Lancaster Ag Products in Pennsylvania.
New Equipment Demo: No-Till Knife Roller
Our first project will be to demonstrate a piece of no-till equipment called a knife roller (crimper), which is designed to knock down a cover crop like winter wheat and create a small bare area of ground in which to plant seed.
Farmer-researcher teams at the Rodale Institute (http://www.newfarm.org) are currently using this equipment in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina to plant through thick stands of rye, peas, and oats and have perfected the process for planting soybeans and corn.
Upcoming Field Days
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