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 ecosystem-services-from-cover-crops Ecosystem Services from Cover Crops The Ecosystem Services from Cover Crops resources found on this page include a series of fact sheets, three infographics and one PowerPoint slide set. Together, these resources address the role of cover crops in nutrient management, erosion, infiltration, soil organic matter, supporting wildlife and beneficial insects, and carbon sequestration. They are available for use by educators, […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-image-library Cover Crop Image Library Images, Illustrations and Presentations This page includes free resources educators and farmers can use in outreach and educational activities related to cover crops. Available resources include a database of cover crop images, ready-made PowerPoint presentations on cover crop topics, and soil health illustrations. Cover Crop Image Library The SARE Cover Crop Image Library is hosted […]
www.sare.org resources national-cover-crop-survey-reports National Cover Crop Survey Reports From increasing yield to improving soil health, find out why farmers use cover crops. Since 2012, SARE, CTIC and other partner organizations have periodically conducted a national survey of farmers on their experiences with cover crops. New! 2024-2025 Survey: report (PDF)2022-2023 Survey: report (PDF) summary (PDF)2019-2020 Survey: report (PDF)2016-2017 Survey: report (PDF)2015-2016 Survey: report (PDF)2014-2015 Survey: report (PDF)2013-2014 Survey: […]
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 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 manage-weeds-on-your-farm Manage Weeds On Your Farm Manage Weeds on Your Farm is a definitive guide to understanding agricultural weeds and how to manage them efficiently, effectively and ecologically—for organic and conventional farmers alike. With the growing spread of herbicide-resistant weeds and with the public’s embrace of sustainably raised foods, farmers everywhere, both organic and conventional, are seeking better ways to eliminate […]
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 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 cover-crop-economics Cover Crop Economics Farmers around the country are planting cover crops on millions of acres to protect and improve the soil, and the more that farmers use cover crops, the more they value this conservation practice. Cover Crop Economics: Opportunities to Improve Your Bottom Line in Row Crops looks at the economics of cover crops in corn and […]
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 10-ways-cover-crops-enhance-soil-health 10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health Soil health is a hot topic these days, one that is justifiably receiving considerable attention from farmers and their farm advisors. Whereas in the past, soil testing and evaluation focused more on chemical and physical measures, new research has shown that the biology of the soil is very important to its overall health and productivity. An incredible diversity of bacteria, protozoa, arthropods, nematodes, fungi and […]
www.sare.org resources cultivating-climate-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches outlines the new challenges that changing weather patterns pose in agriculture throughout the United States, and what you can do to make your farm more resilient. By understanding the climate risks to your production system and practices that can reduce those risks, you can identify some management steps […]
www.sare.org resources advanced-cover-cropping-insights-from-farmer-experts Advanced Cover Cropping Insights from Farmer Experts Session recordings on this page include: Great Plains Perspective Central Corn Belt Perspective Eastern Perspective Great Plains Perspective Hear from a Nebraska farmer who will share his insight and experience integrating cover crops into his 2,500 acre farm. Session highlights include: Insights gained in working with thousands of customers across the western Corn Belt and […]
www.sare.org resources recordings-of-general-sessions Recordings of General Sessions Session recordings on this page include: Opening remarks by Jane Hardisty (USDA-NRCS Indiana) with video message by Bill Northey (Iowa Secretary of Agriculture) Keynote: Growing a Revolution - Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, by David Montgomery (University of Washington) Farmer panel: Experiences with Cover Crops and Soil Health, with Dan DeSutter (Ind.), Trey Hill (Md.) and […]