ATTRA - Voices from the Field

Growing Mushrooms for Profit and Purpose: A Conversation with Cody Brown

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:00:00 -0600

Mushrooms are one of the most unique agricultural enterprises available to farmers and entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional crops, mushrooms are fungi that thrive on organic materials such as hardwood pellets, sawdust, straw, and agricultural byproducts, transforming low-value resources into nutritious food and profitable products. In this episode, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez sits down with fellow NCAT colleague and mushroom grower Cody Brown to explore the fascinating world of mushroom cultivation.

Whether you're curious about growing your first oyster mushroom bucket or considering mushrooms as a farm business, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experience from two growers passionate about sustainable food production.

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Farmscaping to Enhance Biodiversity and Ecological Pest Management

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Rex Dufour, Audrey Kolde, and Nina Prater talk about the principles of farmscaping - a practice of integrating native and diverse plants into agricultural spaces. Rex has been championing farmscaping for decades as a way to enhance biological control of pests. Audrey and Nina convene with Rex to learn from the master.

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Resources:

Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees

Conservation Hedgerows for the Southwest

Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control

Wild Farm Alliance

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Planning for Farmland Succession

Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell is joined by Alsie Parks, C0-Executive Director of SAAFON and Lindsey Richards, Texas Gulf Coast Outreach and Education Specialist with American Farmland Trust. Alsie and Lindsey share their different yet complimentary perspectives of the importance of planning for farmland succession through estate planning or land trusts, tips for starting hard conversations, and stories of successful farmland hand-offs to the next generation of farmers.

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References:

American Farmland Trust

SAAFON

Episode 389. Successful Women in Agriculture - Gwen Cannon

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell continues her series on successful women in Agriculture. Felicia talks with Gwen Cannon of Cannon Family Farm, located just outside of Brandon, Mississippi. Gwen shares about what led her to living a life of farming with her spouse, and how the lessons she has learned along the way have helped her serve her community. Cannon Farm provides hands-on education through agritourism in addition to growing food for their region.

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References:

The Cannon Farm

Successful Women in Agriculture - Marguerite Green

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell begins a new series highlighting successful women in agriculture. Felicia kicks of the series by interviewing Marguerite Green, Statewide Director of the Louisiana Food Policy Council. Marguerite shares what inspired her to begin farming and what led her to a career in agriculture advocacy and education.

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References:

Louisiana Food Policy Council

From Dead Dirt to Living Soil: Using Vermicompost Tea

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode of ATTRA's Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde hosts Garver Akers of Green Akers Consulting. Garver shares the soil health improvements he has seen from using vermicompost tea in medium- to large-scale agriculture production. Drawing from his experience as regenerative farmer, ecological horticulturist, and organic farm and garden consultant, Garver provides an in-depth exploration of the benefits of using vermicompost soil amendments.

NCAT Resources

How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use Toolkit

Vermicomposting: The Basics

Vermicomposting 101 Webinar

Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources: The STAR Program in Action

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0600

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde continues her investigation into sustainable and organic farming practices by learning more about the Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) project. Audrey speaks with STAR project director, Jake Deutmeyer, to learn how this national, non-profit organization established and expanded the STAR framework for conservation practice, evaluation, implementation, and valuation. Designed and led by producers, the STAR tool utilizes science and experience to target local solutions for local natural resource concerns, and to support farmers and ranchers on their conservation journey – wherever they are.

NCAT Resources:

Soil Health Indicators and Tests – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Episode 382: Organic Certification: One Step at a Time – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Ask an Ag Expert Connect – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Find Organic Resource Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources:

Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources

This work is supported by NCAT’s Preparing a Resilient Future: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training for Organic Field Crop and Livestock Producers in the Northern Great Plains.’ Project, award no. 2021-70033-35698. from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Facilitating School Food Sales through Flexibility and Relationship Building

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0700

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Tammy Howard speaks with participants from her USDA‑funded project, Bringing the Farm to School. The project is designed to help agricultural producers build the skills and capacity needed to sell their products directly to schools. Alongside this training, NCAT and the National Farm to School Network have also hosted facilitated networking events to connect producers with school food buyers.

Tammy talks with her NCAT colleague and Growtopia Farms owner Cody Brown, as well as Matt Hanson from the Central Texas Food Hub, a social enterprise of the Central Texas Food Bank. Both Matt and Cody attended one of these networking events in Central Texas. Their conversation highlights their personal experiences and offers practical advice for developing strong producer-buyer relationships that support successful school food sales.

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NCAT Resources

Bringing the Farm to School Through New Connections Blog

Scaling up for Regional Markets Tutorial

Scaling up your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making It Work

Food Hubs: A Producer Guide

Episode 358. Abundant Montana “Meet Up” Meets with Success

Other Resources

Bringing the Farm to School Project

National Farm to School Network

Central Texas Food Bank

Growtopia Farms

Tuning Your Eye – Rangeland Monitoring Made Simple

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Danielle Duni and Darron Gaus speak with Jeremiah Eubank, a rancher in Canyon Lake, Texas.

Jeremiah and his wife Maggie operate Pure Pastures, a family-owned multi-species grazing operation. The Eubanks have been ranching since 2015, using trial and error to perfect their rotational grazing practices. They strive to provide the most flavorful and nutrient dense meat to their community, while rebuilding topsoil and the native prairie landscape that once dominated the Hill Country.

This conversation covers some of the practical ways listeners can “tune their eye” and make better decisions while monitoring rangeland, resulting in better, more usable data.

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ATTRA Resources:

Monitoring Checklist

Rangeland App: Modern Tool for Graziers – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Test Driving the New LandPKS Land Monitoring App – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Assessing Soil Health on Grazing Lands Using a Shovel and a Knife – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Safe to Fail Trials with Graeme Hand – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Resources – Soil for Water

Additional Resources:

Pure Pastures

Grassland Production Forecast (Grass-Cast) | Drought.gov

CoCoRaHS – Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network

Grazing Monitoring Stick

How to Use a Grazing Monitoring Stick

Tags: Grazing, Soil Health, Sustainable Agriculture

From Brimstone to Broccoli: The Story of Sulfur

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Darron Gaus, and Lee Rinehart continue their exploration of plant nutrients. In previous episodes, they covered nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, and in this episode they dive into the pungent world of sulfur. They discuss the history of sulfur, how sulfur is related to air quality, how sulfur works in the soil, why it is so important in plants, and how to manage sulfur in sustainable and organic ways.

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ATTRA Resources:

Nitrogen: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-260-rising-fertilizer-costs-look-to-history-for-answers/

Phosphorus: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-304-phosphorus-and-the-beauty-of-biology/

Potassium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-323-potassium-from-past-to-present/

Calcium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-365-calcium-the-premier-soil-nutrient/

Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/overview-of-cover-crops-and-green-manures-2/

Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/manage-soil-for-water/

References:

Britannica Science: https://www.britannica.com/science/sulfur

Decades After Clean Air Act, Most Smokestacks Still Lack Scrubbers: https://publicintegrity.org/environment/decades-after-clear-air-act-most-smokestacks-still-lack-scrubbers/

Air Pollution Legislation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leblanc_process

Hell on Earth: The Sulfur Mines of Sicily: https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/history-culture/10307-hell-on-earth-the-sulfur-mines-of-sicily

Revisiting the role of sulfur in crop production: A narrative review:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324000504

Sulfur Deficiency: https://www.sulphurinstitute.org/sulphur-in-agriculture/sulphur-deficiency-sources-and-symptoms/

Organic Certification: One Step at a Time

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde sits down with colleagues Ann Baier and Andrew Coggins to discuss the initial steps in obtaining organic certification in farming. Before coming to NCAT, Audrey worked as a manager of vegetable production on a certified organic farm, and she brings that experience to this conversation.

In addition to her role as an NCAT Agriculture Specialist, Ann is also certified organic inspector. Ann has inspected numerous organic farms, livestock operations, and handling (processing) facilities to ensure compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) and international organic standards.

NCAT Agriculture Specialist Andrew Coggins facilitated ten Organic Academy Roadshow workshops in five states between 2022 and 2024, providing training to farmers and ranchers on organic production practices for both crops and livestock.

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NCAT Resources

Ask an Ag Expert Connect – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Find Organic Resource Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Organic Regulations | Agricultural Marketing Service

Organic Integrity Database https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/farms-operations

If you are a producer who wants to get certified by a USDA-accredited certification agency, find the current list of those: https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/organic-certifying-agents

Organic Trade Association’s study finds that the USDA Organic label is among the most trusted by consumers. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/organic-stands-out-in-a-growing-sea-of-labelsutm_rid=CPG02000008489713&utm_campaign=97156&utm_medium=email&elq2=9b2f8ae1c10944179ff6cf3d4e18209c&sp_eh=54253693183eb833a6e39ca4dab2768d807401229a0c2ea146804e542447f37c

This work is supported by NCAT’s Preparing a Resilient Future: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training for Organic Field Crop and Livestock Producers in the Northern Great Plains.' Project, award no. 2021-70033-35698. from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Farming Oysters with Mike Miezianka

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Lee Rinehart is joined by Mike Miezianka, co-founder of Toasted Oysters, a 3 1/2-acre aquaculture farm on Great South Bay off of Long Island. Mike and his business partner Ray Smith cultivate authentic Blue Point Oysters which they sell to distributors and restaurants on Long Island and beyond.

In this conversation, Lee and Mike discuss the promising future of aquaculture, including regulations on food safety and environmental stewardship which is paving the way for more farms to be established in waters around highly populated areas. There is a steady demand for these products, perhaps due in part to an increasing awareness of the ecological benefits of oysters, such as their ability to filter water an enhance marine habitats. Mike also shares advice for beginning farmers interested in getting started in aquaculture as well as some of the tools he and Mike have utilized to increase efficiency and reduce labor on their farm.

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NCAT Resources

Aquaculture – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Small Steps, Big Vision: Oyster Farming on Long Island’s Great South Bay – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Case Study: Solar Oysters LLC – AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Armed to Farm – Sustainable Agriculture Training For Military Veterans

Other Resources

Toasted Oysters - Authentic Blue Point Oysters

Ocean Farming: a Conversation with Bren Smith

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Forging Community on an Organic Farm

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Eric Fuchs-Stengel sits with Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson, the couple behind Many Hands Organic Farm and co-authors of the book Many Hands Make A Farm. The farm has been selling to the public since 1985, and specializes in certified organic produce, meat and eggs in Barre, Massachusetts.

In this conversation, Jack and Julie share how they started their farm by cultivating a community of volunteers, many of whom have become shareholders and paid staff over the years. They also offer tips on how best to communicate with volunteer workers and discuss the importance of celebrating milestones and sharing meals as way to foster cooperation and productivity on the farm.

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NCAT Resources

Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Organic Certification – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Many Hands Organic Farm

Many Hands Make a Farm Book

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Diving into Irrigation with Dr. Stacia Congers

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Audrey Kolde dives into irrigation with Dr. Stacia Congers, an associate professor and statewide irrigation specialist and engineer at the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center. Audrey and Dr. Congers talk about all things water: floods, droughts, as well as interesting research projects that may yield promising advancements in agriculture irrigation.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

NCAT Resources

The Texas Irrigator’s Pocket Guide – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Tutorial: Sustainable Irrigation, a Beginner’s Guide – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Measuring and Conserving Irrigation Water – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Stacia Conger

Drought Irrigation Response Tool (DIRT): A Manual

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Beekeeping Basics with Eric Fuchs-Stengel

Thu, 15 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialists Lee Rhinehart and Eric Fuchs-Stengel have a lively discussion on the topic of beekeeping. Lee and Eric talk about the best and worst conditions for keeping bees, common mistakes for beginners, bee anatomy, and honey production. Eric also shares his own experiences in raising bees and provides many practical suggestions who to seek guidance from when first starting out and for cultivating healthy hives.

ATTRA Resources:

Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees

Free Bees, Part One: Finding Them

Free Bees, Part Two: Keeping Them

Beekeeping Basics: Making Splits

Beekeeping: Overwintering Bees in Warm Places

Episode 214. Attracting and Protecting Pollinators

Additional Resources:

Heroes to Hives

Hives for Heroes

Xerces Society

Master Beekeeping Program at Cornell University

Natural Beekeeping - Ross Conrad

Raising Resilient Bees: Heritage Techniques to Mitigate Mites, etc. - Eric McEwen

Dadant Beekeeping Supplies

Scientificbeekeeping.com

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Sustaining Farmers Market Success in Montana and Beyond

Wed, 14 May 2025 12:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field NCAT agriculture specialists and colleagues, Maura Henn and Tammy Howard, reflect on their journey helping Montana farmers markets build capacity and sustain success. Maura and Tammy also talk about new resources they have developed including Harvest of the Month at Farmers Market toolkit and a suite of Farmers Market Vendor Success videos.

ATTRA Resources:

Farmers Markets

Farmers Market Pricing Strategies for Vendors

Episode 377: Developing Farmers Market Cooperatives with Blake Lineweaver

Additional Resources:

Getting Started at Farmers Market Toolkit

Montana Farmers Market Network

National Farm to School Network

Farmers Market Coalition

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Talking 'Health in the Hood' with Asha Walker

Wed, 14 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez sits down with Asha Walker, founder and powerhouse behind Health in the Hood, a Miami-based nonprofit tackling food insecurity and health disparities by transforming vacant lots into thriving community gardens. Gabriella and Asha dive into the origin story of Health in the Hood, unpack how today’s food landscape is fueling chronic disease in low-income neighborhoods, and explore Asha’s new wellness app, Cured, which helps people take control of their health journey. Asha also shares ways you can get involved—whether it’s volunteering in the garden, supporting the mission, or just spreading the word.

ATTRA Resources:

Community Gardening

Urban Gardening Tips with Echo Global Farms

Episode 311: More Than Food Grows at Community Gardens and Urban Farms

Additional Resources:

Health in the Hood Website

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Nourishing Native Plants on Farms and Ranches

Tue, 13 May 2025 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Nina Prater is joined by Tim Hammer, co-owner of Homegrown Native Foods, LLC. Tim is an educator who teaches people about responsible and safe foraging of wild plants and mushrooms in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. In this conversation, they discuss the many qualities of native plants that make them desirable in the farmscape, the commercial potential of different native plants, how to forage in the wild responsibly, and more.

ATTRA Resources:

Native Plants Offer More Than Beauty to the Farmscape

Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop

Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees

Companion Planting & Botanical Pesticides: Concepts & Resources

Other Resources:

Homegrown Native Foods, LLC

Tim Hammer Contact Info

Bringing Nature Home, by Doug Tallamy

Fall Glade Onion information

Arkansas Food Innovation Center

The Beaver Institute

Bo Brown, Foraging Author and Nature Educator

Prairie Moon Nursery

Developing Farmers Market Cooperatives with Blake Lineweaver

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Maura Henn is joined by Blake Lineweaver, Co-op Development Program Manager at Mission West Community Development Partners. Maura and Blake talk about how farmers markets in Montana are using the cooperative business model to build resilience in their local food systems, as well as the steps to forming a cooperative farmers market, as well as the principles that guide all cooperatives.

ATTRA Resources:

Farmers Markets

Additional Resources:

Everything Co-op Podcast

Cooperatives at Work Book

CooperationWorks! Co-op Development Center Map

"We're Team Farm" Co-op Farmers Market MW Case Study

Mission West Community Development Partners

Contact Maura Henn at maurah@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Exploring Syntropic Agriculture

Fri, 09 May 2025 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez explores the principles and power of Syntropic Agriculture with Roger Gietzen and Mauro Rosito-Weber—two educators and practitioners deeply immersed in this regenerative agroforestry method. Together they discuss how syntropic agriculture differs from traditional agroforestry systems, long term benefits of this model, common challenges, and practical steps and resources for getting started.

Related ATTRA Resources:

How Syntropic Agriculture Restores Soil and Farms

Agroforestry

Additional Resources:

Global Freedom Project

ECHO Global Farms

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Digging into Healthy Soil with Dr. Faye Smith

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable agriculture specialist Nina Prater is joined by Dr. Faye Smith, a soil scientist with a focus on sustainable soil and landscape management. They talk about the importance of soil health, science-backed approaches to soil health, important benchmarks for measuring soil health, and more.

ATTRA Resources:

Soil Aggregate Assessment

Managing Soil for Water Publication

Additional Resources:

Dr. Faye Smith's Website

Ologies, Indigenous Pedology Episode

The Art of Soil paints

Contact Nina Prater at ninap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Forest Farming with Joe "Ginseng"

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist, Eddy Labus, is joined by Joe Boccardy, better known as Joe Ginseng. Joe has a small farm nestled in the mountains of Northwest North Carolina where he cares for a small herd of Scottish Highland cattle, pigs, and chickens. Joe farms the forests on his farm, raising several different types of threatened or endangered species like Ginseng and Golden Seal. In this episode, Eddy and Joe talk about growing plants in Appalachian forests, preservation methods, and value-added marketing ideas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Quick Tips for Agroforestry

Other Resources:

Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer

Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub™

United Plant Savers

Forest Farming: An Agroforestry Practice

Cultivating Native Woodland Botanicals

Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Vertical Mushroom Farming in Florida

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez goes in-depth into the world of mushroom production and market diversification in a conversation with Russell Hollander from Care2Grow, a vertical mushroom farm located in Naples, Florida.

They talk about how to start producing mushrooms on any scale, the uses of spent mushroom blocks, the health benefits of edible and medicinal mushrooms, and Russell's marketing journey.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Care2Grow

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Functional Movement in Farming with Cynthia Flores

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0600

In today's episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Audrey Kolde interviews Cynthia Flores the founder of Labor-Movement, an organization that believes when you move well, you work well. Audrey and Cynthia discuss the inspiration for creating Labor Movement and the importance of proper movement for those whose livelihoods depend on their bodies, especially farmers, fishers, foresters, and industrial athletes.

ATTRA RESOURCES:

Equipment – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Farm Stress and Emotional Well-Being, Part I – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

OTHER RESOURCES:

Labor-Movement Website

Farmer Well-Being – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Contact Audrey Kolde at audreyk@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Lessons from the 'Principal Farmer"

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Gulf States Regional Coordinator Felicia Bell sits down with “The Principal Farmer,” Patrick Muhammad, of Atlanta, Georgia. Patrick is the principal of the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, where students from kindergarten through eighth grade learn about the world through the lens of agriculture, nature, and the arts. He also has a farm and enjoys helping adults learn to love the land and return to their farming roots.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Farmland Access

Beginning Farmer Tutorials

https://attra.ncat.org/publication/farmland-access/

https://attra.ncat.org/tutorial-beginning-farmer-training/

Other Related Resources:

Chattahoochee Hills Charter School

The Principal Farmer

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

The Farming Systems of Puerto Rico

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:00:00 -0700

Episode 367: The Farming Systems of Puerto Rico

This episode of Voices from the Field explores the ancient Taino Conuco farming systems of Puerto Rico in a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez and researcher Joseph Navarro. They discuss how these sustainable practices supported self-sufficiency during pre-colonial times, their evolution through colonial and industrial transitions, and their potential to transform Puerto Rico’s future and address modern challenges like soil erosion, food insecurity, and climate resilience.

