This episode features a visit to a Vermont hog farm to learn the economic, scientific, and social aspects of raising pigs on pasture. We meet a swine specialist who is helping Vermont farmers getting a leg up on the competition. One of the biggest challenges for farmers is when they want to diversify or expand their business in order to meet demand. For a small farm to increase in size by 20 or 30 animals, changes have to be made to the overall management of the farm. Farmers often rely on their own resourcefulness, but it always helps to have a different experience and a different set of eyes to look at things to let you know that you're on the right track.
The Swine Project is one element of the work of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture's Pasture Program. The Pasture team’s goal is to promote and enhance sustainable grass-based livestock farming through improvements in soil, water and forage quality, and profitability. We seek to provide this by working with farmers and other partners to provide research, information (including our Pasture Calendar), educational opportunities (including grazing workshops and the Vermont Grazing & Livestock Conference), and technical support.
For more information, visit www.uvm.edu/sustainableagricul... or contact Jennifer Colby, Pasture Program Coordinator, at (802) 656-0858 or via email.
Across the Fence is the longest-running locally-produced program in the US. We have been on-air on WCAX-TV since 1955! Across the Fence is produced by the University of Vermont Extension. Visit www.uvm.edu/extension/atfence
29 сен 2013
