Dairy farms in the United States are diverse and although regional dairy production farm strategy has been evaluated for environmental impact, a comprehensive national assessment is important to define priorities sustainable intensification. We estimated footprints of using process-level simulation cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessment. representing sizes management practices found six regions were simulated with Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM). Regional determined as an average all...

Formulating grass–legume mixtures requires knowledge of how the proportion species in a seed mixture (i.e., evenness) affects productivity and weed abundance. We hypothesized that with more equal proportions greater would have fewer weeds than dominated by one or two monocultures. Two experiments 15 monocultures orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), quackgrass Elytrigia repens alfalfa Medicago sativa white clover Trifolium L.) (Exp. 1) meadow fescue [ Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P....

Maintaining a diversity of plant species in pastures may reduce weed invasion. Knowledge how the proportion mixture (i.e., evenness) affects invasion would be useful formulating seed mixtures. We hypothesized that forage mixtures with greater evenness at establishment better than dominated by few (low or monocultures. Fifteen and monocultures orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), quackgrass Elytrigia repens alfalfa Medicago sativa white clover Trifolium L.) were sown autumn 2008 four...

Abstract In the US farmers often market pastured poultry eggs for a premium price, claiming animal and human health benefits. We examined how moving hens to forage legumes or mixed grasses influenced hen ( Gallus gallus L.) egg omega-3 fatty acids concentrations of vitamins A E. also compared those fed commercial diet in cages. used cross-over design compare pasture species: 75 sister were assigned one three treatment groups: (1) alfalfa Medicago sativa L.), (2) red white clover Trifolium...

A comprehensive life cycle assessment of United States beef will provide benchmarks and identify opportunities for improvement. On-going region-specific data collection is characterizing cattle production practices a more accurate assessment. This study reports information obtained via online surveys on-site visits from 2 7 regions: the Northern Plains (Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota) Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin). Ranch responses (n = 512)...

A comprehensive, yet in depth, assessment is needed of the environmental impacts dairy farms at regional and national scales to better track improvements made by industry. With Pennsylvania as an example, a method using process-level simulation cradle-to-farm gate life cycle was developed used assess important footprints within state. Representative various sizes management practices throughout 7 regions state were simulated with Integrated Farm System Model. Environmental varied widely...

An assessment of the sustainability beef production in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas region requires information on their practices. A voluntary survey was conducted for ranches feedyards along with site visits to gather Responses represented 0.8% cows maintained 9% cattle finished region, a wide range size types operations. Most characteristics cow-calf stocker did not vary much across states, but there were differences cow stocking rates forage from wetter east side drier, semiarid...

Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) seeding rates greatly affect the number of surviving plants after 1 yr. The objective this research was to determine what effect rate has on alfalfa stand density two or more years seeding. Different cultivars were spring‐seeded at ranging from 3 27 kg ha −1 pure live seed into tilled seedbeds in Missouri and Pennsylvania provide eight location‐years data. After year, herbage removed four five times each year. Stand densities determined one three months planting...

A comprehensive life cycle assessment of the beef value chain in United States is being conducted to provide benchmarks and identify opportunities for improvement. Region-specific data are collected accurately characterize cattle production practices. This study reports information obtained via surveys on-site visits from 2 7 regions: Northwest (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming) Southwest (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah). Responses ranches (defined as...

Pastures in the northeastern United States are often planted to mixtures of grasses and legumes. We evaluated several commercial seed determine if number species mixture affected yield botanical composition central Pennsylvania. Three replicate plots 25 mixtures, five each two, three, four, five, six legumes were August 2007 near State College, PA. Plots grazed by beef cows for 3 yr. Dry matter (DM) was determined at harvests year. Botanical measured first, third, last harvest Annual DM...

As part of the United States Beef Sustainability Program, a nationwide characterization regional beef production practices was conducted. Data on cattle were gathered through voluntary surveys and on-site visits in Northeast Southeast, last 7 cattle-producing regions studied. Participating farms ranches (n = 817) represented 1.2 1.0% cows respectively. Responses from finishing operations 55) 4 23% fed Herd sizes reported larger Southeast than Northeast; however, stocking rates similar....

