Impacts of grazing management practices on soil carbon content of Northeastern grassfed livestock farms

E.J.B VON WETTBERG, B. KRETZLER, A CARRINGTON, N. EL NABOULSI, G. MEANS, J HART, M. MACHADO, J. WISE, E. FREIDRICH, S. WILSON, G. GARCIA, D. PITAWALA, J ALVEZ, M. DONIN, T. REYNOLDS, L. HANCOCK

Department of Plant and Soil Science, 63 Carrigan Drive, University of Vermont, Burlington VT 05405, USA. 

Grazing lands can hold significant soil carbon while supporting livestock if carefully managed. In Vermont, a small state in the Northeastern US, 80% of farmland is dedicated to commodity dairy production. Lower milk prices and resulting financial losses are forcing many farmers to sell their land, face bankruptcy, or search for alternative business models. Unlike commodity dairy, the market demand for grass-fed livestock is creating an opportunity for producers to transition from commodity dairy and grain-fed livestock to a grass-fed production model. For livestock producers, Management Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG) is a system for frequently rotating livestock through small paddocks, providing fresh forage for cattle and enough time for the previously grazed pasture to regrow before grazing again. Our project examines soil carbon and farm viability on 20 test farms implementing or transitioning to grass-fed livestock production. Baseline results from 2022 suggest substantial pools of soil carbon, with the potential for active management to increase soil carbon stocks alongside farm profitability. Over the five-year duration of the project we will examine changes in soil carbon due to management practices, as well as the impact of these practices on farm economic performance and on farmer livelihoods.