Assessing limitations to forage legume content and persistence on East Coast Organic Cooperative dairy farms.

Biological N fixation in legume crops such as common forage crops alfalfa or red clover, is the largest naturalalternative to N fertilizer in agriculture. Improving legume persistence in forage stands continues to be achallenge for farmers across eastern Canada. Maintenance of legume-rich forage stands is especially critical tothe productivity and sustainability of certified organic dairy farms, where synthetic commercial nitrogenfertilizers are prohibited from use by national certified organic production standards. East Coast Organic Milk(ECO Milk) is a cooperative made up of a group of Nova Scotia family owned organic dairy farms. Memberfarmers are committed to producing local, quality, certified organic dairy products through the use ofsustainable, animal-friendly and organic practices. Currently, forage legume content on ECO Milk members'farms is too low to fully support optimal forage productivity and quality and thus dairy herd proteinrequirements, resulting in increased costs in accepting sub-optimal yields and the purchase of costlyorganic-certified feed protein supplements. ECO Milk members wish to develop organic appropriatetechniques and practices to improve forage legume persistence and overall stand legume content on their farms.In partnership with EcoMilk farmers the research will examine on selected farms, how soil properties and soiland crop farm management practices influence forage yields, legume content and quality, biological nitrogenfixation and nutrient uptake. It is anticipated the research will identify solutions to improve soil and foragemanagement which will result in increased productivity, lower feed costs, and improved economic performancefor East Coast Organic Milk cooperative.