Core Ideas The accuracy of rising plate meter in multispecies swards has not been tested thoroughly. Forcing X intercept to zero increases the precision calibration equations. Higher‐order polynomial regressions do result more accurate forage estimates. (RPM) provides rapid estimates herbage mass (HM). Accurate RPM is difficult due variability management, growth, and species composition. typically calibrated by linear regression HM height; however, r 2 usually low. Curvilinear regression,...

Many studies have looked at the economically optimum N application rate (cost of vs. increased yield) for cool‐season forage grasses, but few these also addressed effect fertilization on livestock or environmental health. The objective this study was to determine grass species that optimizes economic return without elevating herbage soil NO 3 –N levels. Four rates were applied in split applications established stands orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), smooth bromegrass Bromus inermis...

Proponents of ultra-high stocking density (UHSD) grazing emphasize increased forage-use efficiency and soil improvement by mature forage with densities up to 560,425 kg/ha beef cattle on small paddocks rest periods 125 d. However, it is unclear whether this management technique appropriate for dairy farms in the northeastern United States. A case study was conducted characterize practices quality using self-described UHSD grazing. Data collected 4 organic Pennsylvania New York practicing...

The Pasture Condition Score (PCS) system, developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is a monitoring and assessment tool for pastureland enrolled in conservation programs. Ten indicators of vegetation soil status are rated on 1 to 5 scale summed give an aggregate score, which interpreted management recommendations. Information lacking, however, how PCS results vary within among environments farms. We applied two farms Pennsylvania (one dairy, one beef), dairy New York,...

Sanderson, M. A., Stout, R., Goslee, S., Gonet, J. and Smith, R. G. 2014. Soil seed bank community structure of pastures hayfields on an organic farm. Can. Plant Sci. 94: 621–631. Understanding the composition banks in pasture soils would help farmers anticipate manage for weed problems. We characterized soil eight [two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) two predominantly grass hayfields; recently established permanent pastures] within dairy farm southeastern New Hampshire. Seed were sampled upper...

A comprehensive life cycle assessment of the US beef value chain requires collection region-specific data for accurate characterization country's diverse production practices. Cattle in Hawaii is very different from rest country due to its unique ecosystem and geographic location. survey cattle producers provided information on herd size characteristics, grazing management, forage feed sources, marketing. Ranch responses represented 44% state's cows with operation sizes varying 5 10,000...

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate animal performance, costs, and returns for three grazing systems: 1) or- chardgrass/bluegrass; 2) orchardgrass/ bluegrass plus annual plants including sudangrass, small grains, rape, corn stalks; 3) orchardgrass/bluegrass, stockpiled fescue, alfalfa-grass combinations. Fifteen cow-calf pairs contributed a constant stocking rate within each system at of two locations. Pastures were subdivided provide 3.5 d sampled pre- postgrazing. Ungrazed forage mass...

Cool‐season forage grasses have a range of inter‐ and intraspecies heading dates in the spring. Selecting manageable harvest schedule that does not confound yield estimates through × maturity interaction is troublesome variety trials. Our objective was to determine extent between cool‐season grass initial spring when estimating total season yield. Cultivars orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne smooth bromegrass Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue Festuca...

Cradle-to-farm gate environmental impacts of beef production in two cattle producing regions were assessed as part an ongoing national sustainability study the U.S. value chain launched by Beef Checkoff. Region-specific data on common ranch and feedlot management practices characterized from producer surveys site visits each 10 states within Midwest Northern Plains regions. This information was used along with appropriate climate soil to simulate representative operations predict Integrated...

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus L.) feed heavily on alfalfa (Medicago sativa throughout Pennsylvania.Attempts to reduce feeding forage crops have proven too costly or ineffective.The objective of this research was determine the loss in yield and economic returns caused by pure mixed stands perennial crops.At 2 locations central Pennsylvania, plots alfalfa, timothy, orchardgrass, alfalfa-grass mixtures 25, 50, 75% were established within areas protected (with fencing) unprotected...