Category: CALS

Posted on

Climate Learning Forum: Healthy Trees Gathering in Vermont

Four people are leaning over to look at sugar maple tree seedlings on a forest floor.
The visiting group noted the presence of perennial plants growing on the forest floor. Photo credit: Suzy Hodgson

On a blustery afternoon in June, agriculture and forestry technical advisors including USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and UVM Extension met to observe and discuss healthy trees on a parcel of Vermont clay plain forest in Shelburne. Following several online meetings to discuss tree health in Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Activities, this gathering was the first time many of the professionals had met in person. Continue reading “Climate Learning Forum: Healthy Trees Gathering in Vermont”

Posted on

VT Dairy Mapping Project Kicks Off at UVM Dairy Farm

Julie Smith, CREAM student, Massle Thach, and Adrian Dixon standing in the UVM dairy barn next to a Holstein cow.
Back to front: Julie Smith, CREAM Summer Student Advisor Julia Gerardi, Massle Thach, Adrian Dixon, and Maddie Beaudry visit the UVM dairy farm for the Vermont Dairy Mapping Project. Photo credit: Joanna Cummings.

During the summer of 2023, the Vermont Dairy Mapping Project launched with a team that visited several dairy farms to interview farmers about their disease-prevention biosecurity practices. The project team collected information that will be used to prepare a disease outbreak response plan for each farm, based on the national Secure Milk Supply Plan template. The team also “field tested” a new online mapping application that was developed to make the visual mapping part of a plan easier to create. Continue reading “VT Dairy Mapping Project Kicks Off at UVM Dairy Farm”

Posted on

Food Systems Research Center Opportunities for Post-Docs

A large field of vegetables including onions and brussels sprouts, with greenhouses in the background.

The University of Vermont is excited to announce a cluster-hire of post-doctoral associates with a focus on measuring local and regional sustainable food systems. The two-year positions (with potential option for renewal) will work with UVM faculty in collaboration with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and will be based at UVM, in conjunction with the ARS Food Systems Research Center. Continue reading “Food Systems Research Center Opportunities for Post-Docs”

Posted on

Etter Receives Grant to Study Poultry Disease Prevalence and Agritourism

A large flock of yellow chicks (baby chickens) in a barn.

Nutrition and Food Sciences Assistant Professor Andrea Etter is the lead principal investigator (PI) on a $1 million USDA NIFA-IDEAS (Interdisciplinary Engagement in Animal Sciences) grant, to study the role of poultry in zoonotic pathogen prevalence and transmission on animal agritourism operations. Continue reading “Etter Receives Grant to Study Poultry Disease Prevalence and Agritourism”