Related Resources:

Can Indigenous Agricultural Methods of Puerto Rico Mitigate Climate Change and Feed the Island?

Jungle: How Tropical Forests Shaped World History – and Us

Precision Ecology

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez a at gabriellas@ncat.org and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Guy Ames: Living and Farming with Head and Heart

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Ag Specialists Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart are joined by recently retired Ag Specialist Guy Ames to celebrate his life and work. Guy is deeply knowledgeable about his area of expertise, fruit trees, and is also a font of wisdom about how to live the good life. This conversation includes how Guy found his way to farming in the Ozarks, the many failures that guided him toward success, and like most conversations with Guy, contains many wonderful, circuitous meanderings. He also shares about what it was like in the early days of ATTRA in the distant pre-internet past. We will all miss Guy here at NCAT and are so grateful he joined us in this episode to keep the "cultural cycle," as Wendell Berry puts it, turning.

ATTRA Resources:

Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and Vineyards

Tree Fruits: Organic Production Overview

Battling Borers in Organic Apple Production

Blueberries: Organic Production

Fruit Trees, Bushes, and Vines for Natural Growing in the Ozarks

Heirloom Apples

Other Resources:

It All Turns on Affection

The Good Life

Divine Right's Trip

Ames Orchard and Nursery

The Wheel

Braiding Sweetgrass

Contact Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart at ninap@ncat.org and lee@ncat.org
Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.
You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Calcium: The ‘Premier’ Soil Nutrient

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Darron Gaus, and Lee Rinehart explore calcium – an essential plant nutrient and basic soil cation that has a big impact on soil pH. Whether your soil is naturally high or naturally low in calcium, this episode will guide
you in managing this nutrient.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Episode 164. Soil Sessions. Understanding Soil pH

Episode 304. Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology

Episode 260. Rising Fertilizer Costs. Look to History for Answers

Episode 323. Potassium from Past to Present

Other Resources:

Soil Fertility and Animal Health

The Marl Pits Around the Upton Area

Soil Cation Balancing

Using Lime in Organic Systems

Soil Acidity and Adjusting Soil pH

Contact Nina Prater, Darron Gaus, and Lee Rinehart at ninap@ncat.org, darrong@ncat.org, and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.
You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Understanding Through Listening: Connecting with Indigenous Foodways in Montana

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Local Food Systems Specialists Maura Henn and Molly Kirkham talk with Indigenous Food Sovereignty Consultant Cheyenne Robinson about their project, “Understanding Through Listening: Connecting with Native Food Ways in Montana.”

The project focused on holding listening sessions in Native American communities in Montana, primarily on Indian reservations, to learn if community members would be interested in developing an Indigenous Harvest of the Month program. Harvest of the Month is a farm-to-school educational framework designed to promote locally grown food in Montana schools and communities.

Maura, Molly, and Cheyenne talk about what they learned conducting the sessions, the process of developing the listening-session framework, and what their next steps will be.

Related ATTRA Resources:
• Farm to School

Project Partners:
• Grow Montana
• Montana Cooperative Development Center Distribution Study – Challenges and Opportunities for Grocers in Rural and Tribal Communities
• No Kid Hungry
• Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger

Other Resources:
• Understanding Through Listening
• Harvest of the Month
• Montana Harvest of the Month
• Menominee Harvest of the Moon
• Nebraska Harvest of the Month Indigenous Foods and Training
• National Farm to School Network

Contact Maura Henn at maurah@ncat.org

Episode 363: The Lost Art of Seed Saving with Bonnetta Adeeb of Ujamaa

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez talks with Bonnetta Adeeb, founder of Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, a nonprofit collective of BIPOC growers, farmers, and gardeners who cultivate and distribute heirloom seeds and grow culturally meaningful crops.

Gabriella and Bonnetta talk about the cultural role of seed saving and heritage crops as well as the importance of agriculture in defining and protecting cultural identity.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Specialty Melon Production for Small and Direct-Market Growers

· Improving Seed Viability and Germination

· Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

· UJAMAA Cooperative Farming Alliance

· UJAMAA Seeds

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez at gabriellas@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Strategies for Selling to Schools

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Chris Lent has a conversation with Crystal Hampton-Davis, co-owner of Davis Grown, a Pennsylvania livestock and produce farm. They discuss how Crystal and her husband, Bradley, diversified the farm and made the move toward selling to local schools. Crystal is also passionate about educating children and others in the community about local foods.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Local Food Systems

Business and Marketing

Other Resources:

Davis Grown

Pennsylvania Preferred

Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant

Pennsylvania Department of Education Fruit Tree and Vegetable Program

The Food Trust Farm Tour: Davis Grown

Contact Chris Lent at chrisl@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Understanding the Hawai'i Regional Food Business Center and Food Hub Hui with Dr. Saleh Azizi

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez sits down with Dr. Saleh Azizi, Director of the Hawai'i Food Hub Hui and the Islands & Remote Areas Regional Food Business Center. Together, they delve into the historical context of Hawaii's food system, exploring the impacts of colonialism and the resulting health challenges faced by the native population. Saleh explains the critical role of food hubs in supporting local agriculture and food security, and he and Gabriella discuss the unique collaboration between Hawai'i's Regional Food Business Center, the Good Food Alliance Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition. Tune in to learn more about how these partnerships are shaping a more resilient and sustainable food system for island communities.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Food Hubs: A Producer Guide

· Feasibility Study for a Texas Organic Food Hub

· Episode 194. Kansas City Food Hub and KC Farm

· Farm to Food Hub to School

Other Related Resources:

· Hawai’i Food Hub Hui

· Hawai’i Good Food Alliance

· US Virgin Islands Good Food

· Islands & Remote Areas Regional Food Business Center

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez at gabriellas@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Natural Dye Supply Chain: From Field to Fabric

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tyler Jenkins takes listeners on a journey through the natural-dye supply chain with three industry experts. Max Holden is a grower based in Washington state with a passion for cultivating dye plants. Bradley Todd is a fellow NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist who resides in North Carolina and is a processor skilled in dye extraction. Courtney Lockemer is an organizer and market builder based in North Carolina who is dedicated to advancing natural dyes in modern markets. Together, they discuss a pilot project that explored opportunities for farmers to produce natural dye plants and how these efforts can scale to meet growing market demand.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Related Resources

TS Designs

Contact Tyler Jenkins at tylerj@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Teatime in Mississippi

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde talks with Timothy Gipson, co-owner and co-founder of The Great Mississippi Tea Company in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Their conversation touches on the challenges and successes the company has had growing this popular specialty crop in the Magnolia State.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Agroforestry

· The Unsung Heroes of the Plants We Drink: Tea

· Farm Branding: Selling Your Products Through Story

Other Resources:

· The Great Mississippi Tea Company

Contact Audrey Kolde at audreyk@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Abundant Montana “Meet Up” Meets with Success

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Local Foods Specialist Molly Kirkham talks with Erin Austin of Abundant Montana. Abundant Montana is a nonprofit that helps create a more resilient and reliable food system by developing educational campaigns about local foods, providing digital marketing and promotion assistance, and fostering business-to-business connections for Montana food and farming businesses.

Erin and Molly talk about Abundant Montana’s recent online producer-buyer “meet-up event,” Abundant Connections. Molly and Erin discuss the need Abundant Montana saw that led to creating the event, the event’s format, what went well, who connected at the event, and what the future looks like for Abundant Connections.

This podcast is part of the “Farm to School Technical Assistance-Cooperative Agreement, Bringing the Farm to School through New Connections” project. In this project, NCAT is collaborating with producer organizations to expand producer-focused training and technical assistance using NCAT’s widely adaptable Bringing the Farm to School curriculum, which helps local producers engage in the child nutrition programs market.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Episode 288. Using the Abundant Montana Local Food Directory as a Marketing Strategy

Business and Marketing

Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

Bringing the Farm to School

AERO

Abundant Montana

Contact Molly Kirkham at mollyk@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Soil-to-Skin: Laura Sansone of New York Textile Lab on the Intersection of Growers and Designers

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is part of our Soil-to-Skin podcast series, in which NCAT Carbon Farm Planners Allison Agee and Danielle Duni explore the relationships between soil health, fiber production, and market solutions.

It is part of NCAT’s Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership with Colorado State University, Carbon Cycle Institute, Fibershed, Seed2Shirt, and New York Textile Lab. The Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership is funded by USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities.

Today, Allison and Danielle talk with Laura Sansone from New York Textile Lab about the intersection of fiber growers and designers.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Episode 356. Soil to Skin: Tameka Peoples of Seed2Shirt Shares Her Journey

Episode 355. Soil to Skin: Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed on Building Community

Episode 330. Meet NCAT: Carbon Farm Planner Allison Cooley-Agee of Montana

Episode 331. Meet NCAT: Danielle Duni, Carbon Farm Planner for Woolgrowers in Wyoming

Other Resources:

Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership

Seed2Shirt

Fibershed

New York Textile Lab

Contact Allison Cooley-Agee and Danielle Duni at allisonc@ncat.org and danielled@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Soil-to-Skin: Tameka Peoples of Seed2Shirt Shares Her Journey

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0600

Episode 356. Soil-to-Skin: Tameka Peoples of Seed2Shirt

This episode of Voices from the Field continues our Soil-to-Skin podcast series, in which NCAT Carbon Farm Planners Allison Cooley-Agee and Danielle Duni explore the relationships between soil health, fiber production, and market solutions.

Today, Allison and Danielle talk with Tameka Peoples of Seed2Shirt as she walks us through her journey to source a T-shirt made by a black company that included cotton sourced from African or African American farmers and how that journey led her to develop a global cotton merchant company.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Episode 355. Soil to Skin: Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed on Building Community

Episode 330. Meet NCAT: Carbon Farm Planner Allison Cooley-Agee of Montana

Episode 331. Meet NCAT: Danielle Duni, Carbon Farm Planner for Woolgrowers in Wyoming

Other Resources:

Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership

Seed2Shirt

Fibershed

New York Textile Lab

Contact Allison Cooley-Agee and Danielle Duni at allisonc@ncat.org and danielled@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Soil-to-Skin: Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed on Building Community

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field begins our “Soil to Skin” podcast series, in which NCAT Carbon Farm Planners Allison Cooley-Agee and Danielle Duni explore the relationships between soil health, fiber production, and market solutions.

The series is part of NCAT’s Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership with Colorado State University, Carbon Cycle Institute, Fibershed, Seed2Shirt, and New York Textile Lab. The Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership is funded by USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities.

Allison and Danielle talk about the project with Rebecca Burgess, the Executive Director of Fibershed, about building community around grower-to-grower networks to help producers become “economically, ecologically, and socially successful.”

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Fiber

· Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goat Products: Fiber

· Climate Beneficial Practices

Additional Resources:

· Fibershed

· Carbon Cycle Institute

· Seed2Shirt

· New York Textile Lab

· Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences

Contact Allison Cooley-Agee and Danielle Duni at allisonc@ncat.org and danielled@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

The Rich Heritage of Chicken Breeds

Wed, 22 May 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tyler Jenkins talks with Richard Udale and Anne Fanatico in an enlightening conversation about the world of poultry breeding, genetics, and the rich history of the chicken. Richard and Anne, both renowned experts in the field, discuss the evolution of various chicken breeds and their unique traits, along with the intricate science behind selective breeding.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Poultry

· Eggs

· Growing Your Range Poultry Business: An Entrepreneur's Toolbox

Other Resources:

· American Pastured Poultry Association

· American Poultry Association

· Heritage Poultry Breeders

Contact Tyler Jenkins at tylerj@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

A Closer Look at Draft Horses

Wed, 08 May 2024 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma talks with her husband, David Sturman, and daughter, Lina Sturman, about using draft horses on the farm. They discuss some of the jobs horses can do, including logging and agritourism, and some of the different hitches that can help make effective use of horsepower. They also cover some important considerations for anyone considering using draft horses on the farm, based on decades of shared experience using draft horses in Montana.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Draft Animal Power for Farming

· Episode 333. Draft Animals 101

· Episode 334. Teaming Up with Oxen

Additional Resources:

· Small Farmer’s Journal

· Draft Animal Power Network

Contact Tracy Mumma at tracym@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Principles Before Practices with Jenny Pluhar

Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Darron Gaus joins Peggy Sechrist, a pioneer in the organic beef industry in Texas and a long-time Holistic Management International educator.

Darron, who is based in Victoria, Texas, co-leads a working group with Peggy in Texas as part of NCAT’s Soil for Water Southern SARE project. That project includes some great conversations with members of the working group – a four-state team of producers, scientists, and universities trying to key in on some of the barriers keeping more operations from adopting regenerative grazing methods.

Today’s conversation is between Peggy and Jenny Pluhar, Executive Director of the Texas Grazing Land Coalition, and ranch manager for Taylor Ranches in the panhandle of Texas. She is also the co-author of the book Texas Range Plants. Jenny details her work with the Texas Grazing Land Coalition and the new project the coalition is working on, called “Principles Before Practices.”

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Livestock

· Climate Solutions

· Soil

Related NCAT Resources:

· Soil for Water

Other Resources:

· AG Proud

· Texas Grazing Land Coalition

· Texas Grazing Land Coalition Facebook page

· U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

· Texas Range Plants

Contact Darron Gaus at darrong@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other
resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

The Home-Scale Forest Garden with Dani Baker

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez talks with author and farmer Dani Baker. Since her retirement from another career and subsequent inspiration from an Extension class on permaculture, Dani has become well known for her takes on creating “resilient edible landscapes.” She and Gabriella discuss the benefits that come from realizing that nature knows what it is doing.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Permaculture

· Climate Change and Perennial Fruit and Nut Production: Investing in Resilience in Uncertain Times

· Weekly Wednesday Workshop: Permaculture 101

Other Resources:

· Home-Scale Forest Garden with Dani Baker preview

· The Home-Scale Forest Garden: How to Plan, Plant, and Tend a Resilient Edible Landscape

· Cross Island Farms

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez at gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Mid-Scale Biodigester with Matt Steiman of Dickinson College Organic Farm

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Northeast Coordinator and Agriculture Specialist Chris Lent talks to Matt Steiman, the Farm Energy and Livestock Manager at Dickinson College Organic Farm in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, about the farm’s new biodigester.

A farm-based biodigester can turn cow manure and food waste into natural gas to produce electricity for the farm to use and to sell to the utility grid.

Matt and Chris discuss Matt’s research over the past 14 years on turning waste streams into biofuels and how that research led to the new biodigester’s design and its installation at the farm.

The discussion covers the unusual scale of the project, which was designed to manage the manure from 150 dairy cows and up to three tons of food waste daily. The project is meant to demonstrate to mid-sized farms across Pennsylvania and elsewhere that it is possible to manage waste streams in an environmentally sound way by
transforming them into a source of carbon-neutral energy.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality

· Micro-Scale Biogas Production: A Beginners Guide

· Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Waters: Factors to Consider

Other Resources:

· Biogas – Dickinson College Organic Farm

· Dickinson College YouTube Channel

· USDA Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy
Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants

· USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) On-Farm Energy Initiative

Contact Chris Lent at chrisl@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted,
practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other
resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farm to School with Ridge to Reef Farm on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez talks with Nate Olive, the owner of Ridge to Reef Farm on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Nate talks about the innovative market- diversification strategies that have contributed to his farming success and the challenges and opportunities of the St. Croix market.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· ATTRA Internship Hub

· Subtropical Soil Health Initiative

· Cover Crops for Hot and Humid Areas

Other Resources:

· Ridge to Reef Farm

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez at gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted,
practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other
resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Poke Salad, Mullein, and Other Crop Alternatives in Southern Arkansas

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Kandi Williams of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Small Farms Program talks with Arkansas farmer Michael Henegan about his farming heritage and some of his methods to reach markets that others don't by wildcrafting local herbs and plants, including mullein and poke salad.

Kandi also works with the Silas H. Hunt Community Development Corporation, which partnered in producing this podcast.

This podcast was also produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology
through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative
agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in
part by funding from the Southern Risk Management Education Center, USDA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through the University of Arkansas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Business and Marketing

· Risk Management

Other Resources:

· Milliesbarn Veggie Farm

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted,
practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other
resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Southern Small-Scale Grains with Iriel Edwards

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Audrey Kolde, an NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, talks with Iriel Edwards, the farmer and owner of The Dancing Radicle Farm in Alexandria, Louisiana. Iriel is also a Certifier and Regional Organizer with the Real Organic Project.

Prior to starting her own farm, Iriel managed Jubilee Justice's 5-acre organic farm in Alexandria and worked with Black farming communities in the Southeast.

Iriel and Audrey discuss the challenges and potential of farming small-scale grains, particularly Louisiana rice. They delve into the necessary components for small-scale success, including community involvement and cooperative models, inspiring us to embrace innovation and collaboration toward a brighter future.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Disease and Insect Management in Organic Small Grains

· Nutrient Management in Organic Small Grains

· Weed Management in Organic Small Grains

· The Real Story Behind the Real Organic Movement

Other Resources:

· Real Organic Project

· Jubilee Justice

· Iriel Edwards: USDA Discrimination, Land Access, and Collective Liberation

Contact Iriel Edwards at iriel@realorganicproject.org

Contact Audrey Kolde at audreyk@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Managing Risk in the Ark-La-Tex Region

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Kandi Williams of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Small Farms Program talks with Hope, Arkansas, farmer Ernestine Maxfield about ways for limited-resource producers to manage risk in the Ark-La-Tex region. The Ark-La-Tex region is a socio-economic, tri-state region where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet.

Kandi also works with the Silas H. Hunt Community Development Corporation, which partnered in producing this podcast.

This podcast was also produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the Southern Risk Management Education Center, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through the University of Arkansas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Risk Management

· Business and Marketing

· Farmer Start-Up

Other Resources:

· Silas H. Hunt Community Development Corporation

· University of Arkansas Small Farm Program

· Southern Risk Management Education Center

Contact Justin Duncan at justindj@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

NCAT/SARE: Chestnuts in Southeastern Ohio. A Cooperative Small Farm Effort

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit sare.org.

In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tyler Jenkins dives into the world of chestnuts with Michelle Ajamian, who works with Rural Action as a network developer for Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative.

Michelle shares her experiences and insights from her work in southeastern Ohio as a project developer and advocate for small-scale farming. She discusses her efforts to establish a thriving market for chestnut growers in the region.

Chestnuts are a sustainable and nutritious crop with deep roots in American agriculture. Michelle explores the success stories of cultivating chestnuts – from fostering community partnerships to promoting environmentally friendly practices.

Resources:

· Demonstrating Higher Yields and Market Opportunities of Mixed Annual and Perennial Intensive Planting in Appalachian Ohio

· Producing Culinary Chestnut Flour with Michelle Ajamian and Amy Miller

· Consider Chestnuts: A Potential Perennial for Market Farms

· Rural Action

· Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative

Contact Tyler Jenkins at tylerj@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT: Tammy Barnes Shares Her Journey

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field,NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tyler Jenkins introduces us to new NCAT staff member Tammy Barnes. Tammy, who is also a sustainable agriculture specialist, will be focusing on carbon planning from Kentucky.

