Highmoor Farm Maine Agricultural Experiment Station will hold a field day on July 23, 2002 to bring framer to the research projects being carried out at the farm on fruit and vegetable crops. The morning program will consist of tours of apple, vegetable, small fruit, cover crop and compost research projects followed by a sandwich buffet lunch. In the afternoon, there will be presentations on risk management, and farm labor.

June and July are busy months for graziers, but several have volunteered their time to share their innovative techniques with others at the on-farm Pasture Walks listed below. Coordinated by the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture in cooperation with the Vermont Pasture Network, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, UVM Extension, and other agricultural groups.

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June 18, 6-8 p.m. HORSE PASTURE MANAGEMENT Danville, VT

ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE

Andrea Turner grazes 5 horses on about 5 acres. Join us at this Danville farm for a discussion of grazing systems for horses - the nitty-gritty details of setting up paddocks and water systems, keeping the operation cost effective, and balancing the needs of soils, water, and pasture plants, with the natural challenges of horse behavior and grazing style, the farm set-up and your own needs as a horse owner.

Directions heading West on Route 2 to Danville, as you are nearing the top of Dole Hill (just past Goodfella's Rest), turn left at Sugar Ridge Campground. *Follow this road (Old Stagecoach Road) 2 miles to the end. Log >cabin at end of road.*

Heading East: Go through Danville village. Turn right at Sugar Ridge Campground. >Follow from * to * above.

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June 25 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. INCLUDING SEASONALLY WET LAND IN THE GRAZING ROTATION Salisbury, VT

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE GRAZIERS

Co-sponsored by the Vermont Pasture Network and the Small Ruminant Dairy Project.

Hannah Sessions and Greg Bernhardt milk about 50 predominantly Alpine and Nubian does on their Leicester Farm. As a part of a SARE grant, a seasonally flooded area will be brought into the grazing rotation during the drier part of the year. We will discuss the methods used to graze this area effectively, as well as looking at the overall grazing plan for the farm in this first grazing season.

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June 27 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. PASTURE MANAGEMENT FOR DAIRY GOATS

Greyledge Farm, Alstead, NH

INTERMEDIATE GRAZIERS

Co-sponsored by the Vermont Grass Farmers' Association and the Small Ruminant Dairy Project. Leslie & Keith Quarrier milk about 60 Saanen does at their NH farm. They ship fluid milk to Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, and are among a growing number of farmers who are successfully feeding their goats on pasture. Come and learn how they do it!

Directions from the North: Take I91 South to exit 7. Turn left off the exit ramp, heading towards NH. Go across Connecticut River, staying straight until you come to Rte. 12. Turn right onto Rte. 12, heading South and towards Charlestown. Go through Charlestown on Rte. 12, continuing straight for 4 or 5 miles until you see Rte. 12A on the right. Turn right and stay on 12A through Alstead. About 1 mile out of town turn left onto Rte. 123A (this junction is at a Gulf Station).

**Follow 123A for 2 ½ miles. Just after crossing small bridge with road construction, turn left on Campbell Rd. This is a steep dirt road. Follow this until you come to the first house, then turn left onto Quarrier Rd. Follow to end (1/2 mile). We live in South Acworth NH.**

From the South: Take I91 north to exit 5. Bear right off exit, and when you come to stop sign, turn right on Rte. 5 South. Follow Rte. 5 for about 1 or 2 miles until you see Rte 123 to the left. Take Rte. 123 and cross Connecticut River, and then go left on Rte. 12/Rte. 123. After about 3 miles, Rte. 123 goes to the right at Aubuchon's. Stay on Rte. 123 through Alstead, then turn left onto Rte. 123A.

Follow from ** to ** above.

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July 11 6-8 p.m. GRAZING FOR CHEESE PRODUCTION

Livewater Farm, Westminster West, VT

INTERMEDIATE GRAZIERS

Bill Acquaviva grazes 15 Jersey cows on about 15 acres. The cows are managed organically, and bred mostly on a seasonal basis. An additional 30 acres is currently hayed, although Bill hopes to bring more land into the grazing rotation in the next years. The milk from this herd currently supplies Peter Dixon's cheesemaking operation at the farm, making Italian cheeses including fresh mozzarella, ricotta, tome, and several others. Bill will talk about the challenges specific to this farm, and producing milk for making cheese.

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July 17 1 - 3 p.m. CO-GRAZING SHEEP AND HEIFERS

Richford, VT

INTERMEDIATE GRAZIERS

Co-sponsored by the Vermont Pasture Network and the Vermont Sheep Breeders' Association.

Chet Parsons, UVM Extension's Livestock Specialist, grazes sheep and heifers on his farm to manage pastures and parasites. Chet will lead a tour of his farm discussing his unique management strategies and touring the farm.

Directions: Take route 105 to Richford. If you are coming from the St. Albans area (traveling East on Rt. 105), make a sharp right soon after you enter Richford in front of Food City Grocery Store onto Noyes Street. Travel ½ mile to the first farm. Barn on left, white house on right, 463 on the mailbox.

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July 27 10 a.m. - 12 p.m GRAZING DAIRY GOATS

Long Field Farm, Cabot, VT (bring and lunch and stay later if you like!)

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE GRAZIERS

Co-sponsored by the Vermont Pasture Network and the Small Ruminant Dairy Project. Lynn Rockwell milks 24 "grade" (or crossbred) does at her Cabot dairy. She is another grazier goat farmer shipping milk to VT Butter and Cheese, and her farming goals include staying small scale while improving profitability. She will share more of her plans for the farm, as well as talking about the ins and outs of successfully grazing goats, and how she supplements their diet for the best herd health and production.

Directions from Cabot Village: Head north through the village, cross the cement bridge and take and immediate left after the bridge. Travel 9/10 of a mile and then take another left onto Houston Hill Road. **After about 1.5 miles on this road (which turns to dirt) you will see the farm-big red barn, yellow farmhouse.**

From Rte. 15 (Hardwick/Walden): Take the South Walden Road, passing one road marked Houston Hill Road, and after 4 miles take a right on the SECOND Houston Hill Road. Follow ** to ** above.

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