University of Connecticut (joint program with CT, MA, RI)
Final Activity and Outcome Summary for the 2011-2014 State Program Project
Joe Bonelli and Michael Keilty, UConn; Sonia Schloemann, UMass; Heather Faubert, URI
Project Title: Grass-fed all year long: Strategies for expanding winter production of local, grass-fed meat
Performance Target
12 ag service providers will educate 120 farmers representing 1,200 head of cattle on 3 or more aspects of yearround production of grass-fed meat; 25 of the 120 farmers (representing 250 head of cattle) will integrate 2 or
more of the 5 aspects of year-round production into their operations; 3 of the 25 farmers (representing 30 head of
cattle) will transition to year-round grass-fed meat production
Outcomes Reported
 14 agricultural service providers incorporated information and/or used skills learned through the state
program trainings in on-farm demonstrations, presentations, fact sheets and consultations that reached 98
farmers.

8 farmers made a management change as a result of learning from the project activities and/or the trained
agricultural service providers. The changes, which affected 2560 acres and 448 animals, included:

Adding or expanding animals raised on pasture

Changes in animal selection and breeding for year-round meat production

Changes in seasonal nutrition for animals

Facility design and maintenance for year-round production

Use of alternative forages

This project has resulted in new professional collaborations among NRCS, the UCONN Animal Science
Department, and the Rhode Island Raised Livestock Association. Individuals from these organizations became
partners in facilitating educational programming for this project.

Project team members also collaborated on educational programs for the 2013 New England Beef to Institution
Conference.
Project Milestone Activities
 18 workshops (14 conducted on-farm)

3 Presentations at:
 Yale Conference on Sustainable Agriculture
 NE NOFA Annual Conference
 Yale Silvopasturing Workshop

Individual consultations with 50 service providers
and 75 farmers

Conference planning support for the 2013 and
2014 New England Meat Conferences
Participants
141 agricultural service providers and 139 farmers
participated in project workshops.
Assessments of Learning
Participants verified they learned new knowledge and skills related to year-round grass-fed meat production on
surveys conducted at program events and in follow-up.
Key knowledge and skills taught through the program included:
Understanding host farms’ grass-based systems
Breed selection for year-round production and market value
Making and feeding baleage for winter livestock production
Engaging with NRCS programs for farmers
Infrastructure needed for winter livestock production
Feasibility of year-round production
Marketing local grass-fed beef
Forage analysis
Identification and control of weeds
Soil testing and soil fertility
Publications
The joint state program project produced 3 case study factsheets, 3 newsletter articles and developed a website for
sharing resources about grass-based meat productions: http://www.meatsystems.uconn.edu/
Outreach about SARE Grant Programs
During the 3-year project, the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island state program reached more than 500
farmers and 250 farmers with information about SARE grants through individual consultations and exhibits or
presentations at meetings, conferences and workshops.
Examples of the events attended include:
UMASS Poultry and Livestock conference
New England Beef to Institution conference
Yale Sustainable food conference
CT Ag Day at the Capital
NRCS Health Soils Workshop
CT Farm Bureau annual meeting
Rhode Island Raised Livestock Association annual
meeting and conference
CT Northwest Conservation District meeting
CT NOFA meeting