Tammy shares her wealth of experience and the insights garnered from an extensive career dedicated to sustainable agriculture, from equestrian and other livestock
management, to cropping systems and holistic farm management. She also shares
the story of her sustainable agriculture career and long history of farmer support and advocacy. She details the path that led her to NCAT – as well as her goals now that she is on the team.

ATTRA Resources:

· Livestock

· Crops

· Soil for Water

· Farmer Equity Project

Other Resources:

· Accelerating Appalachia

Contact Tyler Jenkins and Tammy Barnes at tylerj@ncat.org and tammyb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Crop Resilience Through Diversification and Schedule Modification in Northeast Texas. Part 2

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Milton and Diann Woods of Milliesbarn Veggie Farm in Eagle Lake, Texas, talk with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan about how they overcame various risks on their farm by choosing the right crops – both for their environment and in accordance with the needs of their clientele.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the Southern Risk Management Education Center, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through the University of Arkansas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Crop Resilience Through Diversification and Schedule Modification in Northeast Texas. Part 1

· Business and Marketing

· Risk Management

Other Resources:

· Milliesbarn Veggie Farm

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Crop Resilience Through Diversification and Schedule Modification in Northeast Texas. Part 1

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Grace Brown, the founder of Uncle Paul’s Agritourism & Educational Farm in Tyler, Texas, talks with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan about how she overcame various risks on the farm by choosing the right crops – both for the local environment and in accordance with the needs of their clientele.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the Southern Risk Management Education Center, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through the University of Arkansas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Business and Marketing

· Risk Management

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

The Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management: A Conversation

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0700

This week’s episode of Voices from the Field is a conversation about Texas A&M University’s Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management, hosted by NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Darron Gaus.

The Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management is a coordinated, system-wide effort at Texas A&M aimed at safeguarding the ecologic and economic resiliency of grazing-land resources and ranching operations.

The episode features a conversation between the center’s director, Jeff Goodwin, and Peggy Sechrist, a longtime educator for Holistic Management International, about the work being done at Texas A&M and how it will help graziers make profitable decisions.

Peggy is an organic beef pioneer in Texas. She and Darron are co-leaders of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education’s Soil for Water Texas Working Group.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Livestock

· Pasture, Rangeland and Adaptive Management

· Rangeland App: Modern Tool for Graziers

· Keep Soil Covered

· Minimize Soil Disturbance

· Increase Biodiversity

· Continuous Live Root

· Integrate Livestock

Other Resources:

· Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management

· Understanding and Evaluating Carbon Contracts

Contact Darron Gaus at darrong@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

ATTRA and SARE: Edible Landscaping

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode, NCAT Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames talks with Matthew Lebon, owner of Custom Foodscaping in St. Louis, Missouri.

Guy and Matthew talk about “edible landscaping” – which includes plants that produce food in residential, business, and community landscapes. They also discuss the value of “uncommon” crops such as gooseberries, currants, and paw-paws that grow well in the region.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Local Food Systems

· How to Start Community Agroforesty Projects: Advice from 11 Forest Gardens

Other Resources:

· Developing a Market for Locally Adapted Organic Fruiting Plants in St. Louis

· Custom Foodscaping

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Ecological Agriculture with Christopher Sacco

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0700

This episode of Voices from the Field is an inspiring conversation with a trailblazer in ecological agriculture. In it, Gabriella Soto-Velez, an NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist in the Gulf States Region, sits down with Christopher Sacco, who needs no introduction for those familiar with sustainable agriculture practices. In 2009, Christopher laid the foundation for Groundswell International, a groundbreaking organization dedicated to empowering small-scale farmers and championing sustainable agriculture methods worldwide.

Fast forward to 2024, and Christopher has stepped away from the helm of Groundswell, but his support and passion for the organization’s mission remains steadfast. Christopher’s journey post-Groundswell led him to establish Aegis Conservation Ecology and Regenerative Development, a consulting firm at the forefront of promoting ecological agriculture and regenerative development.

Christopher and Gabriella delve deep into the heart of ecological agriculture, exploring its transformative potential, evolution, challenges, and pivotal role in shaping sustainable farming practices through the invaluable insights Christopher’s journey has allowed him to bring to the field.

Related ATTRA Resources:
· Agroforestry
· Quick Tips for Agroforestry
· Agroforestry: An Overview

Other Resources:
· Groundswell International
· Enabling Farmer-led Ecosystem Restoration

Contact Gabriella Soto-Velez at gabriellas@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Lessons Learned from a Southern Farmer: Violet Keys of Mississippi

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell talks with beginning farmer Violet Keys about the journey that took her from a career in the military to beginning Synergy in the Garden, a 6-acre urban agriculture operation in Jackson, Mississippi.

Violet discusses overcoming her nervousness as she begins her farm – where she plans to grow medicinal herbs, cut flowers, and other crops. She and Felicia also talk about creating a business plan and utilizing USDA financial and planning assistance. Violet shares her dream of creating a “healing space” for veterans that is also an asset to her community.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

· Selling to Local and Regional Markets: Barriers and Opportunities for Beginning Farmers

· Veteran Resources

· Farm Start-Up

· Farmer Well-Being

Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Episode 337. ATTRA and SARE: Building Local Food Systems in Montana

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Maura Henn, an NCAT Local Food Systems Specialist, talks with Michal DeChellis of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) in Montana. Michal is AERO’s Program Manager for the Montana Food Economy Initiative (MFEI), a project that has been funded through a Western SARE Grant.

Maura and Michal talk about the process of conducting Community Food Assessments around Montana and the importance of bringing together multiple stakeholders from different parts of community food systems when building a coalition for food systems work. Maura and Michal also talk about some of the first projects, which were launched in 2020, and adaptations and improvements made to the 2023-2024 round of community assessments.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Farmers Markets

· Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

· Montana Food Economy Initiative

· AERO

· Montana Food System Resource Library

· Butte Community Food Assessment Video Story

· Butte Winter Farmers Market

· MSU Food Product Development Lab

· Montana Harvest of the Month

· Iowa State Food Assessment Training Certificate Program

· Double SNAP Dollars - Montana

· Northern Plains Resource Council

Contact Maura Henn at maurah@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Beat the Heat with Microgreens

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, urban farmer Pasha Angelle of Healing Den Farms in Houston, Texas, discusses how farming realities led her to shift gears and produce microgreens literally in-house rather than crops out in the field in the brutal Texas climate. This risk-management decision has expanded her experience and led her to a new customer base.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development.

This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the Southern Risk
Management Education Center, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
through the University of Arkansas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Urban Agriculture

· Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

· Healing Den

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

She’s Raising Sheep: Sheridan Rowe Langford of Texas

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0700

Sheri Langford is a straight-talking Texas shepherd, dog trainer, and retired crime- scene investigator.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Sheri talks with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole about raising Navajo-Churro sheep – which she calls “the mustangs of the sheep world”– with the help of her border collie, Anatolian, and Great Pyrenees guardian dogs. On her Red Feather Ranch, Sheri says, predators are like pilots: there are old predators, and there are bold predators, but, thanks to her dogs, there are no old, bold predators.

Sheri also talks about her journey from crime scene investigator to shepherd, how to prepare a flock for wildfire, training sheep to avoid “rope and hoist” milking, and other tales of life with small ruminants.

This Voices from the Field episode is part of NCAT’s “She’s Raising Sheep” podcast series.

Related ATTRA Resources:
· She’s Raising Sheep Series

· Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goat Products: Dairy

· Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goat Products: Fiber

Other Resources:
· The Red Feather Ranch

· Navajo-Churro Sheep Association

· Farm Fresh Forensics: Life Between the Barnyard and the Body Farm

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Teaming Up with Oxen

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma talks with Jim Gronau, who uses oxen as draft animals on his farm in Ontario, Canada. Jim describes some of the environmental, economic, and marketing benefits of using oxen, and he provides pointers for getting started as a teamster and for starting a young team of oxen. Jim also explains what an ox is and talks about how versatile oxen can be on a farm. Finally, Jim reflects on the magic moment when everything comes together and the animals and driver become a team.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Episode 333. Draft Animals 101
· Draft Animal Power for Farming

Other Resources:

· Draft Animal Power Network
· Oxen: A Teamster’s Guide to Raising, Training, Driving & Showing
· Oxen: Their Care, Training, and Use
· Live Power in Agriculture: Working Equines and Bovines Class
· Midwest Ox Drovers Association
· All Things Oxen
· Oxen in Canada
· Small Farmer’s Journal
· Rural Heritage
· World Draft Cattle Symposium

Contact Tracy Mumma at tracym@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Draft Animals 101

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0700

For centuries, draft animals were the premier power source for agriculture. Although tractors eventually usurped draft animals on most farms, ranches, and forests, some teamsters have kept the traditions alive. With the upswing of modern homesteading and people striving for ecologically beneficial agricultural practices, it looks like draft power is making a comeback.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist and
wanna-be teamster Linda Poole quizzes seasoned experts Tracy Mumma (also an NCAT staff member), Tracy’s husband David Sturman, and Jim Gronau – an oxen teamster from Canada –on the what, why, and how of getting started with draft animals.

If you want to learn more, be sure to come back for the next episode– an in-depth conversation between Tracy and Jim about using draft animals in farming.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Draft Animal Power for Farming:

Other Related Resources:

· Oxen: A Teamster’s Guide to Raising, Training, Driving & Showing

· Oxen: Their Care, Training, and Use

· Small Farmer’s Journal

· Rural Heritage

· Draft Animal-Power Network

· Live Power in Agriculture: Working Equines and Bovines Class

· Midwest Ox Drovers Association

· All Things Oxen

· Oxen in Canada

Contact Linda Poole and Tracy Mumma at lindap@ncat.org and tracym@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

ATTRA and SARE: Breeding Squash for Disease Resistance and ‘Eating Quality’

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0700

In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan talks with Edmund Frost at the Twin Oaks Intentional Community in Virginia. Edmund is the managing director of Common Wealth Seed Growers, a cooperative of seed growers producing farmer-grown, regionally trialed seeds in the Southeast.

Since 2013, he has received funding from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education for research and breeding work with butternut squash. Justin and Edmund talk about breeding strategies to produce butternut squash that is resistant to downy mildew while still maintaining its eating quality. They also discuss how Edmund conducts taste tests of the squash and how he gathers the data from his research.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Adventures in Mirliton

Squash Bug and Squash Vine Borer: Organic Controls

Organic Pumpkin and Winter Squash Marketing and Production

Related SARE Resources:

Breeding a Better Butternut

Breeding and Evaluation of Butternut Varieties for Southeast Organic Farms

Winter Squash Evaluation and Improvement for Downy Mildew Resistance and Fruit Quality

Identifying and Marketing Open-Pollinated and Organic Cucurbit Seedstocks for Virginia

Other SARE/NCAT Podcasts:

Episode 327. ATTRA and SARE: The Commercial Potential of Mulberries in the Midwest.

Other Resources

Twin Oaks Intentional Community

Common Wealth Seed Growers

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT: Danielle Duni, Carbon Farm Planner for Woolgrowers in Wyoming

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:00:00 -0700

This episode of Voices from the Field introduces one of NCAT’s newest staff members. Danielle Duni recently joined NCAT as a Carbon Farm Planner who will aid Wyoming shepherds as they build profitable businesses and healthy landscapes.

Danielle shares her winding career path working with livestock across the western U.S. and her vision for ranchers “finding that interface where we can all work together to build resilient communities.”

Also, Danielle and NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole sketch the shape of the Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership, a five-year program to provide technical assistance and cost-sharing to ranchers and farmers growing wool or cotton using climate-beneficial practices. With support from USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, Danielle will lead NCAT’s work to build a better future for Wyoming woolgrowers and working lands.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Climate Beneficial Practices

· Growing Hope: Practical Tools for Changing Climate and Soils

· Episode330. Meet NCAT: Carbon Farm Planner Allison Cooley-Agee of Montana

Other Resources:

· Foraging Behavior of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus Cattle Grazing California Chaparral and Colorado Plateau Shrublands

· Collegiate Woolgrowers at Montana State University

· International Society for Range Management, Young Professionals Conclave

Contact Linda Poole and Danielle Duni at lindap@ncat.organd Danielled@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT: Carbon Farm Planner Allison Cooley-Agee of Montana

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet one of NCAT’s impressive new staff members, Allison Cooley-Agee. Allison talks with NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey about her background and the interesting and varied experience she brings to her new position as a Carbon Farm Planner. Training cutting horses, milking goats on an organic dairy, raw milk, 4-H, and Nicole Masters all make their way into the conversation.

Allison also discusses the Climate Beneficial Fiber Project, which will be the main focus of her work for the next few years and will benefit sheep producers in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. She also explains the process of carbon farm planning, and how to go about applying for the Climate Beneficial Fiber Project.

Related NCAT Resources:

Climate Beneficial Fiber Project

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Coffey and Allison Cooley-Agee at lindac@ncat.org and allisonc@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farmer Veteran Reaches Thousands Through Beekeeping

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, Director of NCAT’s ATTRA and Armed to Farm programs, visits with Dr. Adam Ingrao, a beekeeper and educator in Michigan. Adam, a military veteran, talks about his farming operation and the programs that have been beneficial to it.

He shares how his military service and farming experiences led him to beekeeping. He also discusses the Heroes to Hives program, which reaches thousands of veterans each year, and he offers some advice for veterans who are interested in farming.

Related NCAT Resources:

· NCAT Armed to Farm

· NCAT Armed to Farm Facebook page

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Veteran Resources

· Veteran’s Business Planning Tipsheet

· Armed to Farm Map Connects Farmer Veterans Across the U.S.

· Farmer Veteran Finds Passion in Horticulture Therapy

· Programs Focus on Farmer Well-Being

· Veterans Discuss USDA Programs

· From the Air Force to Alpacas

Other Resources:

· Heroes to Hives

· Bee Wise Farms, LLC

· Farmer Veteran Coalition

· USDA Veteran Initiatives

· USDA Service Center Locator

· USDA Farm Service Agency

· USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

· USDA Rural Development

Contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Lessons Learned from a Southern Farm: Alabama Farm’s Organic Integrity

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 18:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first of a new podcast series, "Lessons Learned on a Southern Farm." In it, NCAT Gulf States Regional Coordinator Felicia Bell talks with Marguerite McClintock from Alchemy Farms and Plants in Huntsville, Alabama.

Marguerite discusses the lessons she has learned from operating her certified organic vegetable farm and from raising heritage and registered sheep, specifically Katahdin
and Gulf Coast Native. She offers some tips and ideas that Alchemy Farm used to
stay in business while maintaining the farm's organic integrity.

· Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers

· Organic Tomato Production

· Grazing to Control Parasites

· Small Ruminant Sustainability Checksheet

· Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats

Other Resources:

· Alchemy Farms and Plants

Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

ATTRA and SARE: The Commercial Potential of Mulberries in the Midwest

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0600

In it, NCAT Sustainable Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames talks with Weston Lombard, who grows mulberries on his Millfield, Ohio, farm and was a SARE farmer/rancher grant recipient on the topic “Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the Midwest” in 2016.

Guy and Weston talk about the commercial possibilities and challenges mulberries present, along with different cultivars and growing strategies.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Community Orchards

Fruit Trees, Orchards, and Vines for Natural Growing in the Ozarks

Community Forest Gardens: Case Studies Throughout the United States

Related SARE Resources:

Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the Midwest

Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Appalachia: Mulberry Agroforestry

Mulberry Production with Weston Lombard

Other Resources:

Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden

Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture

Contact Guy Ames at guya@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Exploring Soil Organic Matter with Dr. Johannes Lehmann

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0600

We have only recently begun to understand the true nature of soil organic matter. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater is joined by Dr. Johannes Lehmann, a Cornell University professor with the School of Integrative Plant Science - Soil and Crop Sciences Section as well as the Department of Global Development. They talk about misconceptions around soil humus and explore new ways to look at the organic components of the soil. They also discuss a number of other issues, including the carbon cycle, the importance of diversity, and the challenges of creating a circular economy.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Managing Soil for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage

· Climate Solutions

Other Resources:

· Lehmann Lab: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Contact Nina Prater at ninap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

She’s Raising Sheep: Mickey Willenbring of Oregon, Part 2

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a discussion between Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole. Mickey touches on the value of reading, the role of on-farm experiments, the need for a good veterinarian/client relationship, and learning from people we don't agree with.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Episode 325. She’s Raising Sheep: Mickey Willenbring of Oregon, Part 1

· Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles

Other Resources:

· Dot Ranch

· Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep)

· Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op

· Navajo Shepherd

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

She’s Raising Sheep: Mickey Willenbring of Oregon, Part 1

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0600

Raising sheep can be a hobby or a business, a joy or a trial. And with the right intent and actions, it can also be a powerful way to heal ourselves and our relationship with the Earth. Listen as Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-Churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, shares her shepherding journey and the wisdom she's gleaning along the way.

In the first of a two-part discussion with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Mickey touches on the shepherding challenges of parasites, predators, and marketing.

Other Resources:

Dot Ranch

Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep)

Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op

Navajo Shepherd

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Potassium from Past to Present

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater and her husband, Jeremy Prater – a cattle and meat goat farmer – explore the science and history of potassium. Potassium fertilizer prices have increased 45 percent in the past few years, and finding ways to reduce off-farm inputs of potassium can improve a farm’s bottom line. Nina and Jeremy discuss potassium in the soil and in plants as well as the human history around this element. They then share ways to manage soils sustainably and require less off-farm potassium fertilizer.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Rising Fertilizer Costs: Look to History for Answers

· Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology

· Cotton Fields to Pasture: Soil Health Matters with Bill Robertson

· Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use

Other Resources:

· The Nature and Properties of Soils

· Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners: Potassium

· Fertilizer Prices

· Impacts and Repercussions of Price Increases on the Global Fertilizer Market

· Do I Really Need Potassium Fertilizer?

· Potassium Management: Maps Showing Soil Clay Type Could Help Minnesota Farmers

· Top 10 Potash Countries by Production

· Nutrient Removal by Alabama Crops

· The Cost of Growth: Fertilizer Companies Cash In While Farmers and Communities Struggle

· Mineral Resource of the Month: Potash

Connecting a Farmers Market and a Community

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez talks with his NCAT colleague Local Foods Specialist Molly Kirkham. Molly, who also manages the Dillon Farmers’ Market in Dillon, Montana, gives us a glimpse into the work required to make a farmers market operate smoothly and function as a place where the community can connect. She also discusses several important points for farmers to consider when evaluating whether farmers markets are a good marketing option for them.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Local Food Systems

· Farmers Markets

Other Resources:

· Dillon Farmers’ Market

Contact Molly Kirkham and Omar Rodriguez at mollyk@ncat.org and omarr@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT: Tyler Jenkins on Carbon Farm Planning

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we get to know one of our newest NCAT employees, Tyler Jenkins. Tyler is joining the NCAT team as a Carbon Farm Planner and will be working on our “Building Soil, Building Equity” project, as well as contributing to the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater talks with Tyler about his work before coming to NCAT, what he will be focused on as part of the NCAT team, and to how to make the perfect tomato sandwich.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· NCATReceives $30 Million to Expand Climate Beneficial Wool, Cotton Production

Other Resources:

· The Accountant

Contact Tyler Jenkins at tylerj@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can getin touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development.

