www.sare.org resources farming-strategies-for-adapting-to-extreme-weather Farming Strategies for Adapting to Extreme Weather SARE partnered with PBS KVIE to produce an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland that highlights how farmers and ranchers across the United States are using sustainable and regenerative practices to adapt to increasingly challenging and unpredictable weather conditions. Adapting to Flooding and Drought on Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton, Vermont Ashley Loehr and Antoine […]
www.sare.org resources tarping-in-the-northeast-a-guide-for-small-farms Tarping in the Northeast: A Guide for Small Farms Reusable tarps, including black plastic (silage tarps), clear plastic and landscape fabric, are multi-functional, accessible tools that are increasingly popular on small farms. The use of opaque materials that block light is frequently called “occultation,” while the use of clear tarps is called “solarization.” The use of the word "tarping” is a general term to […]
www.sare.org resources what-is-sustainable-agriculture What is Sustainable Agriculture? A simple way to think about sustainable agriculture is that it involves producing enough food and fiber to satisfy today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. Farmers and ranchers who value sustainability embrace three common goals while running productive operations: To achieve these sustainability goals, a farmer typically views […]
www.sare.org resources leaders-in-sustainable-agriculture Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture Featured on America's Heartland SARE partnered with PBS KVIE to produce an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland that features four farmers describing their commitment to sustainability, how they plan to meet farming challenges of today and tomorrow, and how SARE has impacted their farming and ranching practices. The full 24-minute video is available, as is each segment featuring the […]
www.sare.org resources farming-with-soil-life Farming with Soil Life This handbook, created by The Xerces Society, dives into soil biology. It provides a connection between healthy soils and healthy invertebrates found in temperate agricultural soils. Farming with Soil Life starts with a review of soil basics, including the functions, classifications and properties (physical, biological and chemical) of soil. It provides detailed methods on how […]
www.sare.org resources transitioning-to-organic-production Transitioning to Organic Production Farmers and ranchers decide to pursue organic certification for many personal, financial and environmental reasons. This publication introduces you to the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program and outlines many of the key strategies producers use to make their three-year transition to organic production a successful one. It discusses the practice areas common to […]
www.sare.org resources soil-health-principles-and-practices-videos Soil Health Principles and Practices Videos Investing in soil health is critical to the success of all farms, but many beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers struggle to put soil health principles into practice. There can be many reasons for this. Many of these producers have small acreage and land is expensive, and either they can't make this investment or they don't […]
www.sare.org resources smart-water-use-on-your-farm-or-ranch Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch As producers throughout the nation grow increasingly concerned about water scarcity, farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators are beginning to explore new, conservation-oriented approaches to water use. They are managing soil to improve infiltration, selecting drought-tolerant crops and native forages, and designing innovative runoff collection systems. Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research […]
www.sare.org resources a-whole-farm-approach-to-managing-pests A Whole Farm Approach to Managing Pests This 16-page bulletin helps producers—and the educators who work with them—use ecological principles to design farm-wide approaches to control pests. It lays out basic ecological principles for managing pests and suggests how to apply them to real farm situations—along with cutting-edge research examples and anecdotes from farmers using such strategies in their fields. Ecological pest management […]
www.sare.org resources what-is-soil-health What is Soil Health? Why is soil health so important? More and more, producers are understanding that healthy soils are more productive and lead to healthier crops. Dig into this interactive infographic to learn more about sustainable production practices that can help build healthy soil. Explore the on-farm benefits of using cover crops, crop rotation, manure amendments, composting and […]
www.sare.org resources how-sare-supports-farmer-driven-sustainability Investing in the Future of Agriculture: How SARE Supports Farmer-Driven Sustainability "One of the precepts of sustainability is that farmers learn from other farmers. Growers are the ones that can tweak and understand a practice and say, 'This really works this way'," says Steve Balling of Del Monte Foods. "It's what SARE was built upon." Since its inception 30 years ago, the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research […]
www.sare.org resources improving-soil-health-through-cover-crops Improving Soil Health Through Cover Crops Grain farmer Jeff Frey has used no-till on his 700-acre farm in Willow Street, Penn., since the 1980s. Despite these efforts, Frey knew he needed to do more to protect his soil from erosion. Recently, he worked with Sjoerd Duiker, associate professor of soil management at Penn State University, on a SARE grant designed to […]
www.sare.org resources economic-and-environmental-aspects-of-cover-crops Economic and Environmental Aspects of Cover Crops Session recordings on this page include: Economics of Cover Crops Business Opportunities with Cover Crops and Soil Health Environmental Impacts of Cover Crop Systems Economics of Cover Crops Speakers will provide a commercial family farm perspective, using real research data to quantify the economic impact of a never-till and cover crop production system. Highlights include: […]
www.sare.org resources managing-cover-crops-for-ecosystem-services-in-vegetable-systems Managing Cover Crops for Ecosystem Services in Vegetable Systems Natalie Lounsbury (University of New Hampshire) discusses how to manage cover crops for such ecosystem services as: suppressing weeds, attracting pollinators, cycling nutrients, promoting biological diversity and controlling erosion. This session was part of Cover Crops for Soil Health, a three-day professional development workshop hosted by Northeast SARE and Delaware State University in March 2016. […]
www.sare.org resources cover-cropping-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Flowering cover crops can fulfill their original purpose as a conservation practice while at the same time providing valuable forage for wild bees and beneficial insects. This added benefit can be significantly enhanced with some fine-tuning of management practices and thoughtful plant selection. This 16-page bulletin will help you use cover crops to encourage populations of pollinators and beneficial insects on […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations A condensed version of this page is available as a four-page PDF, Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations, or use the Order in Print button on this page to order free hard copies. Also available in Spanish and Chinese. What is a Cover Crop? Cover crops should be viewed as a long-term investment in improved […]
www.sare.org resources building-sustainable-farms-ranches-and-communities Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities This guide lists funding opportunities offered by federal programs, and is indispensable for anyone seeking government help to foster their innovative enterprise in forestry and agriculture. Specifically, it addresses program resources in community development; sustainable land management; and value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry. Thus, it can help farmers, entrepreneurs, community developers, conservationists, and many […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-soil-health-principles-and-maximizing-yields Cover Crops, Soil Health Principles and Maximizing Yields Improving soil health not only cleans up water quality and reduces soil loss but also provides a better environment for cash crops to succeed. Learn about basic soil health principles and how cover crops are key to making those happen on your farm. Panelists include USDA Agricultural Research Service soil scientist Kristine Nichols and Indiana […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-seed-selection-and-planting Cover Crops Seed Selection and Planting Knowing which cover crops to pick for your farm's goals can be daunting. So many options exist that it is sometimes hard to know what to pick and then how to plant it. Whether you are new to cover crops or an advanced user, hear from two experts in the field on how they best […]
www.sare.org resources the-sustainability-of-biofuel-fact-sheet-series The Sustainability of Biofuel Fact Sheet Series The following peer-reviewed fact sheets are available on eXtension.org: Biodiesel and the Food vs. Fuel Debate Biodiversity and Biofuel Production Biofuels and Greenhouse Gas Reductions Biomass Feedstocks and Energy Independence Diverse Plant Mixtures for Sustainable Biofuels Environmental Life Cycle Analysis of Biodiesel Genetically Modified Organisms for Bioenergy Systems Introduction to Energy Efficient Irrigation Introduction to […]