www.sare.org resources building-soils-for-better-crops Building Soils for Better Crops The 4th edition of Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. It will show you how different physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil interconnect, and how […]
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 the-small-ruminant-toolbox The Small Ruminant Toolbox Sheep and goat enterprises offer diversification opportunities for small and limited-resource farmers. This Small Ruminant Toolbox was developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in order to provide a collection of information for small ruminant producers and educators. The Small Ruminant Toolbox includes many publications, presentations and other resources that will be helpful […]
www.sare.org resources farm-to-hospital-toolkit Farm to Hospital Toolkit This twelve-part document contains tools that farmers, ranchers and hospitals can use as they work to increase direct hospital purchases from local farmers.
www.sare.org resources building-an-on-farm-poultry-processing-facility Building an On-Farm Poultry Processing Facility Drawing on their own experiences and those of other poultry processing projects around the country, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project put together this comprehensive guide to planning and constructing a mobile poultry processing unit (MPPU) or stationary facility for on-farm poultry processing. The guide incorporates tips and lessons learned, case studies and example plans, and […]
www.sare.org resources applying-for-the-conservation-stewardship-program-csp Applying for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project provides information to farmers who are interested in applying for the USDA-NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which pays farmers to maintain, improve and adopt conservation systems. The guide explains program eligibility and how to apply. Download now: Applying for CSP.pdf 1.80 MB Plain language guides […]
www.sare.org resources guide-to-designing-a-small-red-meat-plant Guide to Designing a Small Red Meat Plant Meat plants can vary widely in use and design. How you build a plant depends on the types of processes you intend to have as part of your plant (e.g. slaughter, fabrication, production of ready-to-eat product). If you intend to construct, expand, or upgrade a locker-type meat plant, these plans were created to help you […]
www.sare.org resources applying-for-environmental-quality-incentives-program-eqip Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project introduces readers to the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which pays farmers and ranchers to implement practices that protect water, soil and air quality. The guide explains eligibility for EQIP, how to apply and how the money can be used. Download now: Applying for […]
www.sare.org resources dairy-your-way Dairy Your Way This publication was created to provide information that will help producers explore the many choices available for today’s dairy farms. This book is not intended to be a how-to dairy guide or manual. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer for dairy farmers seeking success as milk producers, there are many options that can be profitable […]
northcentral.sare.org resources poultry-your-way Poultry Your Way Poultry Your Way is for anyone interested in commercially raising, processing, and marketing poultry. It is designed to help you consider alternatives, and to help you make decisions about which alternative(s) will be most compatible with your family and business goals. Whether you are a commercial farmer seeking to make better use of pastures or […]
northeast.sare.org resources considerations-and-recommendations-when-establishing-custom-grazing-relationships Considerations and Recommendations When Establishing Custom Grazing Relationships This guide and set of recommendations are intended for organic dairy farmers and other livestock graziers interested in starting a custom grazing relationship with a neighboring farmer or landowner. Successful custom grazing can provide or increase grazing acreage for those farmers who need it and can also provide opportunities for smaller, beginning, leased, and diversified […]
northeast.sare.org resources vermont-food-education-every-day Vermont Food Education Every Day Through a Northeast SARE Research and Education grant, Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED) produced two guides for farmers and school food service personnel to help build farm to school programs in Vermont. The Guide for Using Local Foods in Schools includes a step-by-step process for starting local purchasing in schools, success stories about farm to […]
northeast.sare.org resources mobile-poultry-processing-unit-farm-and-food-safety-management-guide Mobile Poultry Processing Unit Farm and Food Safety Management Guide New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and the New England Small Farm Institute prepared this guide for small-scale poultry producers and processors using a Massachusetts-inspected mobile poultry processing unit or stationary on-farm facility. It includes information and sample documentation to help producer-processors with: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOPs) Hazard Analysis Critical Control […]
northeast.sare.org resources raising-ducks-on-a-small-agroforestry-farm Raising Ducks on a Small Agroforestry Farm This guide, authored by Steve and Elizabeth Gabriel, shares their experience raising ducks on their farm in Trumansburg, New York. The guide includes the following topics. Key considerations for raising ducks Breeds Basic care Infrastructure tips and tricks Duck products The Gabriels say, "This document is gathered from our experience at Wellspring Forest Farm after […]
northeast.sare.org resources pastured-rabbit-for-profit Pastured Rabbit for Profit Pastured Rabbit for Profit is a guide written by New York farmer Nichki Carangelo. It is a practical resource intended to guide farmers through the start-up phase of a pasture-based rabbitry. It includes a full enterprise budget along with housing plans, sample breeding schedules, feed guidelines and other rabbit husbandry basics. Chapters include:
northeast.sare.org resources developing-a-criteria-to-select-colostrum-samples-of-poor-quality Developing a criteria to select colostrum samples of poor quality Good colostrum management is essential to the health of newborn replacements and lifelong profit as it directly links to an adequate transfer of immunity to the calf. While the farmer found it was not possible to develop a set criteria to select animals that would produce low-quality colostrum, the project showed that that testing colostrum […]
northeast.sare.org resources low-input-lambing-and-kidding Low-Input Lambing and Kidding A 70-page handbook on reducing inputs and managing stress during lambing or kidding. Includes operational strategies and costs, pasture lambing, animal well-being, and other considerations.
northeast.sare.org resources adapt-n-training-manual Adapt-N Training Manual Adapt-N is an online tool that helps precisely manage nitrogen (N) inputs for grain, silage, and sweet corn production. It can provide automatic daily updates of each field’s N status and recommendations, based on real-time weather influences, and can be used with any device with internet access.
northeast.sare.org resources understanding-food-safety Understanding Food Safety The number of farmers’ markets in Massachusetts has increased significantly in recent years, and as interest from farmers and consumers has grown, the variety of foods and types of vendors has multiplied as well. CISA has developed this document in order to provide suggestions for how health departments may interpret the grey areas and to give some insight into […]
northeast.sare.org resources niche-poultry-enterprises-in-new-england Niche Poultry Enterprises in New England Broiler enterprises have started making a comeback in the region in recent years, but they tend to look very different from the standard broiler operations you’d find in Maryland or Georgia. Scale is the most obvious difference: A typical broiler producer in New England might market somewhere between 500 and 5,000 chickens per year, whereas a middle-of-the-road Southern broiler operation may grow upwards […]