She’s Raising Sheep: Dr. Kathy Soder of Pennsylvania, Part 2

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole and Dr. Kathy Soder, who runs 125 Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan. They cover a variety of issues, including predators, parasites, and profits in the discussion, which is part of ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.”

The link to the first part of the discussion is in the notes to this podcast, so be sure to check it out along with the rest of the “She’s Raising Sheep” series.

ATTRA Resources:

Episode 320. She’s Raising Sheep: Dr. Kathy Soder of Pennsylvania, Part 1

She’s Raising Sheep Series

Sheep and Goats

Other Resources:

Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health Sheep

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development

She’s Raising Sheep: Dr. Kathy Soder of Pennsylvania, Part 1

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field continues ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.” In a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Dr. Kathy Soder discusses building a healthy, profitable flock of sheep no matter where you farm. Kathy, an animal scientist and ruminant nutritionist with decades of experience raising sheep in both Montana and Pennsylvania, runs 125 production Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan.

Be sure to come back next time for the second part of the conversation, when Kathy and Linda turn their attention to parasites, predators, livestock guard dogs, production equipment, and the mistakes Kathy has learned from along the way.

ATTRA Resources:

She’s Raising Sheep Series

Sheep and Goats

Other Resources:

Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health Sheep

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Local Foods Directory Helps Find Farmers Markets, Create a Digital Marketing Strategy

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist and Montana Farmers Market Network Manager Tammy Howard talks with Erin Austin of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) about its online Abundant Montana platform. Erin is the Director of Community Partners and Sales at AERO and Abundant Montana. She talks with Tammy about how new and existing farmers market vendors can use the platform as a vendor tool — from finding area farmers markets to creating a digital marketing strategy.

ATTRA Resources:

· Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets

· Farmers Market Pricing Strategies for Vendors

· Farmers Markets

NCAT Resources:

· Montana Farmers Market Network

Other Resources:

· Abundant Montana

Contact Tammy Howard at tammyh@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast. 

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

Farmers Markets – Supporting Farmers Behind the Scenes

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Samantha O’Byrne, CEO of the O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center farmers market in Hamilton, Montana, gives us a behind the scenes look at the role of a farmers market manager during a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez.

Key to Samantha’s management philosophy is a dedication to local foods and the desire to ensure that both the market and the farmers who offer their goods for sale succeed through mutual support and engagement.

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number G182-21-W7903 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number PDP20-009. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Farmers Market Pricing Strategies for Vendors

· Farmers Markets: Marketing and Business Guide

· Farm Branding: Selling Your Products Through Story

· Episode 267. How Farmers Markets Do More Than Sell Local Goods

Other Resources:

· The O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center

Contact Omar Rodriguez at omarr@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts
about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio Urban Farm

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is a conversation centered around two organizations helping the community through sustainable agriculture and education in the San Antonio, Texas, area. Stephen Lucke of Gardopia Gardens in San Antonio's Gardopia Gardens and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan take a candid look at their organizations’ missions as well as the projects they have done and are doing – and how those projects impact the community.

ATTRA Resources:

· Community Gardening

· Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

· Gardopia Gardens

Contact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT’s New Executive Director, Fred Bahnson

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet Fred Bahnson, NCAT’s new Executive Director. Fred tells us the story of the journey that led him to NCAT and talks with Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis about the strength of NCAT’s resources — and staff — and some of its many programs.

Related Resources:

· National Center for Appropriate Technology

· ATTRA

· Armed to Farm

· Soil for Water

· AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Contact Fred Bahnson and Mike Lewis at fredb@ncat.org and mikel@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Biochar and NCAT’s SIFT Farm

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Andrew Coggins and John Wallace talk about biochar and NCAT’s use of biochar in its Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training (SIFT) program.

John runs NCAT’s SIFT farm at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Butte, Montana.
SIFT does sustainable agriculture trials at the farm, including some that have focused
on biochar. John and Andrew talk about renewed interest in biochar as a means
of sequestering carbon and as a soil amendment and even a possible soil enhancement.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Biochar

· Episode286. What is Biochar?

· Biocharand Sustainable Agriculture

· Buildinga Biochar Retort Kiln

· Producersand Researchers Agree, Scaleup of a Sustainable Biochar Industry is
Critical to Meet Climate Targets and Build Agricultural Resilience and Soil Health

· BiocharPolicy Project Aims to Scale Up Rural Climate Solution

· Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production

· Agriculture, Climate Disruption, and Carbon Sequestration

Contact Andrew Coggins and John Wallace at andrewc@ncat.org and johnw@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Meet NCAT: Cody Brown on Carbon Planning in Texas

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet NCAT’s new carbon farm planner in Texas, Cody Brown. Cody’s friend — and now colleague — NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Darron Gaus talks with him about his background, the carbon planning work he is doing now, how producers can get involved in that work, and his hopes for the future.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Climate Solutions

· Episode 284. Carbon Farm Planning

· Episode 297. Digging into Texas’ First Carbon Farm Plan

· Carbon Farm Planning

Related NCAT Resources:

· Carbon Farm/Ranch Planning Onboarding Interest Form

Contact Darron Gaus and Cody Brown at darrong@ncat.org and codyb@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

New NCAT Irrigation Publications Demystify Water and Energy Savings

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor talks to NCAT Southwest Regional Director Mike Morris about a new series of irrigation guidebooks available from NCAT’s ATTRA program. Mike and Katherine discuss some common myths and misunderstandings about irrigation, the under-appreciated importance of soil health to irrigators, and some easy and inexpensive things every irrigator can do to save water, energy, and money.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· The Irrigator’s Pocket Guide

· The California Microirrigation Pocket Guide

· The Colorado Irrigator’s Pocket Guide

· The New Mexico Irrigator’s Pocket Guide

· The Texas Irrigator’s Pocket Guide

· Managing Soils for Water

· Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods

· Sustainable Irrigation: A Beginner’s Guide

· Tracking Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration: The Satellites Are Coming!

NCAT Resources:

· NCAT Soil for Water Program

Other Resources:

· OPENET

· California Irrigation Management Irrigation System

· NRCS Irrigation Guide

Contact Mike Morris and Katherine Favor at mikem@ncat.org and katherinef@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

More Than Food Grows at Community Gardens and Urban Farms

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0600

Community gardens and urban farms provide more than just delicious, fresh food for surrounding neighborhoods. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Felicia Bell and Nina Prater talk about what these two types of enterprises are and the differences between them, why they are so beneficial, what some of their challenges are, and what resources are available for folks interested in getting started in either community gardens or urban farms.

ATTRA Resources:

· Urban Agriculture

· Regenerating Damaged Soils on an Urban Farm

· Community Gardening

· Community Gardens and Sustainable Agriculture

· Community Supported Agriculture

NCAT Resources:

· Upcoming Events

Other Resources:

· USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

· Metro Atlanta Urban Farm

· Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture

· HABESHA, Inc.

· Tougaloo College

Contact Felicia Bell and Nina Prater at feliciab@ncat.org and ninap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

A Conversation with Organic Pioneer Bob Scowcroft

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena has a conversation with Bob Scowcroft, former Executive Director of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). Bob recounts his involvement in the organic movement, from working as an organizer with Friends of the Earth on pesticide reduction to organizing organic farmers in California and taking part in the development of the National Organic Program.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Organic Farming

· Episode 138. Organic Pioneer: Tom Willey

· A Conversation with Amigo Bob

Other Resources:

· California Certified Organic Farmers

· Organic Farming Research Foundation

Contact Martin Guerena at marting@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Cotton Fields to Pasture: Why Soil Health Matters with Bill Robertson

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0600

Dr. Bill Robertson recently retired after a long career as the Cotton Extension Agronomist with the University of Arkansas Extension Service. He also worked for the National Cotton Council for a few years, focusing on improving the sustainability of cotton production. Bill and his wife, Carey, have a livestock farm where they raise sheep and many other livestock species using prescribed grazing techniques.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater talks with Bill about how he came to understand soil health as essential to a profitable farm whether the farm is growing crops or livestock. They talk about what practices farmers are using to improve soil health and the benefits they see from their efforts – benefits that include reduced input costs, healthier crops, better yields, and better profitability overall.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Nina Prater at ninap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

How to Work with Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, two NCAT staffers talk about their years of experience working with historically underserved farmers. Gulf States Regional Director Rockiell Woods and Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell discuss who the USDA NRCS defines as historically underserved and some of the programs that are available to them. They also address topics that agriculture professionals might experience as they deal with historically underserved farmers, from a reluctance to make use of government programs to the need to respect the cultures many of the farmers come from.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Farmer Equity

Episode 298. Ag Professional Series with Brennan Washington of Southern SARE

Weekly Wednesday Workshop: Ag Professionals with Otis Wright Jr. of RAFI-USA

Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Other Resources:

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Contact Rockiell Woods and Felicia Bell at rockw@ncat.org and feliciab@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

The Big Picture and Nitty Gritty of Agrisolar

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0600

This episode is a conversation between NCAT Energy Program Director Stacie Peterson and Iain Ward, a farmer and founder of Solar Agricultural Services.

It is the sixth in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field podcast.

Stacie and Iain discuss the potential of agrisolar as way to remove barriers to entry into farming, how agrisolar is shifting the solar industry to consider regenerative agriculture, practical considerations for getting started in agrisolar, Iain’s connection with Wendell Berry, and Wendell’s thoughts on co-locating solar and agriculture.

Related NCAT Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE000937. Legal Disclaimer: The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.

She’s Raising Sheep: Maryrose Livingston of New York, Part 2

Wed, 31 May 2023 14:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the second of a two-part conversation between Maryrose Livingston of Northland Sheep Dairy in New York and NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole. It is part of the podcast’s occasional “She’s Raising Sheep” series.

Maryrose and Linda give advice for those considering starting a sheep dairy, including ways to improve the bottom line by saving money whenever possible.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Episode 305. She’s Raising Sheep: Maryrose Livingston of New York

· Episode 244. She’s Raising Sheep: Indiana’s Denice Rackley

· Episode 246. She’s Raising Sheep: New Zealand Shepherd Bev Trowbridge

· Episode 247. She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Becky Weed

· Episode 251. She’s Raising Sheep: California Shepherd Lani Estill

· Episode 272. She’s Raising Sheep: Minnesota Shepherd Janet McNally

· Episode 282. She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Maloi Lannan

· Episode 299. She’s Raising Sheep: Wendy Auzqui of Wyoming

· Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goat Products: Dairy

· Tipsheet: Organic Cattle, Sheep, and Goats for Dairy

· Dairy Production on Pasture: An Introduction to Grass-Based and Seasonal Dairying

Other Resources:

· Northland Sheep Dairy

· Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

She's Raising Sheep: Maryrose Livingston of New York

Wed, 24 May 2023 13:00:00 -0600

Despite a centuries-long tradition of sheep dairying in Eurasia, sheep dairies are rare in the United States. But burgeoning demand for artisanal sheep cheeses is prompting more shepherds launching dairy enterprises.

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first of a two-part conversation between Maryrose Livingston of Northland Sheep Dairy in New York — America's oldest sheep dairy — and NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole. It is part of the podcast’s occasional “She’s Raising Sheep” series.

Maryrose shares useful, funny, and sometimes painful lessons in her journey from suburban Detroit schoolgirl to being the shepherd and cheesemaker at what may be America's only certified 100-percent grassfed, organic sheep dairy.

Among the subjects Maryrose and Linda discuss are evasive grazing to control parasites, the question of nutritional wisdom of sheep, and how raising grassfed livestock is Maryrose's answer to creating a beautiful life while helping heal the land.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Episode 244. She’s Raising Sheep: Indiana’s Denice Rackley

· Episode 246. She’s Raising Sheep: New Zealand Shepherd Bev Trowbridge

· Episode 247. She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Becky Weed

· Episode 251. She’s Raising Sheep: California Shepherd Lani Estill

· Episode 272. She’s Raising Sheep: Minnesota Shepherd Janet McNally

· Episode 282. She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Maloi Lannan

· Episode 299. She’s Raising Sheep: Wendy Auzqui of Wyoming

· Tips for Marketing Sheep and Goat Products: Dairy

· Tipsheet: Organic Cattle, Sheep, and Goats for Dairy

· Dairy Production on Pasture: An Introduction to Grass-Based and Seasonal Dairying

Other Resources:

· Northland Sheep Dairy

· Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology

Wed, 17 May 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Guy Ames, and Lee Rinehart explore the balancing act of managing phosphorus – a macro-nutrient essential for life.

Getting just the right amount of phosphorus without over-applying it is a tricky balance because of the unique way phosphorus interacts with the soil. Getting phosphorus fertilization right is also important for farm profitability since the price of phosphorus fertilizer has almost doubled in recent years.

And phosphorus can have highly detrimental effects if it runs off fields into lakes and streams, making managing phosphorus a critical problem for producers to solve.

Using nature as a model, farmers and ranchers can manage phosphorus on their farm to maintain productivity while reducing their reliance on inputs of synthetic forms of this expensive, non-renewable resource.

ATTRA Resources:

· Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use

· Rising Fertilizer Costs: Look to History for Answers

· Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems

· Nutrient Management in Organic Small Grains

Other Resources:

· It All Turns on Affection

· The Nature and Properties of Soils

· Fertilizer Prices

· The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance

· Mycorrhizal Fungi Factsheet

Contact Nina Prater, Guy Ames, and Lee Rinehart at ninap@ncat.org, guya@ncat.org, and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Sharing the Journey with AgriSolar Consulting

Wed, 10 May 2023 10:00:00 -0600

This episode is a conversation between NCAT Energy Program Director Stacie Peterson and Alexis Pascaris, executive director of AgriSolar Consulting.

It is the fifth in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field podcast.

Alexis is a consultant and a stakeholder in the AgriSolar Clearinghouse. She and Stacie discuss the social aspects of agrisolar, including the concept of energy as a social matter with technological components, the importance of the cultural landscapes around agrisolar operations, and the “social license” to operate them. Alexis and Stacie also address the stacked benefits of agrisolar itself and agrisolar projects around the country.

Related NCAT Resources:

· AgriSolar Clearinghouse

· Agrisolar Policy Guide

· AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 1: Growing Crops Among the Solar Panels in Colorado

· AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 2: Keeping Family Farms in Family Hands with AgriSolar in Massachusetts

· AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 3: Lexie Hain — Sheep and Solar a Match

· AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 4: Birds, Bees, and Butterflies – Solar Pollinator Habitat

· Case Study: Summit Plant Labs

Other Resources:

· AgriSolar Consulting

· Do Agrivoltaics Improve Public Support for Solar? A Survey on Perceptions, Preferences, and Priorities

· Smart Solar in Connecticut: Farmer Survey Findings and Initial Recommendations

· Building a Resilient Future: Connecticut’s Smart Solar Opportunities

· SCAPES

· SPADE Agrivoltaic Design and Development

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Using Demonstration Farms as a Model

Wed, 03 May 2023 12:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is a conversation with John Coleman, the manager of Alcorn State University’s demonstration farm. John and Rockiell Woods, director of NCAT’s Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, talk about the idea of beginning farmers modeling their operation after demonstration farms. They discuss labor costs, recordkeeping and GAP certification, choosing equipment, and selecting crops.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Farm Start Up

· Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Other Resources:

· Alcorn State University

· USDA Agricultural Research Service

· USDA Farm Service Agency

Contact Rockiell Woods at rockw@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief surveysto let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learning from the Amskapi Piikani — Latrice Tatsey on Soils, Climate, and Culture, Part 2

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the second half of a conversation between Latrice Tatsey, a soil scientist, the cultural science lead, and the intern supervisor for the Piikani Lodge Health Institute of the Blackfeet Nation and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole.

Latrice focuses in this episode on the management practices her research has suggested and how she measures their success. You will find the link to the first half of the conversation in the notes below.

A rancher herself on the spectacular Rocky Mountain Front of Montana, Latrice — whose Piikani name is Buffalo Stone Woman — works with cattle and bison producers to improve the health of the land, the water, and the people where her relatives have lived since time immemorial.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Episode 301. Learning from the Amskapi Piikani — Latrice Tatsey on Soils, Climate, and Culture, Part 1

· Indigenous Perspectives on Soil and Water

· Indigenous and Traditional Soil Health Practices with Mila Berhane

Other Resources:

· Piikani Lodge Health Institute

· The Deep Roots of Regenerative Agriculture are Found in Communities of Color

· Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming

· A Return to Native Agriculture

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learning from the Amskapi Piikani — Latrice Tatsey on Soils, Climate, and Culture, Part 1

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0600

Latrice Tatsey is a soil scientist, the cultural science lead, and the intern supervisor for the Piikani Lodge Health Institute of the Blackfeet Nation. A rancher herself on the spectacular Rocky Mountain Front of Montana, Latrice — whose Piikani name is Buffalo Stone Woman — works with cattle and bison producers to improve the health of the land, the water, and the people where her relatives have lived since time immemorial.

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first half of a conversation Latrice has with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole about regenerative grazing, traditional knowledge, and both the utility and limitations of reductionistic science in guiding us to climate solutions.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Indigenous Perspectives on Soil and Water

· Indigenous and Traditional Soil Health Practices with Mila Berhane

Other Resources:

· Piikani Lodge Health Institute

· The Deep Roots of Regenerative Agriculture are Found in Communities of Color

· Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming

· A Return to Native Agriculture

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

She's Raising Sheep: Wendy Auzqui of Wyoming

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0600

What are the secrets to success in raising sheep? For Wyoming rancher, shepherd, and world champion stockdog trainer Wendy Auzqui, the answers lie in our attitudes, our powers of observation and communication, and our willingness to cooperate with nature rather than battle against it. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Wendy has a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, focusing on raising Rambouillets on an integrated cattle, sheep, and hay ranch in the Northern Great Plains. They also talk about why our minds are like puppies, tell a story about the power of Pop-Tarts in creativity, and offer lots of deep wisdom about living a life of joy and meaning in today's world.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Wisdom from SHEperd: ATTRA’s She’s Raising Sheep Podcast Series, Episodes 1-5

· What Your Stockdog Can Teach You About Livestock

Other Resources:

· Creekside Stockdogs

· Wyoming PBS: Wendy Auzqui and Quirt

· Wyoming Woman Trains World Champion Border Collie Stock Dogs

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Ag Professional Series with Brennan Washington of Southern SARE

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell continues her “Weekly Wednesday Workshop” webinar and podcast series by spotlighting the grants available from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).

Felicia enlists the help of Southern SARE’s 1890 Land Grant Institution Liaison Brennan Washington. He lays out the production and research grants producers could be eligible for, as well as other funding Southern SARE offers. Felicia and Brennan also give some tips about preparing to write a grant proposal and discuss other resources Southern SARE has available.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Grant Programs

· Federal Working Lands Conservation Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching

Other Resources:

· Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities: A Guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation, Food Systems, and Community Development

· SARE Resources and Learning

Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Digging into Texas' First Carbon Farm Plan

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0600

Episode 297. Digging into Texas' First Carbon Farm Plan

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we dig into Texas’ first Carbon Farm Plan with New Leaf Agriculture Farm Director Matt Simon, NCAT Climate and Agriculture Program Manager Elise Haschke, and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Darron Gaus.

Matt shares his “aha” moments in farming and his vision for ecological restoration and community-building on New Leaf’s 21-acre farm in Elgin, Texas.

