Vermont needs to make ‘tough decisions’ on cow herds

Milking time at Island Acres Farm in South Hero. File photo by Josh Larkin/VTDigger
There are more cows in Vermont than the state’s agricultural land can accommodate under current practices, according to a new study from a UVM research fellow. And the best solution to the problem would place a financial burden on struggling dairy farmers.The study recommends “precision feeding” as a promising approach to reduce dairies’ rate of water pollution without reducing herd sizes.