"No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change" – President Obama
Tuesday the 25th of July I completed my first farm visit to a southeastern organic dairy farm in Tennessee. The objectives of the day were
1- Gather flies from the udder/under belly and backs of cows
2- Measure, and evaluate different forages.
All flies and grass collected were placed in plastic bags and placed in freezers once back at the laboratory.
The objective of my research is to evaluate forages and cattle mineral status on organic dairy farms in the southeast of America. Five research farms have been allocated, one in Tennessee and the remaining four in Kentucky.
Each pasture will be composed of
1- Cool season (CS) forages only (alfalfa, tall fescue, red clover)
2- Warm season (WS) species of crab grass & annual lespedeza mixed with cool season annual ryegrass and red clover (WRC)
3-WS species sorghum-X-sudan grass hybrid (sudex) and cowpea mixed with CS od annual ryegrass and crimsom clover (WCC)
4-WS species sudex and cowpea mixed with CS species oats and annual ryegrass and brassicas turnip and rape (WTR)
After 8 hours on an American Airlines A330-200 and a 2 hour flight in a small American Eagle plane, one Irish man landed into Knoxville, TN. Had a great start as I was introduced to Dr’s, researcher’s and to other graduate students.
Dr Gina Pighetti gave me a trip around campus and finally we landed to the Animal Science building.