Carbon Farm Planning is a comprehensive conservation planning framework that centers carbon as the organizing principle on working lands. With generous funding from a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program grant and The Meadows Foundation, NCAT is working with Texas farmers and ranchers to pilot the Carbon Farm Planning conservation framework for a Texas context.

Darron and Matt discuss specific conservation practices in the New Leaf’s Carbon Farm Plan, such as how they’re testing no-till and strip-till in a few of the fields and planting windbreaks for multiple co-benefits, including fruit and nut cash crops, on-farm mulch production, and wildlife habitat.

Those practices indicate an estimated annual emissions reduction equivalent to 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide, based on the COMET-Planner quantification tool.

If you’re a farmer or rancher in Texas and interested in developing a whole-farm conservation plan centered around opportunities to capture and store more carbon on-farm, we want to hear from you. You can email Elise and Darron at eliseh@ncat.org or darrong@ncat.org to learn more about what’s going on in Texas.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Growing Hope: Climate and Soils

Carbon Farm Planning blog

Carbon Farm Planning podcast

Connecting Refugees to Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources:

New Leaf Agriculture

The Meadows Foundation

Multicultural Refugee Coalition

Carbon Cycle Institute - Carbon Farm Planning

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Comet- Planner

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Exploring the Rye Revival with Gary Zimmer

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis talks with Gary Zimmer, co-owner of Otter Creek Organic Farm in south-central Wisconsin and founder of Midwestern BioAg, a fertilizer company focused on biological and organic farming methods.

Gary is also a co-founder of Rye Revival, an organization that aims to bolster the use of rye. Gary and Mike talk about rye’s health benefits and its use as an animal feed and a cover crop.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Organic Small Grain Production Overview

· No-Till Case Study, Brown’s Ranch: Improving Soil Health Improves the Bottom Line

· Cover Crops and Their Impact on Soil Health, Crop Productivity

· Cover Crops and Water Infiltration

Other Resources:

· Zimmer Ag Consulting

· Rye Revival

Contact Mike Lewis at mikel@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

In the Pigpen with Mike and Linda, 20 Questions about Pastured Hogs

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis talks about pastured hogs based on his experience on his Kentucky farm, where he raises farrow-to-finish heritage hogs on pasture and in the woods.

NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey poses questions to Mike asked by her beginning farmer son, John, who plans to raise pastured hogs in Arkansas. Mike shares valuable tips about reducing feed cost, making the enterprise labor efficient, taking good care of the land, and starting small to figure out what your niche will be.

Many other practical topics are covered in this episode, which is the first of a series called “In the Pigpen with Mike and Linda.”

If you would like Mike and Linda to do more episodes and maybe connect with them about a topic for the series, you can reach them at mikel@ncat.org or lindac@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Hogs: Pastured or Forested Production

· Farrowing on Pasture

· Looking for On-farm Diversification? Consider Pastured Pigs

· The Life and Death of Lucy the Sow

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Organic Production and the Climate

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski discusses the climate benefits of certified organic production systems with Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of Science Programs at The Organic Center.

With training in systems-based research, Dr. Sciligo has worked closely with researchers, industry, farmers, and policymakers to identify organic research needs, and she has collaborated on a diverse range of research programs.

Some of those research topics include mitigating climate change, increasing the feasibility of integrating livestock into produce cropping systems, increasing the accessibility of equitable agricultural technology for organic farmers, reducing tensions between National Organic Program standards and third-party food safety requirements, and tackling challenges associated with inadvertent pesticide contamination across the organic supply chain.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Agriculture, Climate Disruption, and Carbon Sequestration

· Growing Hope: Practical Tools for Our Changing Climate:
Conference keynote address by Dr. Rattan Lal

· Reducing Tillage Intensity in Organic Production Systems

Other Resources:

· The Organic Center

Contact Jeff Schahczenski at jeffs@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 4: Birds, Bees, and Butterflies – Solar Pollinator Habitat

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0700

This episode features a conversation between Stacie Peterson, NCAT’s Energy Program Director and Manager of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, and Pete Berthelsen, Executive Director of The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund and President of Conservation Blueprint.

It is the fourth in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field podcast.

Pete and Stacie discuss the benefits of pollinator habitat at solar energy sites, pollinator habitat design, seed mixes, pollinator health and quality, and what anyone can do to help pollinators in their own backyard.

AgriSolar Clearinghouse Resources:

· AgriSolar Clearinghouse

· Solar Pollinator Habitat

· Solar Apiaries

· Fact Sheet: Making the Case for Solar Beekeeping

Other Resources:

· Conservation Blueprint

· The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Don’t Leave It to Beavers, Dam It Yourself

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0700

Here’s a fun fact. Before European settlement, as much as 10% of the continental U.S. was influenced by the presence of beaver dams. Although beavers have been displaced from much of their historic range, land managers don't have to be high and dry in their absence. More and more people are rehydrating their land by mimicking beavers to catch and hold more water.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Aaron Clausen of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Montana rancher Amber Smith chat with NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about constructing do-it-yourself beaver dams, called beaver dam analogues.

Built mostly by hand with carefully placed sticks and rocks, these low-tech, affordable structures help landowners safely catch and hold more water on their land during runoff. The conversation also includes a bit about Aaron's work with WWF's RSVP (Ranching Sustainability and Viability Program) and Amber Smith's leadership of the nonprofit Women in Ranching.

Resources:

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

Una conversación sobre suelo con Patricio O'Neil

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0700

En este episodio de Voices from the Field, Martin Guerena, especialista en agricultura sostenible de la oficina regional occidental de NCAT en Davis, California, habla con Patricio O'Neil de Soil Health Services en Alamosa, Colorado. Su conversación describe los cultivos característicos de la región del valle de San Luis Colorado, la sequía de la región y sus desafíos, prácticas para mejorar la salud del suelo y el secuestro de carbono por medio de cultivos de cobertura, la composta dominada por hongos y la rotación de cultivos. También habla sobre el Parque Agrícola Rio Grande de Alamosa, Colorado.

Recursos de ATTRA:

Recursos en Español

Otros Recursos:

· Rio Grande Farm Park

Para obtener más información sobre este tema, puede contactar a Martin Guerena directamente: marting@ncat.org.

Llame a la línea de “ATTRA en Español” con cualquier pregunta sobre agricultura sostenible al 800 411-3222 o por correo electrónico a marting@ncat.org.

Nuestros especialistas pueden ayudarle con una amplia gama de temas, inclusivamente: planificación de fincas, manejo de plagas, producción hortícola, ganadería, suelos, acuicultura, y mucho más.

Highlights from the Field, 2022

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0700

This special edition of Voices from the Field takes a look back at some highlights from the podcast during 2022. It was a great year for Voices from the Field, with 50 interesting conversations and loads of practical information running the gamut of sustainable-agriculture topics.

We’re honored that Voices from the Field has become a trusted source of information about sustainable agriculture and renewable energy since it began more than five years ago, with thousands of subscribers adding it to their weekly downloads.

Featured Podcasts:

· Episode 258. Everything Old is New Again, Exploring Indigenous and Traditional Agriculture Methods, Part 1

· Episode 259. Everything Old is New Again, Exploring Indigenous and Traditional Agriculture Methods, Part 2

NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan take a look at the traditional family agricultural methods that were passed down to them, and how they parallel indigenous practices.

Contact Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan at feliciab@ncat.org and justind@ncat.org.

· Episode 267. How Farmers Markets Do More than Sell Local Goods

NCAT Director of Communications Emilie Ritter and NCAT Community Food Systems Specialist Maura Henn talk about the sometimes unexpected beneficial impacts of famers markets.

Contact Emilie Ritter and Maura Henn at emilier@ncat.org and maurah@ncat.org.

· Episode 271. Farmer Veteran Finds Passion in Horticulture Therapy

NCAT ATTRA Program Director Margo Hale talks with Charley Jordan, a military veteran and flower farmer in Tennessee, about how he came to begin a flower-growing operation and his passion for horticulture therapy and using agriculture as a tool to help others heal.

Contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

· AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 1: Growing Crops Among the Solar Panels in Colorado

NCAT Energy Program Director Stacie Peterson has a conversation with Meg Caley, Executive Director and co-founder of Colorado nonprofit Sprout City Farms. Among its partnerships, Sprout City Farms works with Jack’s Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado, growing crops in the spaces between solar panels at the site, which is now the largest agrivoltaic research facility of its kind in the United States.

Contact Stacie Peterson at staciep@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 3: Lexie Hain — Sheep and Solar a Match

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0700

This episode features a conversation between Stacie Peterson, NCAT’s Energy Program Director and Manager of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, and Lexie Hain, the country’s leading solar grazing expert.

It is the third in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field podcast.

Lexie is a farmer, solar grazer, and the Director of Agrivoltaics at Lightsource BP. She co-founded the American Solar Grazing Association and is a stakeholder in the AgriSolar Clearinghouse. She also coined the term solar grazing.

Lexie and Stacie discuss the practicalities of solar grazing, how to prepare and manage agrivoltaic sites, opportunities for grazers and solar developers, and how sheep and solar are made for each other.

Related NCAT Resources:

· AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 1: Growing Crops Among the Solar Panels in Colorado

· AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 2: Keeping Family Farm in Family Hands with AgriSolar in Massachusetts

Other Resources:

· Lighthouse BP – Agrivoltaics & Solar Grazing

· AgriSolar Clearinghouse – Solar Grazing

· American Solar Grazing Association

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Using the Abundant Montana Local Food Directory as a Marketing Strategy

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Horticulture Specialist Tammy Howard talks with Drew Shanafelt, Director of Abundant Montana. Abundant Montana has been a local foods directory staple in Montana since the 1990s. In recent years, it has evolved from being a static directory to a dynamic multimedia resource for consumers, food suppliers, and producers. In this conversation, Tammy and Drew talk about how producers can use Abundant Montana as a resource in their marketing and outreach to consumers.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets

· Farm Branding: Selling Your Products Through Story

· Direct Marketing

Other Resources:

· Abundant Montana

Contact Tammy Howard at tammyh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

Uber for Tomatoes: Could 'Crowdshipping' Solve Food Transportation Problems for Small Farms?

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet Dr. Carolyn Krejci, an industrial engineer and expert on supply-chain management at the University of Texas at Arlington who is designing surprising new ways of supporting local and regional food systems.

She and NCAT Southwest Regional Director Mike Morris sit down to discuss her pioneering research on food transportation and the ingenious new “crowdshipping” phone app she and her team recently created for matching small farms with drivers who are willing to deliver farm products to urban markets. Could a ride-sharing system for food products expand markets and increase incomes for small farms?

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Selling to Local and Regional Markets: Barriers and Opportunities for Beginning Farmers

· Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

· Food Hubs: A Producer Guide

· Intermediated Markets

Other Resources:

· Project report for “Regional Food Transportation for Texas Farmers,” Southern SARE Research and Education Project #LS19-312

· Evaluating the Suitability of Crowd-Shipping Platforms for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

· Logistics Best Practices for Regional Food Systems: A Review

· Resilient Regional Food Supply Chains and Rethinking the Way Forward: Key Takeaways from the COVID-19 Pandemic

· Iowa Food Hub Network

Contact Mike Morris at mikem@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

What is Biochar?

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Luz Ballesteros talks with Michael Navarro of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley about his biochar research. Michael, working with biochar created from grapefruit peels, is examining its ability to remediate soils that have been contaminated with heavy metals.

Luz and Michael also talk about the ways biochar is used in agriculture, such as water filtration and seed coating, and other ways it may be used in the future. They also discuss nuts-and-bolt issues such as its availability for producers.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Biochar

· Biochar and Sustainable Agriculture

· Building a Biochar Retort Kiln

Contact Luz Ballesteros at luzb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 2: Keeping Family Farms in Family Hands with AgriSolar in Massachusetts

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0700

This episode is a conversation between Stacie Peterson, NCAT’s Energy Program Director and Manager of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, and Nate Tassinari, the owner of Million Little Sunbeams, a third-generation hay farm in Monson, Massachusetts.

It is the second in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field podcast.

Nate’s hay operation is a 1-acre farm co-located with a solar array that generates 250 kilowatts of power. It is centrally located among a network of family farms and has solar panels that are elevated 10 feet above the ground, both to accommodate haying equipment and to satisfy Massachusetts regulations for incentives.

In the conversation, Nate describes the financial aspects of owning a solar array, how to harvest the sun during the winter, the interconnection of family farmlands, and the role solar can play in farm ownership.

Related ATTRA Resources:

AgriSolar Podcasts. Ep. 1. Growing Crops Among the Solar Panels in Colorado

Other Resources:

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Carbon Farm Planning

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0700

Lynette Niebrugge, Associate Director of Education and Training at the Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI), and Loren Poncia, co-owner of Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales, California, broke new ground with one of CCI’s first Carbon Farm Plans almost a decade ago.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lynette and Loren speak with NCAT Climate and Agriculture Program Manager Elise Haschke about what it means to approach conservation planning through a carbon lens. They also share the process for developing a Carbon Farm Plan for individual farms and ranches, as well as the many co-benefits associated with implementing conservation practices included in a Carbon Farm Plan.

Contact Elise Haschke at eliseh@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· A Look at the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance. Part 1

· A Look at the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance. Part 2

Other Resources:

· Carbon Cycle Institute

· Stemple Creek Ranch

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT.ORG.
Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

The Real Story Behind the Real Organic Project

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0700

How is organic farming changing in America? Should soil-free hydroponic produce be certified as organic? And why have 1,100 certified-organic farms started adding a Real Organic label to the familiar green USDA Organic label? In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Southwest Regional Director Mike Morris sits down with Linley Dixon, Co-Director of the Real Organic Project, for a conversation about integrity, soil, transparency, and changes happening within the organic movement.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Takeaways from the Real Organic Symposium

· Organic Farming

· Organic Regulations

· Organic Certification

Other Resources:

· Real Organic Project

· Real Organic Podcast

· Real Organic EcoFarm Pre-Conference 2023

Contact Mike Morris at mikem@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

· You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

· Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

L&R Poultry and Produce: Building Relationships with School Nutrition Programs

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0700

In this edition of Voices from the Field, Lacy Stephens of the National Farm to School Network talks to Rae Rusnak of L&R Poultry and Produce and Kate Seybold of Minneapolis Public Schools. L&R Poultry and Produce has been consistently selling to MPS for more than eight years. Rae and Kate discuss what has made this partnership successful and beneficial for both of them, and they each share recommendations for building long-term relationships with school buyers.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services."

Grasmick Produce: Montana Apples through DoD Fresh

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Specialist Kei Matsunami talks with Chris Gaskell of Grasmick Produce of Twin Falls and Boise, Idaho, about the company’s farm to school sales and DoD Fresh contract with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

She’s Raising Sheep. Montana Shepherd Maloi Lannan

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0700

Sixteen-year-old Maloi Lannan is a passionate and knowledgeable climate warrior using profits from her self-published soil health coloring book to build a flock of 100-percent grassfed sheep in Montana's Paradise Valley.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Maloi and her mom Meagan tell NCAT's Linda Poole about their approach to maintaining their fifth-generation family ranch. Their methods include regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and low-stress stockmanship (except maybe when lambs escape) with a goal of building interdependent and profitable businesses and communities.

Listen in to hear a real-life, feel-good story about raising capable, resilient, caring kids through daily hands-on work in regenerative agriculture.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Wisdom from SHEperds: ATTRA’s She’s Raising Sheep Podcast Series, Episodes 1-5

· Grazing to Control Parasites

Other Resources:

· Barney Creek Livestock

· Barney Creek Regenerative Agriculture Coloring Book

· To Which We Belong

· 2022 Montana Leopold Conservation Award — Barney Creek Livestock

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Episode 281. Improving Profitability on Livestock Operations

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart talk about how to improve profitability on livestock operations. They focus specifically on ruminants — choosing the right animals for your environment, grazing management, farm infrastructure, and marketing. Lee shares some guiding questions farmers and ranchers can ask themselves when making farm-management decisions to be sure their operations remain profitable.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Small-Scale Livestock Production

Demystifying Regenerative Grazing and Soil Health with Dr. Allen Williams

Scaling Up for Regional Markets

Regenerative Grazing with Travis Krause

Managing Photosynthesis Through Optimal Grazing

Other Resources:

Livestock Compass Spreadsheet

Contact Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart at ninap@ncat.org and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

AgriSolar Podcast Ep. 1: Growing Crops Among the Solar Panels in Colorado

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Stacie Peterson, Energy Program Director at the National Center for Appropriate Technology, talks with Meg Caley, Executive Director and co-founder of the Colorado nonprofit Sprout City Farms.

Sprout City Farms began in 2010 with a vision of increasing food access and community resiliency through farming underutilized urban land. Among its partnerships, Sprout City Farms works with Jack’s Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado, growing crops in the spaces between solar panels at the site, which is the largest agrivoltaic research facility of its kind in the United States.

Related NCAT Resources:

Sheep and the Sun. Solar Grazing with Lexie Hain

NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse Aims to Make Solar More Accessible to Land Managers

NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse Brings Together Solar and Agriculture

AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Soil for Water

Other Resources:

Sprout City Farms

Jack’s Solar Garden

Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center

Contact Stacie Peterson at stacieb@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Episode 279. Patrick O’Neill on the Many Sides of Soil Health

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena, who works out of NCAT’s office in Davis, California, has a conversation with Patrick O’Neill of Soil Health Services in Alamosa, Colorado. They discuss Patrick’s projects, including consulting with farmers on cover crops systems, volunteer work with the Rio Grande Farm Park, and a conservation district project that focuses on fungal-dominated compost.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Soil

Other Resources:
How to Make Liquid Extract from Live, Fungal-Based Compost for Your Garden or Farm
National Association of Conservation Districts. Patrick O’Neill Biography
Dr. David C. Johnson YouTube Channel
Rio Grande Farm Park

Contact Martin Guerena at marting@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

A Look at the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance, Part 2

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the second of a two-part series about a new project called the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance.

NCAT’s team on the project – Climate Smart Agriculture Coordinator Elise Haschke and Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Robert Maggiani and Darron Gaus – talk with others involved in the project. They discuss the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance’s starting goals, the problems it is addressing, and how TSWA works jointly with other organizations and producers to resolve the major issues brought to the forefront by agriculture and climate.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Contact Elise Haschke, Robert Maggiani, and Darron Gaus at eliseh@ncat.org, robertm@ncat.org, and darrong@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

A Look at the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first of a two-part series on a new project called the Texas Soil Wealth Alliance. NCAT’s team on the project – Climate Smart Agriculture Coordinator Elise Haschke and Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Robert Maggiani and Darron Gaus – join with other organizations and producers involved in the project to spread the word.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Soil

· Health Soil for a Wealthy Tomorrow

· Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage

· Watch: NCAT Releases Soil Health 101 Series

· Soil for Water

Contact Elise Haschke, Robert Maggiani, and Darron Gaus at eliseh@ncat.org, robertm@ncat.org, and darrong@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Episode 276. Managing Photosynthesis Through Optimal Grazing

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0600

The primary goal of grazing, or any other farming endeavor, is to convert light energy efficiently and profitably from the sun into food. Many graziers think of themselves as grass farmers, harvesting sunlight and converting it through forage into animal products.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Lee Rinehart and Justin Morris talk specifically about photosynthesis and whether it can be managed. And if so, how? If indeed it is possible to optimize photosynthetic activity and get more nutrient-dense forage for longer in the grazing season, it would be a new spin on grazing management.

