Tile Drainage on Farms - Managing for Water Quality and Soil Health

Laura grew up in the foothills of the Adirondacks and that experience instilled in her a deep appreciation for the outdoors and our natural resources. This passion for the environment led her to SUNY Plattsburgh where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology. After graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh, she began working at Miner Institute as a research technician on projects investigating the environmental impacts of dairy farming and dairy cow nutrition and welfare. This work instilled a passion both for the research process and enhancing the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture in the northeast. With a graduate fellowship from Miner Institute, she received her Master’s degree in soil science from the University of Vermont. Laura’s main research focus is nutrient management on dairy farms; specifically investigating how different management practices influence field hydrology, erosion and the export of nutrients to surface waters.

Joshua Faulkner is a Research Assistant Professor with UVM Extension and also coordinates the Farming and Climate Change Program in the UVM Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Faulkner does applied research and outreach on soil, water, and nutrient related issues across Vermont and the Northeastern US. A changing climate, and its effect on agriculture and resulting water quality, is a key theme in much of his work. Joshua works with governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve agricultural programs and educate stakeholders, and provides technical assistance and outreach to farmers on practices and innovative solutions to improve management and build resilient, sustainable farming systems. Joshua's work spans from the farmstead to the watershed scale, and has included projects in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and West Africa.