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Item Open Access 2025 Impact of Biochar on Soil Chemical Properties and Corn Yield and Quality After Three Years(University of Vermont, 2026-07)Biochar is a solid “charred” organic residue produced by heating plant material in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis). Biochar tends to have high aromaticity and reduced oxygen to carbon and hydrogen to carbon ratios. As such, it is more resistant to microbial decomposition than the original plant residues or ‘feedstocks’ (e.g., crop residue, straw, wood, shells, etc.). Applying biochar to agricultural soils has shown the potential to increase soil carbon storage, reduce GHG emissions, enhance soil health, and improve yields. However, much remains uncertain about the practical application and impacts of biochar in working agricultural systems. This trial aims to assess the impact of the incorporation of biochar with different fertility treatments, e.g., fertilizer and manure on soil health indicators, corn crop yield, and corn quality. Data from 2025 represents results two years after biochar application and a third growing season of corn. This report contains soil health and corn silage yield and quality results for 2025 and comparisons to results from previous years.Item Open Access 2025 Flint Corn Variety Trial(University of Vermont, 2026-04)In the Northeast, there is a strong demand from consumers to have access to a wide range of locally produced food products. This demand creates opportunities for specialty value-added markets and crops to emerge. One market that has been gaining popularity and expanding recently in the Northeast is the specialty corn market. Flint corn has very hard starch and can be ground and used in tortillas, tamales, corn meal, grits, and other products. Flint has a high proportion of hard starch in the kernel that produces a coarse meal. This is different than a soft-starch flour corn that, when ground, results in a fine flour. Dent corn is similar as it has a lower proportion of hard starch than flint corn and thus forms a small dent on top of each kernel when mature (Figure 1). Flint and flour corn types, although recorded as being grown by Native Americans, have largely not been produced on a commercial scale in this region. However, new food entrepreneurs are looking to source local grain corn, producing potential value-added markets for local farmers. Therefore, it is important to evaluate both commercially available and locally saved flint, flour, and dent corn varieties to determine varieties that are well suited to our northern climate and production practices that produce economically viable yields and meet the quality expectations of this new market. The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program conducted a trial in 2025 to evaluate flint corn varietal performance in northern climates. It is important to remember that the data presented are from a replicated research trial from only one location in Vermont and represent only one season. Crop performance data from additional tests in different locations and over several years should be compared before making varietal selections or altering production practices.Item Open Access 2025 Impact of Biochar on Soil Chemical Properties and Corn Yield and Quality After Two Years(University of Vermont, 2026-07)Biochar is a solid “charred” organic residue produced by heating plant material in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis). Biochar tends to have high aromaticity and reduced oxygen to carbon and hydrogen to carbon ratios. As such, it is more resistant to microbial decomposition than the original plant residues or ‘feedstocks’ (e.g., crop residue, straw, wood, shells, etc.). Applying biochar to agricultural soils has shown potential to increase soil carbon storage, reduce GHG emissions, enhance soil health, and improve yields. However, much remains uncertain about the practical application and impacts of biochar in working agricultural systems. This trial aims to assess the impact of the incorporation of biochar with different fertility treatments e.g., fertilizer and manure on soil health indicators, corn crop yield, and corn quality. Data from 2025 represents results one year after biochar application and a second growing season of corn. This report contains soil health and corn silage yield and quality results for 2025 and comparisons to results from last year.Item Open Access 2025 Integrating Solar Corridors into Corn Silage Production Systems(University of Vermont, 2026-04)Interseeding is a strategy to plant cover crops directly into a growing crop of corn silage providing for earlier planting to hopefully maximize the conservation and ecological benefits of the cover crop. However, there are several challenges limiting farmer adoption of interseeding cover crops. Interseeding when corn is between the V2 to V6 growth stage is preferable because after corn has reached the V6 stage, most seeding equipment is not tall enough, increasing the risk of damaging the corn crop. This requires owning or having access to specialized cover crop interseeding equipment. Another challenge is that typical row spacings create shade that limits cover crop establishment and growth. The solar corridor system is an alternative cropping system that is designed to increase the availability of sunlight to all rows, which can improve crop growth and nutrient cycling in the soil. Since 2019, the UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) program has conducted research trials to investigate the impact of increased corn row spacing on corn yield and cover crop establishment and has found that cover crops consistently perform better in 60” rows compared to 30” rows. Increasing the row width of corn silage may improve interseeded cover crop growth, but it is still important to maintain cash crop yields. Based on past year’s research done at Borderview Research Farm, increasing corn row width to 60” can result in yield reductions, likely due to decreased plant populations on a per acre basis. When planting in wider rows, seeding rates need to be increased to achieve the same number of plants per acre. While there is increasing interest from producers to adopt alternative cropping systems, these practices need to be fine-tuned to maintain crop productivity. In 2025, the UVM Extension NWCS program initiated a trial to investigate the impact of corn row spacing and population on corn silage yield and quality.Item Open Access New York and Vermont Corn Silage Hybrid Evaluation Program Field Crop Performance Network(University of Vermont, 2025-11)Hybrid evaluation at multiple environments helps in decision making and expands the reach of this type of data to more farmers. Cornell, UVM, and seed companies collaborate to provide this evaluation. Hybrids were either entered into the 85-98 day RM group (Early-Mid; n = 31) or were entered into the 99-110 day RM group (Mid-Late; n = 33). All hybrids were planted at two locations; the Musgrave Research Farm in Aurora, NY (Cayuga County) and Borderview Farm in Alburgh, VT (Grand Isle County). Harvest dates were staggered by maturity group at each location. Weather data, growing degree days (GDD; 86-50°F system), and precipitation, for both the current year and long-term averages, can be found in Table 1.1 for all locations. The NY and VT corn silage evaluation program is made possible with support from dairy producers, participating seed companies, Cornell University, the University of Vermont, and the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. Seed companies were invited to submit hybrids into either maturity group (two locations per maturity group) for a fee.
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