Contact Lee Rinehart and Justin Morris at lee@ncat.org and justinm@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

How 'Dirt Farming’ is the Foundation of a Mississippi Grazing Operation

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell talks grassfed beef and lamb with Mississippi grazier Johnny Wray. Johnny and his wife Deb own High Hope Farm in western Clay County, Mississippi, near the village of Cedar Bluff.

Johnny talks about the farm’s rotational grazing setup and use of composted manure with no chemical inputs. Johnny describes himself as a “dirt farmer,” because healthy soil leads to healthy grasses and healthy livestock.

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Paddock Design and Animal Movement

· Risk Management on a Livestock Operation. Part 1

· Risk Management on a Livestock Operation. Part 2

· Perennial Forages, Shrubs, and Trees. Part 1

· Perennial Forages, Shrubs, and Trees. Part 2

· Tool Kit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use

· Multispecies Grazing: A Primer on Diversity

· Soil Health and Adaptive Grazing with Dr. Allen Williams

Other Resources:

· High Hope Farm

Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Study Explores the Effects of Stress on Farmer Well-Being

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, North Carolina State University researcher Dr. Andrew Smolski and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan look at farmer well-being through the lens of a Southern SARE funded project.

The project, “Navigating Financial and Mental Health Crises,” is aimed at understanding how farmers are accessing resources that address farm finances, stress management, and farming practices, as well as how they have navigated through financial crises. It also shares the wisdom farmers say they have gained through the challenges they faced.

This podcast was produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. It also is funded by a grant from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Project 2019-38640-29878

Related ATTRA Resources:

· Farmer Well-Being

· Helping Farmers in Financial Crisis

Other Resources

· Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

· AgrAbility

Contact Justine Duncan at justind@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Tootie's Tempeh: Bringing Organic Plant-Based Proteins to Local Consumers and Institutions

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Chris Lent has a conversation with Sarah Speare of Tootie's Tempeh in Biddeford, Maine.

NCAT and two other organizations – Health Care Without Harm and the Plant Forward Future Project -- partnered to form a producer cohort in the Northeast to develop and market plant-based proteins to hospitals.

The project is funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, and Sarah is part of the producer cohort. She and Chris talk about sourcing beans from organic farms, using worker-owned cooperatives as a business model, manufacturing tempeh, and marketing plant-based proteins to both consumers and hospitals.

They also get into strategies for helping plant-based protein food companies thrive in the Northeast.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Chris Lent via email at chrisl@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.
You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

She's Raising Sheep: Minnesota Shepherd Janet McNally. Part 2

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0600

Minnesota shepherd Janet McNally has learned from facing challenges. In fact, dealing with a wolf pack bent on her flock as a food source was one of the factors that led her to regenerative grazing. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole talks with Janet about her successes and challenges, including those wolves, along with parasites, drought, tornadoes, wildfires, and Minnesota’s infamous winters.

ATTRA Resources:

· Livestock and Pasture

· She’s Raising Sheep. Janet McNally of Minnesota. Part 1

· She’s Raising Sheep: Indiana’s Denice Rackley

· She’s Raising Sheep: New Zealand Shepherd Bev Towbridge

· She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Becky Weed

· She’s Raising Sheep: California Shepherd Lani Estill

Outside Resources:

· Tamarack Lamb and Wool

· Graze

· Grassfed Exchange 2014 – Janet McNally

Contact Linda Poole via email at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Episode 271. Farmer Veteran Finds Passion in Horticulture Therapy

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, NCAT’s ATTRA Program Director, visits with Charley Jordan, a flower farmer in Tennessee. Charley is a military veteran and talks with Margo about his journey to farming.

Charley discusses his farm operation and the enterprises he has pursued, including how his military service and farming experience led him to horticulture therapy. Charley shares his passion for horticulture therapy, and for using agriculture to help others heal. Charley also discusses USDA programs and other resources he has used to help his farm.

ATTRA Resources:

· NCAT Armed to Farm NCAT Armed to Farm Facebook

· Veteran Resources

· Federal Conservation Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching

· Programs Focus on Farmer Well-Being

· Veterans Discuss USDA Programs

· From the Air Force to Alpacas

· High Tunnels and the NRCS

Other Resources:

· University of Tennessee Horticulture Therapy Program

· Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

· Farmer Veteran Coalition

· USDA Service Center Locator

· USDA Farm Service Agency

Contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Episode 270. Grazing with Wildlife in Mind. Part 2

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a conversation between Dr. Sam Fuhlendorf of Oklahoma State University and NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about using grazing to bolster, rather than unintentionally harm, desirable wildlife on farms and ranches.

Many regenerative ranchers use mob grazing – dense herds of livestock grazing a place for a very brief time before moving on – to increase grass production and improve soil health. It has been a successful strategy for graziers around the world, but often also affects bird populations and other wildlife.

Sam and Linda talk about the role of fire in range management and the positive effect it can have for wildlife. They also discuss applying range management strategies on smaller operations and regionally.

ATTRA Resources:

· Grazing with Wildlife in Mind. Part 1

· For the Love of the Wild. Livestock Pastures as Wildlife Habitat

Other Resources:

· The Prairie Project

· Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Publications

· Conservation of Pattern and Process: Developing an Alternative Paradigm of Rangeland Management

· Animals, Fences and Fires: Heterogeneity and Grassland Management

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Grazing with Wildlife in Mind. Part 1

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0600

Many regenerative ranchers use mob grazing – dense herds of livestock grazing a place for a very brief time before moving on – as a way to increase grass production and improve soil health. Graziers from across the globe have had success with this approach, but, hey, what about the wild things? Is it always true that what's good for the herd is good for the bird?

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first part of a conversation between Dr. Sam Fuhlendorf of Oklahoma State University and NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about using grazing to bolster, rather than unintentionally harm, desirable wildlife on farms and ranches.

In the next episode, Sam and Linda will talk about applying their strategies to smaller operations.

ATTRA Resources:

For the Love of the Wild. Livestock Pastures as Wildlife Habitat

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Managing Land, Cattle, and Quality of Life: Dr. Tina Cone, DVM

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we get acquainted with Dr. Tina Cone, a retired veterinarian in Berryville, Arkansas. In a conversation with NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey, Tina talks about the life she now leads during her second career -- raising beef cattle and practicing regenerative grazing.

Tina loves what she does and describes the family business and the joys and challenges of running a large cattle operation in the rugged terrain of the Ozarks. She talks about the satisfaction of seeing soil and pastures and cattle improve, and of children coming home to live and work in the business. Stewardship, legacy, and quality of life are themes that run throughout the conversation.

Contact Linda Coffey at lindac@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Related NCAT Resources:

Soil for Water

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

How Farmers Markets Do More than Sell Local Goods

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0600

Farmers markets are a key ingredient for connecting communities with locally grown foods, hand-made products, and value-added goods. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, markets stimulate local economies, increase access to healthy food, support communities, promote sustainability, and preserve farmland. Based on recent USDA Census data, farmers markets generated $2.4 billion in sales for America’s farmers.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology has released a new study detailing the economic impact of farmers markets in Montana, and it has launched a new website to connect markets, farmers, and communities. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders speaks with Maura Henn, NCAT’s Community Food Systems Specialist, about these new resources and unexpected ways farmers markets make a big impact.

Related NCAT Resources:

Montana Farmers Market Network

Related ATTRA Resources:

Farmers Markets

Contact Emilie Ritter Saunders and Maura Henn via email at emilies@ncat.org and maurah@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

The Hopes and Challenges of Crop Insurance

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, northern Montana organic farmer Doug Crabtree and NCAT Agriculture and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talk about one of their favorite topics -- crop insurance.

They discuss the hope for a reform of Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and about the particular challenges of crop insurance for a large, highly diverse sustainable production system like Doug’s operation, Vilicus Farms.

Doug has used WFRP for years, and WFRP had the potential to provide protection for the 20-plus field crops he grows on almost 12,000 acres. But his policy was declined by his crop insurance company because he didn’t provide what he says is an “onerous” amount of documentation.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Vilicus Farms

Contact Jeff Schahczenski via email at jeffs@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Meet NCAT. Molly Kirkham Talks Local Food and Farm to Cafeteria

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we get to know a new member of NCAT’s staff, Local Food Specialist Molly Kirkham. Molly tells her NCAT colleague, Community Foods System Specialist Maura Henn, about the chance encounter with a community garden that began her interest in local foods. She talks about her time with AmeriCorps at a food bank in Montana, her time farming, and how she came to work at NCAT.

Among other responsibilities at NCAT, Molly spearheads the Harvest of the Month program, and she emphasizes the importance of exposing young children to healthy local foods and how they are produced. In one touching case, she says, attendance at a school increased after the COVID-19 pandemic when the school began raising chickens.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Molly Kirkham and Maura Henn via email at mollyk@ncat.org and maurah@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other innovative sustainable agriculture programs.

Holistic Animal Health with Dr. Ann Wells, DVM

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Arkansas veterinarian Dr. Ann Wells talks with NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey about her experience raising healthy animals and helping other farmers do the same. She shares her journey from conventional veterinary practices to her philosophy of holistic animal health as well as practical strategies for keeping livestock healthy.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Related NCAT Resources:

Soil for Water

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Coffey via email at lindac@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Feeding the World: Localism, Ecological Resilience, and Farmer Agency

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0600

The widespread narrative on why we’re experiencing a food crisis is that it is because of high fuel and fertilizer prices, the disruption in market chains caused by the war in Ukraine, and lingering COVID impacts. But that’s not the whole story. When there is a food crisis, the common narrative is that increasing productivity is the answer and that global agribusinesses and global markets can meet these needs.

This “feed the world” narrative has been adopted by the media, businesses, and even American farmers who take pride in the idea that they are solving a world food crisis. But what we are seeing is not a food-shortage crisis. Rather, it is a structural problem of our food system that has resulted in high food prices.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart compare the “feed the world” narrative to another narrative centered around “food sovereignty” and discuss what farmers, organizations, and governments can do to enable communities to achieve that sovereignty.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart via email at ninap@ncat.org and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

She's Raising Sheep: Minnesota Shepherd Janet McNally

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0600

Janet McNally is a seasoned shepherd from Hinckley, Minnesota, and a master of regenerative grazing in a landscape beset with challenges for livestock. She pasture-raises sheep and cattle amidst huge packs of wolves, hidden legions of deadly internal parasites, rank swards of grass, and deep-snow winters. It’s common knowledge that “grass-based livestock production won’t work here” but in this episode of Voices from the Field -- part of ATTRA's "She's Raising Sheep" series -- Janet tells NCAT’s Linda Poole how she’s turned adversity into a rip-roaring success for her land, livestock, and life.

ATTRA Resources:

Outside Resources:

Contact Linda Poole via email at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Summer Grazing for Winter Stockpile

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0600

Winter feeding is one of the biggest expenses for most livestock operations. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Lee Rinehart and NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Justin Morris discuss strategies graziers can use to plan for winter stockpile during the summer grazing season.

Stockpiling is the practice of allowing forage to accumulate during a portion of the growing season so it can be grazed during the dormant period when forage isn’t growing.

In particular, Lee and Justin focus on stockpiling a portion of summer pastures to reduce the cost of feeding hay.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Lee Rinehart and Justin Morris via email at  lee@ncat.org and justinm@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Rising Fertilizer Costs. Look to History for Answers

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Specialists Nina Prater, Guy Ames, and Lee Rinehart explore the history of fertilizer use to understand how we got to an agricultural system that relies so heavily on synthetic rather than biological fertilizers. They discuss alternatives to this system and ways farmers can build soil health in order to require less synthetic fertilizer to maintain productivity.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Nina Prater, Lee Rinehart, and Guy Ames via email at ninap@ncat.org, lee@ncat.org, and guya@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Everything Old is New Again, Exploring Indigenous and Traditional Agriculture Methods, Part 2

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0600

Welcome back to a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan about traditional and indigenous farming techniques, both in their own families and in cultures around the world.

This episode of Voices from the Field is second of a two-part series. If you missed the first half of the discussion, you can find a link to it in the show notes accompanying this episode.

This week, Felicia and Justin talk about traditional methods of meat preservation, growing on relatively large acreages without relying on chemicals, and the myth that traditional and sustainable methods can’t generate good profits.

Related ATTRA Resources:

How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use

Everything Old is New Again, Exploring Indigenous and Traditional Agriculture Methods

Indigenous Perspectives on Soil and Water

Indigenous and Traditional Soil Health Practices

Other Resources:

Gather Stories. Food Sovereignty Films

Contact Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan via email at feliciab@ncat.org and justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.

Everything Old is New Again, Exploring Indigenous and Traditional Agriculture Methods

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan begin a conversation about farming techniques passed down through generations of indigenous people and how those practices have similarities around the world.
Felicia and Justin grew up in families with relatives who taught younger generations traditional practices, handing down traditional wisdom about growing crops, raising livestock, and harvesting what the land naturally provides.

Many people, they say, who want to farm are turning to sustainable practices that parallel those traditional ways.

Felicia and Justin cover a variety of topics, such as how older ways can be easier for new farmers, some traditional crops that cross cultures, and the importance of greens and herbs in traditional practices.

Don’t forget to come back for the second part of the conversation, which will include traditional meat preservation, growing without chemicals on larger acreages, and the myth that traditional methods can’t generate good profits.

ATTRA Resources:

Indigenous Perspectives on Soil and Water

Indigenous and Traditional Soil Health Practices

Other Resources:

Gather Stories. Food Sovereignty Films

Contact Felicia Bell and Justin Duncan via email at feliciab@ncat.org and justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Meet NCAT. Elise Haschke Talks Food, Farming, Climate, and ‘Moving at the Speed of Trust’

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet new NCAT employee Elise Haschke, who is leading the development of a new program, “Climate Smart Agriculture.” Elise explains the “transformative moments” in her life that led her from a love of science and nature to studying nutrition and food systems, improving nutrition in school lunch programs, running farmers markets, and helping the City of Austin, Texas, reduce its food-related greenhouse gas emissions.

ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Project Drawdown

Contact Mike Morris and Elise Haschke via email at mikem@ncat.org and eliseh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Organic Pioneer Michael O’Gorman on Vegetable Production for Profitability, Part 2

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the second part of a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis and Michael O’ Gorman, an organic farming pioneer and founder of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

Mike and Michael talk about mitigating risk, in tomato crops in particular and agricultural operations in general. Michael also describes why he thinks the current high price of fuel and its effect on transportation costs may help new, locally oriented farmers get into the business.

If you missed the first part of the discussion, you can find a link in the show notes for this podcast.

ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Farmer Veteran Coalition

Contact Mike Lewis via email at mikel@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Organic Pioneer Michael O’Gorman on Vegetable Production for Profitability

Wed, 25 May 2022 11:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first of a two-part conversation with organic farming pioneer and founder of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Michael O’Gorman. For 50 years, Michael has spearheaded some of the country’s most influential farming ventures. In this part of the conversation, he and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis talk about Michael’s history and how good planning and record keeping can help farmers cope with rising prices for inputs and supplies.

Be sure to come back for the second part of the conversation, when the discussion turns to what tomatoes can teach farmers about choosing new crops and how current energy situation may help new farmers get into the business.

ATTRA Resources:

Resource Guide to Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production

Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

Other Resources:

Farmer Veteran Coalition

Contact Mike Lewis via email at mikel@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Meet NCAT. Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez Connects Food, Agriculture, Community, and Health

Wed, 18 May 2022 12:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet up with one of NCAT’s newest sustainable agriculture specialists, Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez. In her conversation with colleague Robert Maggiani in the NCAT Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, Luz explains how she decided on a career in sustainable agriculture. After initially setting out to study medicine, her interests in chemistry and environmental sciences led her to see the connections between health and food, agriculture, and community.

Environmental scientists, Luz says, are the “doctors of the Earth.”

ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez and Robert Maggiani via email at luzb@ncat.org and robertm@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

How to Conserve Water at an Urban, Mountain Desert Farm

Fri, 13 May 2022 09:00:00 -0600

NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana, has a complicated growing climate to say the least. That makes John Wallace’s job as farm manager of NCAT’s Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program – or SIFT – challenging as well.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, John talks with NCAT Energy Analyst Victorian Smart about the SIFT farm’s strategies for conserving water. Since the farm is located in what is essentially a high mountain desert and relies on city water, those strategies are essential, as is increasing organic matter in its decomposed-granite soil.

ATTRA Resources:

Contact John Wallace and Victorian Smart via email at johnw@ncat.org and victorians@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Meet NCAT. Darron Gaus Has a Passion for Teaching Sustainable Ag

Wed, 11 May 2022 09:00:00 -0600

Darron Gaus grew up in Yoakum, Texas, a small agricultural town. After some other career moves, he made his way back to agriculture, including a stint as the farm manager at the San Antonio Food Bank.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Darron – NCAT’s newest Sustainable Agriculture Specialist -- tells fellow NCAT staffer Justin Duncan about his journey and the passion he feels for spreading the word about sustainable agriculture. Now that Darron has gone from using NCAT’s ATTRA sustainable-agriculture resources to being a staff member, he describes what he thinks he can contribute to ATTRA and some of what he hopes to learn.

ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

San Antonio Food Bank Farms

Contact Darron Gaus and Justin Duncan via email at darrong@ncat.org and justind@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

She’s Raising Sheep: California Shepherd Lani Estill

Wed, 04 May 2022 09:00:00 -0600

Lani Estill has built a good life and strong business around fine-wool sheep on the California-Nevada border. Far from a one-woman enterprise, running 3,000 Rambouillet sheep across a half-million acres of public and private lands involves Lani’s family and contract herders.

This episode of Voices from the Field is part of our “She’s Raising Sheep” series. Lani tells NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about her journey -- first raising sheep, then teaching kids about wool, followed by developing her successful wool business, Lani’s Lana.

Lani also details how an innovative partnership led by the nonprofit Fibershed brings together woolgrowers, climate scientists, fashion designers, and textile manufacturers to regenerate land and communities through the wild world of wool and shepherding.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Poole via email at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Practical Steps for Reducing Synthetic Fertilizer Use

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -0600

For more than 35 years, the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program has been helping farmers and ranchers grow nutritious food and operate successful businesses without synthetic fertilizer. Now, NCAT has released a new toolkit with trusted and practical resources for farmers who want to transition away from the use of synthetic fertilizers.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders speaks with Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart about the new toolkit, and the easy-to-follow steps for transitioning away from synthetic fertilizer use.

As you’re listening to this episode, check out the toolkit at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

ATTRA Resources:

Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use

Other Resources:

NRCS Cost Sharing Programs

Christine Jones: Liquid Carbon Pathway

Contact Emilie Ritter Saunders, Nina Prater, and Lee Rinehart via email at emiles@ncat.org, ninap@ncat.org and lee@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Meet NCAT. Dan Birnstihl Aims to Make Resources Easy to Use

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis introduces us to one of NCAT’s newest staff members, Dan Birnstihl.

