Wolfe’s Neck Center’s unique setting allows us to be a space for agricultural innovation.
Over many decades, Wolfe’s Neck Center has been a space for innovation and change making in agriculture. As one of the first organic beef operations in the country, we have built on this legacy of innovation to provide a space for researchers, scientists, and thought leaders to convene, learn, and accelerate the rate of change in agriculture and climate science. Using our unique set of resources, Wolfe’s Neck Center is an outdoor living laboratory focused on agricultural production and ecosystem health in the face of a changing climate. Â
Wolfe’s Neck Center collaborates with research partners to perform on-farm research projects, and is committed to sharing this knowledge to further inform environmental and agricultural advances for farmers and researchers.
Maine Seaweeds to Reduce Methane Emissions
This project is a multi-year collaboration funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and includes a multidisciplinary team of scientists, researchers, and farmers. Through this project, Wolfe’s Neck Center’s Organic Dairy team works with scientists from Bigelow Laboratory to study the effect of Maine seaweed in a cow’s diet and its potential for methane emissions reduction.
Studying how to improve farm sustainability and animal production efficiency
Wolfe’s Neck Center studied the effect of a kelp-based mineral supplement on milk production efficiency in dairy cows. The project explored whether incorporating Maine-grown seaweed into a cow’s diet could improve milk production and nutrient efficiency while reducing the need for additional cows or land to produce feed. The research also examined the potential for creating new market opportunities for seaweed farmers.
Over the Fence: Exploring Tree Fodder for Dairy Cows
This project is a collaboration funded through a 2026 Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer Grant and includes Wolfe’s Neck Center’s Organic Dairy team and researchers from the University of Vermont. Through this project, the team is studying whether tree and shrub foliage can provide supplemental feed for dairy cows during the summer “slump,” when heat and drought can slow or stop pasture growth.
Monitoring Station
Wolfe’s Neck Center hosts a site for long-term ecosystem monitoring projects at our research station. By providing site access, we are supporting long-term efforts to collect data on climate change over time. Through these partnerships, data collected on our campus is connected to hundreds of similar monitoring efforts across the country measuring air and water quality, tracking season changes, and deepening the understanding of greenhouse gas fluctuations in pasture lands.
Collaborative Research Partnerships
We work closely with our network to support collaborative on-farm research on our unique campus. As a fully operational farm, we are a perfect testing ground for collaborative research and trialing of new approaches and techniques. Some recent examples include monitoring pasture biodiversity, implementing pasture forage species trials, and testing emerging monitoring tools and technology.
To inquire about a potential research partnership, contact us.