To say Dan has wide-ranging experience is something of an understatement. He worked on fighter jets while in the Marines, studied sustainable agriculture and managed a farm. And he managed to squeeze in studying audio production in Nashville. He says he’s particularly interested in NCAT’s Armed to Farm training for veterans and in finding ways to use his multi-media skills to make NCAT’S ATTRA and other sustainable-agriculture resources even easier to use.

ATTRA Resources:

· Dan Birnstihl Profile

· Armed to Farm

· Farm Start Up

· Marketing and Business

Other Resources:

· Hip Peas Farm

Contact Mike Lewis and Dan Birnstihl via email at mikel@ncat.org and danb@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Winter Farmers Markets Can Bring Year-Round Customers

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Dietetics Intern Melissa Wyatt sits down with beginning farmer Rick Williams and his wife Kyra, to talk about strategies for selling their farm products through the winter.

The couple’s farm, Sugar Beet Row, is located in Butte, Montana -- often known as the icebox of the state. They also own Dancing Rainbow Natural Grocery, a small natural foods store in uptown Butte.

Rick and Kyra discuss how they integrated Sugar Beet Row’s production into Dancing Rainbow Natural Grocery and took part in Butte’s first winter farmers market a few months ago. They also explore strategies for improving production and sales next winter.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Maura Henn via email at maurah@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Becky Weed

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field continues ATTRA’s podcast series on women shepherds, “She’s Raising Sheep.” Becky Weed talks with NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about the role of sheep in “farming as if nature matters.” Becky and her husband Dave Tyler run 80 crossbred long-wool ewes in Montana’s Gallatin Valley, at 13 Mile Lamb and Wool Company. It’s a spectacular setting where shepherds face daunting challenges from large predators as well as from exurban development. Becky shares her path of learning from mistakes and through careful observation. Don’t miss Becky’s story of Max, a livestock guardian dog who dances with fawns! Becky says “adaptability is the name of the game” in helping her flock, land, business, and community prosper in times of unprecedented change.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Poole via email at lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

She’s Raising Sheep: New Zealand Shepherd Bev Trowbridge

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 11:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field introduces us to New Zealand shepherd Bev Trowbridge. It’s the latest in ATTRA’s five-part series “She’s Raising Sheep.” Trained as an agroecologist in the United Kingdom, Bev has raised heritage sheep and small-frame cattle on New Zealand’s North Island for two decades. Bev tells NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole that “sheep are the best biostimulants you could have” to improve soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. She talks candidly about shepherding for the good of nature and offers tips for success, including starting with site-adapted sheep (She raises majestic and meaty Wiltshire Horns.) and joining a network of like-minded people who can learn together. Listen in to discover what herding sheep and guiding airplanes have in common!

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

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Starting a Farm: Review and Planning

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is part of “Starting a Farm,” an occasional series from Rockiell Woods, who directs NCAT’s Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, director of horticulture at Up in Farms food hub in Jackson.

In this episode, their conversation focuses on the importance of reviewing the last growing season and planning the next, along with strategies and topics farmers should address in the process.

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She’s Raising Sheep: Indiana’s Denice Rackley

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 11:00:00 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first in a five-part series about women raising sheep. The She’s Raising Sheep series features practical tips for starting and growing a profitable sheep business, plus we’ll have some laughs along the way.

Indiana farmer Denice Rackley talks with NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole and shares her journey from a city girl with a dream of raising livestock, to a woman living that dream with her wooly flock and Border collie sidekicks on an Indiana farm.

Denice touches on how she chose which breeds to raise and shares insider tips for building a profitable sheep business. Listen, learn and have a couple of laughs as Denice talks about her experiences as a woman working alone in animal agriculture. Spoiler alert: You might want a good stockdog and another income while get started.

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Contact Linda Pooke via email at lindap@ncat.org. 

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Cover Crops and Their Impact on Soil Health, Crop Productivity

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis is joined by Shawn Lucas, an assistant professor of organic agriculture at Kentucky State University, in a conversation about cover crops.

In addition to specific crops, Mike and Shawn talk about the timing of planting cover crops and the benefits they can bring to a farmer’s bottom line. Shawn also describes his ongoing small ruminant research.

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Dr. Shawn Lucas Contact Information

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Understanding the Organic Certification Process

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s western regional office in Davis, California, speaks with Sean Feder, director of inspection operations for California Certified Organic Farmers.

Their wide-ranging conversation covers the certification process, the organic transition period, producers’ organic system plan, the cost of certification for small growers, climate change and other looming issues, as well as the future of organics.

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Contact Martin Guerena via email at marating@ncat.org.

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NCAT’s Soil for Water Project to Connect a Community of Regenerators

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0700

The National Center for Appropriate Technology has officially re-launched its Soil for Water project, opening access to the free, voluntary network to all commercial farmers, ranchers, and land managers across the United States. Soil for Water aims to connect farmers, ranchers, and land managers who are interested in land management practices that improve soil health, catch more water in soil, reduce erosion, sustain diverse plant and animal life, and filter out pollutants all while sustaining a profitable business.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders speaks with NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about the expanded Soil for Water effort and the new community-building tools we’ve launched to support this expanding network.

Connect with the Soil for Water community at SOILFORWATER.ORG.

Contact Emilie Ritter Saunders and Linda Poole via email at emilies@ncat.org and lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs

Meet NCAT’s sustainable agriculture team. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram!

Urban Agroforestry for Dryland Environments

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0700

Urban agroforestry is the intentional use of perennial trees and shrubs to improve the sustainability and resilience of urban farms and communities. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agroforestry Specialist Katherine Favor sits down with Christopher Marciello of Ecology Artisans — a regenerative landscape and design firm — to talk about urban agroforestry in dryland environments.  

While urban agroforestry can take many forms, there are several design principles to keep in mind, no matter what your system looks like. These include sustainable water harvesting, soil development, habitat development, regionally appropriate plant species, and appropriately scaled food production. Chris and Katherine discuss how these design principles can be applied to create productive and regenerative urban agroforestry systems in arid areas.   

Related ATTRA Resources: 

Agroforestry 

Meet NCAT: Katherine Favor Says Agroforestry Can Plant the Seeds of Sustainability  

Silvopasture 101 

Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 1  

Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 2 

Opportunities in Agroforestry 

Agroforestry: An Overview  

Other Resources: 

Ecology Artisans 

Community Food Forests  

Introduction to Agroforestry 

Olga Romanova and Doctor Lovell – Urban Agriculture Food Safety Considerations 

Sustainable Community Food Landscapes Sharing Successes 

Desert-Adapted Nurse Plants and Agaves in Climate Friendly Perennial Polycultures 

Indoor and Outdoor Forest Gardens 

Southwest Agroforestry Action Network 

Urban Agroforestry and Its Potential Integration into City Planning Efforts 

Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. 

Meet NCAT’s sustainable agriculture team. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! &nb

Good Things Come in Small Packages: A Look at Small-Frame Cattle

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0700

Cattle come in all sizes, and small cattle may be just right for a small or start-up farm, or they can offer an efficient add-on farm enterprise. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma raises Aberdeen Angus, and NCAT Southeast Regional Office Director Margo Hale raises Belted Galloway.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Tracy and Margo discuss small cattle, ranging from miniature breeds to small-statured individuals of larger breeds. They explain the benefits of small-frame cattle and point out some of the challenges involved in raising, processing, and marketing less-common breeds.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Working with Your Meat Processor

Organic and Grass-Finished Beef Cattle Production

Soil Health and Livestock: ATTRA Resources

Contact Tracy Mumma and Margo Hale via email at tracym@ncat.org and margoh@ncat.org.

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Producción Avícola de Pastoreo

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:05:18 -0700

En este podcast, Edgar Mendoza Samaniego de Sol Seeker Farm habla con Ann Baier, especialista en agricultura sostenible de NCAT, sobre la producción de aves de pastoreo.

Edgar describe su producción en pastoreo de huevos y carne. El crecimiento de su negocio ha pasado por varias etapas. Se ha aprendido mucho de otros agricultores en su región, la Asociación Americana de Productores Avícolas de Pastoreo (APPPA.org por sus siglas en ingles), y con la asesoría de Kitchen Table Advisors.

Después de cambiarse de dos ranchos alquilados, consiguieron tierra propia donde están ahora. La alimentación de sus aves (gallinas y pollos, patos y pavos), la mano de obra, y los mercados (Farmers Markets, tiendas, un CSA, y ventas en línea) son factores importantes en su crecimiento.

Para proteger las aves de los depredadores, dependen de perros guardianes. Invirtieron en maquinaria para lavar huevos, y tomaron la decisión de llevar su producción de aves de carne a una planta procesadora. La cría de aves en pastoreo puede ser un negocio lucrativo siempre y cuándo se planifique con anticipación de los desafíos y oportunidades.

El éxito y la sostenibilidad de una empresa avícola se manifiesta no solo en los ingresos, sino también en la salud y bienestar de la tierra, las aves, y los agricultores y sus familias.

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Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org

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NCAT Facebook

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Oficina del suroeste: Website / Facebook

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Oficina sureste: Website / Facebook

Oficina del noreste: Website / Facebook

What Your Stockdog Can Teach You About Livestock

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:05:18 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Indiana shepherd and dog trainer Denice Rackley talks with Linda Poole, a regenerative grazing specialist with NCAT, about using herding dogs to handle livestock. A shepherd for more than 25 years, Denice handles a sizeable flock with only the help of her border collies. In this interview, Denice shares a wealth of information useful to listeners wondering whether a stockdog might be right for their farm or ranch.

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Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Programs Focus on Farmer Well-Being

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 17:05:18 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, NCAT’s Southeast Regional Director and Director of NCAT’s Armed to Farm Program, visits with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist and farmer veteran Mike Lewis. Mike and his family operate a diversified farm in Southeast Kentucky.

Mike talks about the farm’s enterprises and how USDA programs have helped him meet his farm goals.

Mike also discusses two programs — AgrAbility and the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) — that address the physical and mental needs of many farmers.

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Contact Margo Hale and Mike Lewis via email at margoh@ncat.org and mikel@ncat.org.

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Silvopasture 101

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:05:18 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor sits down with silvopasture specialist Delie Wilkens to talk about the basics of silvopasture, an agroforestry practice integrating trees, forage, and the grazing of livestock.

Delie currently serves as the program analyst for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, a nonprofit organization that works to advance the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. She has been working in forestry, agroforestry, and sustainable agriculture for many years, and has researched silvopasture adoption and best practices in the Southeast.

Less than one percent of farms in the U.S. use silvopasture, Delie says, although she sees it gaining popularity in the future.

Katherine and Delie discuss the benefits, applications, and social considerations surrounding silvopasture adoption in the U.S. Delie also shares advice for designing, implementing, and managing silvopasture systems as well as things to keep in mind before beginning a silvopasture enterprise.

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Contact Katherine Favor via email at Katherinef@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

State Soil Health Programs: From the Ground Up in Montana

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:05:18 -0700

Twenty-nine states have, or are now developing, state soil health initiatives or coalitions. How is Montana approaching soil health at the statewide level, and how can Montanans participate?

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Mike Morris, NCAT’s Southwest Regional Director, talks with Cole Mannix, who facilitates the developing Montana Soil Outreach effort, and NRCS Montana Soil Health Specialist Marni Thompson along with NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about soil health programs in and beyond Montana.

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Contact Mike Morris and Linda Poole via email at mikem@ncat.org and lindap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Aplicando prácticas de conservación a un jardín

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:05:18 -0700

Jose Robles es un ex agricultor de almendras que comparte su experiencia aplicando prácticas de conservación a su huerta. Explica porque empezó a aplicar compost y sembrar cultivos de cobertura cuando sus vecinos no lo hacían. También habla sobre su nueva transición en su nuevo rancho con ideas de producir ganado y también aplicar prácticas de conservación.

Para obtener más información sobre este tema, puede contactar a Martin Guerena directamente: marting@ncat.org.

Llame a la línea de “ATTRA en Español” con cualquier pregunta sobre agricultura sostenible al 800 411-3222 o por correo electrónico a marting@ncat.org o omarr@ncat.org. Nuestros especialistas pueden ayudarle con una amplia gama de temas, inclusivamente: planificación de fincas, manejo de plagas, producción hortícola, ganadería, suelos, acuicultura, y mucho más.

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Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org

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Granja SIFT de NCAT SITIO Website

Oficina del suroeste: Website / Facebook

Oficina occidental: Website / Facebook

Oficina de Rocky Mountain West: Website / Facebook

Oficina de los Estados del Golfo: Website / Facebook

Oficina sureste: Website / Facebook

Oficina del noreste: Website / Facebook

Conservation Hedgerows at Terranova Ranch

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:05:18 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor heads to Terranova Ranch in the central San Joaquin Valley of California to talk about conservation hedgerows with Don Cameron, the ranch’s general manager and vice president.

Terranova Ranch is dedicated to producing over 25 premium-quality crops as effectively, productively, and sustainably as possible. They have implemented a wide variety of conservation and regenerative agriculture practices, including sustainable irrigation practices and conservation hedgerows.

Learn about the benefits and challenges of hedgerows, along with do’s and don'ts for hedgerow design and installation.

Since planting these hedgerows just two years ago, Don has seen a wide variety of positive changes at the ranch, including increased biodiversity, more beneficial insects and pollinators, reduced erosion, and a more aesthetically pleasing farmscape.

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Terranova Ranch

Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website /

Leave No Trace Farming

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:05:18 -0700

Damian Valdez and Jamie Williamson run Lighthouse Herb’n Farm, an organic herb, tea, medicinal plant, and dye-plant operation in eastern San Diego. The farm is located on what is considered Luiseño Payómkawichum native land.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jamie and Damian talk with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor about their ethic of "leave no trace" -- how they farm organically in San Diego's harsh desert climate in a way that honors this sacred native land, and ensures that it is kept intact for generations to come.

For Jamie and Damian, "leave no trace" farming means farming in a way that honors the past while preserving the future.

It involves knowing your landscape and its limitations; tailoring every farming practice to the specifics of your growing context; choosing crops that are appropriate to your growing context; keeping your soil covered and disturbing it as little as possible; creating self-regulating systems rather than relying on inputs; using only natural principles of biomimicry and succession to alter your landscape; seed saving; and always attempting to leave the land better than you found it.

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Lighthouse Herb’n Farm

Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office:

NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse Aims to Make Solar More Accessible to Land Managers

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:05:18 -0700

The National Center for Appropriate Technology has launched America’s first AgriSolar Clearinghouse to connect farmers, ranchers, land managers, solar developers, and researchers with trusted, practical information to increase the co-location of solar and agriculture.

In less than a decade, solar installations are expected to cover more than 3 million acres of the United States, creating a big opportunity to pair solar with agricultural land to produce food, conserve ecosystems, create renewable energy, increase pollinator habitat, and maximize farm revenue.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders speaks with Energy Programs Director Stacie Peterson, Phd., about how the AgriSolar Clearinghouse aims to make solar more accessible to land managers looking to make the most out of their land, diversify their revenue, and produce renewable energy.

Visit the new resource at AGRISOLARCLEARINGHOUSE.ORG

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Contact Stacie Peterson and Emilie Ritter Saunders via email at staciep@ncat.org and emilies@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Encontrando tierra para trabajar. Seis maneras de asegurar tierra agrícola

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:05:18 -0700

En este episodio de Voces del Campo, Martin Guerena, especialista en agricultura sostenible de NCAT, es entrevistado por Pepe Reyes de Radio El Gallito de Bakersfield, California, sobre cómo encontrar tierras agrícolas y cómo asegurarla para alquiler, arrendamiento o compra. Martin trabaja en la Oficina Regional Occidental de NCAT en Davis, California.

Para obtener más información sobre este tema, puede ponerse en contacto con Martin Guerena directamente en marting@ncat.org

Llame a la línea de "ATTRA en Español" con cualquier pregunta sobre agricultura sostenible al 800 411-3222 o por correo electrónico a marting@ncat.org o omarr@ncat.org. Nuestros especialistas pueden ayudarle con una amplia gama de temas, inclusivamente: planificación de fincas, manejo de plagas, producción hortícola, ganadería, suelos, acuicultura, y mucho más.

Recursos de ATTRA

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

NCAT Facebook

Granja SIFT de NCAT SITIO Website

Oficina del suroeste: Website / Facebook

Oficina occidental: Website / Facebook

Oficina de Rocky Mountain West: Website / Facebook

Oficina de los Estados del Golfo: Website / Facebook

Oficina sureste: Website / Facebook

Oficina del noreste: Website / Facebook

Closer Look at Hair Sheep

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:05:18 -0700

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, NCAT'S Southeast Regional Director, and NCAT Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma discuss considerations in raising hair sheep. Both have raised hair sheep but in very different climates – Tracy in Montana and Margo in Arkansas.

Because hair sheep are less common than wool sheep in many part of the country, Margo and Tracy begin by explaining what hair sheep are and go on to discuss some of the benefits of hair sheep as well as some potential pitfalls to be aware of when deciding whether a hair sheep enterprise is right for your farm.

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Contact Margo Hale and Tracy Mumma via email at margoh@ncat.org and tracym@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website /

Meet NCAT. Chris Lent aims to help farmers be resilient

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 18:05:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater introduces us to one of NCAT's newest staff members, Chris Lent.

Actually, it is more of a reintroduction since Chris worked at NCAT several years ago. He took a break when his son was born, and now he's back as a sustainable agriculture specialist working from northeast Pennsylvania with NCAT's Northeast Regional Office.

Chris has wide-ranging experience, from organic agriculture and high tunnel production to solar power and business planning. He and Nina talk about his journey in agriculture and the projects he'll be taking on with NCAT.

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Contact Nina Prater and Chris Lent via email at ninap@ncat.org and chrisl@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website /

Organic Pulse Production is Timeless in Montana

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:05:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talks about the more than 30 year history of the development of the organic pulse and legume industry in Montana and beyond.

His conversation is with David Oien, founding farmer and CEO of Timeless Foods based in Ulm, Montana. David was on the forefront of the sustainable agriculture movement, and his story, along with the other founders of what will become Timeless Foods, is the subject of the popular book Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America.

Timeless Foods now represents dozens of organic farmers growing gourmet legumes and heirloom grains using biologically diverse organic farm systems. Under the brand Timeless Natural Food, this "lentil underground" has grown into a million-dollar enterprise that sells to hundreds of independent natural foods stores and a host of renowned restaurants worldwide.

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Contact Jeff Schahczenski via email at jeffsl@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website /

The Past, Present, and Future of the Early Snyder Farm

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:05:18 -0600

Jane Harrod and her family operate a multi-generational farm in Clays Ferry, Kentucky. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT specialist Mike Lewis sits down with Jane to talk about the history of her family land and how a highway divided the land and changed the farm's economic outlook.

A well-known Kentucky native-species specialist, Jane talks about her family's vision for the future of their farm using an ecologically driven decision-making process. An early adopter of hemp production in Kentucky, Jane also discusses some of the challenges and successes she has had producing this crop.

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Early Bird CDB

Contact Mike Lewis via email at mikel@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

From the Air Force to Alpacas

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 18:05:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT's Southeast Regional Director and Director of NCAT's Armed to Farm Program Margo Hale, talks with Alvina, an Air Force Reservist who owns River Hill Ranch in Richmond, Kentucky.

Alvina Maynard credits a commercial she happened to see on television while staying in in a hotel with inspiring her to raise alpacas.

Alvina talks about her military background, her farming enterprises, and how her operation has grown. She also shares her experience accessing various USDA programs, including the Value-Added Producer Grant and EQIP. Alvina discusses the programs and services she has utilized, how those programs have helped her reach her farm goals, and tips for veterans and other farmers as they navigate USDA programs.

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Contact Margo Hale via email at margoh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also

Do Cover Crops Steal Water? Part 2

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 18:05:18 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field, continues the discussion between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell and Dr. Alexis Racelis of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley about the use of cover crops in semi-arid subtropical environments.

While cover crops are heralded as a regenerative agriculture tool to improve soil health, integrating cover crops into farming systems can be challenging in drier climates. Colin and Dr. Racelis discuss whether cover crops even can be detrimental in some scenarios and steal water from cash crops.

In particular, the conversation centers on the Subtropical Soil Health Initiative, a research partnership between NCAT and UTRGV to address soil health challenges in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

While cover crops are heralded as a regenerative agriculture tool to improve soil health, in drier climates integrating cover crops into farming systems can be challenging. Colin and Dr. Racelis discuss whether cover crops even can be detrimental in some scenarios and steal water from cash crops.

If you missed the first part of the conversation, find the link in the notes below or follow this link.

Dr. Racelis is an associate professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Biology and the School for Earth, Environmental, and Marine Science at UTRGV. He leads the Agroecology and Resilient Food Systems program, which focuses on participatory research and education in restorative agriculture, agroecology, soil conservation and management, and food and farm justice.

Dr. Racelis also is a board member of NCAT and leads the UTRGV team on the NCAT Subtropical Soil Health Initiative.

This podcast was produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant, Grant #69-3A75-17-281. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Related ATTRA Resources:

NCAT Soil for Water Project
NCAT is scaling up its Soil for Water project to include livestock producers and farmers across eight states.Soil for Water supports a network of farmers and ranchers who are taking steps to catch and hold more water in the soil through land management practices that improve soil health, reduce erosion, sustain diverse plant and animal life, and filter out pollutants.The project grew out of persistent droughts, which are straining agricultural producers across the country. It combines the use of appropriate technology, peer-to-peer learning, and on-farm monitoring to encourage the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices.The Soil for Water project is about building lasting infrastructure that will make farms, ranches and communities more resilient in the face of persistent drought

Do Cover Crops Steal Water? Part 1

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 12:05:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell sits down with Dr. Alexis Racelis of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to discuss the use of cover crops in semi-arid subtropical environments.

In particular, the conversation centers on the Subtropical Soil Health Initiative, a research partnership between NCAT and UTRGV to address soil health challenges in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Racelis also is a board member of NCAT and leads the UTRGV team on the NCAT Subtropical Soil Health Initiative.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Agroecology and Resilient Food Systems Program

Contact Katherine Favor and Omar Rodriguez via email at Katherinef@ncat.org and omarr@ncat.org

Please complete a

Meet NCAT: Katherine Favor says agroforestry can plant the seeds of sustainability

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez introduces Katherine Favor, NCAT's newest specialist at its Western Regional Office in Davis, California.

Katherine is a self-identified agroforestry nerd, perennial plant enthusiast, wine farmer, and yerba maté lover. She has worked on, designed, consulted for, and managed regenerative agriculture systems for more than 10 years. Her love of viticulture and agroforestry took her from Southern California to Montana, Paraguay, and Argentina before she finally ended up in Northern California at NCAT.

She is passionate about the intersection of natural resources conservation, food security, and community well-being, and she has specialized experience in agroforestry and regenerative viticulture. When she's not digging her hands in the dirt, you can find her hiking, floating in the ocean, painting, or fermenting something.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services Chapter 4: Below-Ground Services in Vineyard Agroforestry Systems.

Contact Katherine Favor and Omar Rodriguez via email at Katherinef@ncat.org and omarr@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Grazing Management Strategies for Drought

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma and Regenerative Livestock Specialist Justin Morris discuss how important it is to adapt livestock grazing strategies to drought conditions. They talk about the need to develop a drought plan, re-evaluate stocking rates, and invest in the future of your forage through careful management when emerging from a drought.

Related ATTRA Resources:

NCAT Soil for Water Project
NCAT is scaling up its Soil for Water project to include livestock producers and farmers across eight states.

Soil for Water supports a network of farmers and ranchers who are taking steps to catch and hold more water in the soil through land management practices that improve soil health, reduce erosion, sustain diverse plant and animal life, and filter out pollutants.

The project grew out of persistent droughts, which are straining agricultural producers across the country. It combines the use of appropriate technology, peer-to-peer learning, and on-farm monitoring to encourage the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices.

The Soil for Water project is about building lasting infrastructure that will make farms, ranches and communities more resilient in the face of persistent drought and other natural disasters across the eight-state project region.

Learn more at soilforwater.org.

Contact Tracy Mumma and Justin Morris via email at tracym@ncat.org and justinm@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website /

Soil Health: the Land Core Approach to Climate Mitigation

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talks with Aria McLauchlan and Harley Cross about how to measure the impact that soil health practices can have in migrating the impacts of weather and climate disruption.

Aria and Harley are co-founders of Land Core, a non-profit organization advancing soil health policies and programs that create value for farmers, businesses, and communities. Land Core guided the successful passage of language supporting soil health at the USDA in both the House and Senate in 2019 and built a broad coalition that helped secure more than $50 million in federal investment for soil health in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Aria is Land Core's executive director, and she previously spent a decade working in communications, business development, and marketing. Harley is a serial entrepreneur with a background in food manufacturing, supply chains, and brand management. They live in Grass Valley in northern California.

NCAT Soil for Water Project
NCAT is scaling up its Soil for Water project to include livestock producers and farmers across eight states.

Learn more at soilforwater.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources

Land Core

Contact Jeff Schahczenski via email at jeffs@ncat.org.

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Embracing Opportunities, Even in a Pandemic

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis sits down with Wayne Riley, executive director of the Laurel County African American Heritage Center in London, Kentucky, to discuss his work in the community, including the challenges and benefits that have arisen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Laurel County African American Heritage Center is a non-profit founded in 2004 to preserve African American history in Laurel County, Kentucky, and devoted to helping those in the area increase their self-reliance and take greater control of the social and financial aspects of their lives. The heritage center has grown in mission and operations since that time. Today, it operates the center, a working and educational farm, a commercial kitchen, and a farmers market.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources

Contact Mike Lewis via email at mikel@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

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Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Flexibility in an Unexpected Growing Season

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, two agriculture specialists who work out of NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, talk about responding to the unexpectedly dry and hot conditions of this year's growing season.

NCAT's Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program (SIFT) operates a high-altitude urban demonstration farm in Butte. Farm manager John Wallace and NCAT Rocky Mountain West Regional Director Andrew Coggins give an update on the changes in crops, pest management, and growing strategies the season brought, and their efforts to work with, not against, the changes.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Contact Andrew Coggins and John Wallace via email at andrewc@ncat.org and johnw@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Sheep and the Sun: Solar Grazing with Lexie Hain

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:35:18 -0600

This week's episode of Voices from the Field takes a look at solar grazing, the practice of using livestock to manage the vegetation under solar panels. Sheep are widely considered the best animal for solar grazing, and they are being used in many countries with great success.

National Center for Appropriate Technology Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey talks with Lexie Hain, a co-founder of the American Solar Grazing Association. Lexie, who began grazing sheep at solar arrays in 2016, talks about how she began solar grazing and offers practical tips for anyone who is considering the practice.

With agricultural land in high demand and requirements to expand renewable energy, using land for agriculture and energy at the same time is better for the environment, the solar company, the farmers, and the sheep.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Sheep and Goats

Other Resources:

Contact Linda Coffey via email at lindac@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

'Urban Ag is People Taking Care of People'

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we travel to Jackson, Mississippi, for a discussion of urban agriculture with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell and Otis Wright, an urban farm manager and consultant. Otis talks about his experience with urban agriculture, as well as the ways he has found that urban agriculture can benefit communities beyond providing nutritious food.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Urban and Community Agriculture

Other Resources:

Contact Felicia Bell via email at feliciab@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Attracting and Protecting Pollinators

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis sits down with Dr. Tom Webster from Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Services to talk about the role pollinators play in farm ecosystems, how to attract more pollinators, and how to protect them when they arrive. It all comes down to planning, and Dr. Webster offers some great strategies for increasing pollinator health and diversity on your farm.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Contact Mike Lewis via email at mikel@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Using Drones in Agriculture

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell talks with Matt Kutugata about using drones in agriculture. Before Matt started pursuing his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Texas A&M, he worked with Colin and the rest of NCAT's Southwest Regional office team on the Subtropical Soil Health Initiative as a graduate researcher at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.

Much of Matt's research has been driven by data gathered by drones. He and Colin discuss ways drones increasingly are being used in agriculture, including scouting agricultural operations and using multispectral cameras to monitor cover crops.

This podcast was produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. This podcast was also made possible in part by funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant #69-3A75-17-281. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Colin Mitchell via email at colinm@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

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You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office:

Forty Years Later, Mr. Burch is Back on the Farm

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Asha Tillman shares the story of James Burch, who left Carroll County, Mississippi, for the military and other pursuits some 40 years ago. Now, he has returned to pursue his dream of starting Coleman's Farm. As a beginning farmer, Mr. Burch is full of plans and advice for other beginning farmer veterans.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Asha Tillman via email at ashat@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office:

Native Plants Offer More Than Beauty to the Farmscape

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 16:35:18 -0600

Native plants bring both beauty and resilience to the farmscape. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Eric Fuselier, an environmental project manager at the Arkansas and Oklahoma civil engineering firm Crafton Tull, tells the story of native plants and the benefits they offer in a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater.

Farmers can use native plants in many creative ways to provide such benefits as biological pest control, bioremediation, and erosion control. Eric and Nina also talk about different ways farmers can create profitable enterprises with native plants, such as native forage species for livestock, native food crops, native cut flower production, and herbal medicines.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Other Resources:

Contact Nina Prater via email at ninap@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

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Harnessing the Power of Worms in Composting

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:35:18 -0600

Not all superheroes wear capes, that includes worms. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Nina Prater, sustainable agriculture specialist in the NCAT Southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Matt Casteel, owner of Wurmworks, a composting business in Jackson, Mississippi.

The two take a closer look at worms as composting superheroes. Casteel explains how to identify "good" compost, the ins-and-outs of worm composting, why compost is so good for soil health, and how composting can put food waste to good use.

Other Resources:
wurmworks
Teaming with Microbes
Texas Worm Ranch
The Worm Farmer's Handbook
Dr. Norman Arancon, University Hawaii
Soil Food Web
Chris Trump (Korean) Natural Farming
The Good Food Revolution
aWorms Eat My Garbage

Labs that perform compost bioassay:
Small Labs -
https://catalystbioamendments.com
https://www.crescivesoil.org/
Big Labs -
https://midwestbiosystems.com/services/
https://www.blinc.com/services/agriculture-analysis/manure-and-compost-analysis
Sources for Worms:
http://txwormranch.com/
https://www.texaswormfarm.com/
https://www.wormcastings.biz/
https://unclejimswormfarm.com/

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Meet NCAT: Linda Poole Explains There's No Cookbook for Regenerative Grazing but Networks are a Key Ingredient

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:35:18 -0600

In this episode, you can make the acquaintance of NCAT's new Regenerative Grazing Specialist, Linda Poole. Linda's love of working wildlands began with riding horseback at her family's Eastern Washington ranch and led to a Master of Science degree in wildlife ecology from Oregon State University. She managed The Nature Conservancy's 60,000-acre Matador Grassbank in Montana and raises sheep her own homestead in Malta, Montana. Linda has developed a wealth of experience that will be a great contribution to NCAT's sustainable-agriculture resources. Linda's NCAT colleague, the other Linda - Linda Coffey of NCAT's Arkansas office – welcomes her new co-worker. They talk about the work Linda will be doing for NCAT, as well as her perspectives on adaptive grazing management, learning from mistakes, and the resilience in natural systems.

Contact Linda Poole and Linda Coffey directly via email at lindap@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

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Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Meet NCAT: Justin Morris' Experience Deepens our Regenerative Agriculture Resources

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:27:18 -0600

Regenerative Livestock Specialist Justin Morris may be new to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, but he's no stranger to using grazing as a tool to improve pasture quality and soil health. In this interview with NCAT Program Specialist Tracy Mumma, Justin explains how he first became interested in managing grazing to improve the land resource and discusses how livestock producers can start using grazing as a tool. He goes on to describe what regenerative agriculture means to him and the positive effect that it can have on soil health, environmental health, and producer well-being.

Contact Justin Morris and Tracy Mumma directly via email at justinm@ncat.org and tracym@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

What to Consider When Choosing U-Pick Crops

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, National Center for Appropriate Technology Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena speaks with Robert Ramming to learn more about Robert's U-pick operation near Woodland, California. Robert's Pacific Star Gardens raises apricots, berries, melons, tomatoes, and eggs. It sells from a roadside stand and U-pick fields.

Robert explains his crop choices for U-pick and why blackberries are great, and vegetables are not-so-good. He and Martin dive into pricing, insurance, choosing a location, and the importance of building customer loyalty. Plus, Robert discusses the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on folks' attitude toward their food.

Other Resources
Pacific Star Gardens
How to Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres

Contact Martin Guerena directly via email at marting@ncat.org and Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

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Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Meet NCAT: Veteran Farmer Mike Lewis Brings Diverse Expertise to Our Team

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, National Center for Appropriate Technology Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale talks with Mike Lewis, a new NCAT sustainable agriculture specialist. From his Kentucky farm, Mike explains that farming is part of his DNA. Mike is a military veteran who founded Growing Warriors, a veteran-oriented food security project. In addition, Mike became the first federally permitted hemp farmer in the U.S. since Prohibition. Listen to his conversation with Margo Hale to learn more about his background, what brought him to NCAT, and the expertise he'll bring to the sustainable farmers and ranchers we serve.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Mike Lewis Biography
Armed to Farm

Other Resources
Community Farm Alliance

You can contact Mike Lewis directly via email at mikel@ncat.org and Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Inoculating Legume Cover Crops

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell who works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, sits down with Stephanie Kasper, a biology research associate at University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, to discuss ways to ensure successful nodulation of legume cover crops. In a crop rotation, legume cover crops have the potential to add bioavailable nitrogen to the soil for the next crop and to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.

Colin and Stephanie discuss how to inoculate cover crops, legume cover crop planting tips, and troubleshooting potential causes of nodulation failure in leguminous cover crops.

This podcast is produced through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. Colin has worked with Stephanie on NCAT's Subtropical Soil Health Initiative, funded by a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant.

Other Resources
Abiotic and Biotic Limitations to Nodulation by Leguminous Cover Crops in South Texas

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly via email at colinm@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / F

Feed Our Future: Local Food through School Purchasing Cooperatives

Thu, 20 May 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Tammy Howard, a National Center for Appropriate Technology sustainable agriculture specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office, talks with Alison Patrick of the Feed our Future initiative, based in northeast Ohio.

Tammy and Alison talk about the Feed our Future Farm to School pilot program, which led to the development of a school purchasing cooperative and a wide expansion of local produce purchasing. She also discusses the important role that food hubs have played in providing the quantity and consistency that school require.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

Other Resources
Feed Our Future

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at tammyh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

Supporting Beginning Farmers Market Vendors

Fri, 14 May 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Maura Henn, a community food system specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Western Regional Office in Butte, Montana, talks with representatives of the Oregon Farmers Market Association.

They are Kelly Crane, OFMA's executive director; Amanda Cross, OFMA's programs manager; and Mallory Rahe, PhD, assistant extension professor of Agriculture and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri.

The discussion centers on OFMA's beginning vendor support network and the ways OFMA aids beginning vendors.

Other Resources
Oregon Farmers Markets Association
Farmers Market Coalition

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at karak@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

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Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Ag Strategies for Ogallala Aquifer. Part 2

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:27:18 -0600

This episode is the second of a two-part discussion with Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Chris Grotegut of Hereford, Texas, which is located in the Texas Panhandle.

Chris is a veterinarian, farmer, and stockman, as well as a cutting-edge producer of organic crops and livestock. Hereford has rich agricultural history that is fueled by the waters of Ogallala Aquifer, which has been in perilous decline over the past hundred years as land has been plowed for row cropping and cattle feedlots. This decline is a serious threat to the longevity of many producers in the Texas Panhandle and beyond.

In this podcast series, Chris and Kara discuss the success he has had in shifting his management and marketing strategies to protect the playas that recharge the Ogallala Aquifer and the water future of the region for the next generation of agriculture producers.

This episode focuses on the obstacles and opportunities Chris has seen as he changed his practices. The first half of the discussion was centered on the history of the Ogallala Aquifer and Chris' strategies for using playas to help recharge the aquifer. The link to that episode is included in the notes below.

Other Resources
Ogallala Commons
No-till

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at karak@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office:

Ag Strategies for Ogallala Aquifer. Part 1

Wed, 12 May 2021 14:27:18 -0600

This episode is the first of a two-part discussion with Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Chris Grotegut of Hereford, Texas, which is located in the Texas Panhandle.

This episode focuses on the history of the Ogallala Aquifer and Chris' strategies for using playas to help recharge the aquifer. Check back for Part 2, which will concentrate on the obstacles and opportunities Chris has seen as he changed his practices.

Other Resources
Ogallala Commons
No-till

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at karak@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office:

Practicas de Agricultura Regenerativa

Wed, 05 May 2021 14:27:18 -0600

Entrevista en Radio Bilingüe del especialista en agricultura sostenible Martin Guerena del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Apropiada sobre algunas prácticas que promueven la salud y fertilidad del suelo.

Recursos de ATTRA
Recursos en Español
El Manejo Sostenible del Suelo
Los Cinco Principios de la Salud del Suelo
Suelos Salinos y Sódicos
Solarización y Biosolarización del Suelo
Hojas de Datos: Compost

Para obtener más información sobre este tema, puede ponerse en contacto con Martin Guerena directamente en marting@ncat.org

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

NCAT Facebook

Granja SIFT de NCAT SITIO Website

Oficina del suroeste: Website / Facebook

Oficina occidental: Website / Facebook

Oficina de Rocky Mountain West: Website / Facebook

Oficina de los Estados del Golfo: Website / Facebook

Oficina sureste: Website / Facebook

Oficina del noreste: Website / Facebook

Fiery Ginger Farm and Natomas School: Why Farm to School?

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:27:18 -0600

This episode of Voices from the Field is a the second part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District.

The conversation begins with Vince asking Hope and Vince what inspires them to be involved in farm-to-school markets.

In the first part of the discussion, Hope and Vince talk about ways the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic.

The link to that discussion is in the notes accompanying this podcast.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

Schools and Covid

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 14:27:18 -0600

This episode is a the first part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District. Hope and Vince discuss how the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic. Let's listen.

This is a panel discussion in the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop. In this panel, Ben Thomas of CA Alliance of Family Farms talks with Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farms and Vince Caguin, of Natomas Unified School District to ask them about how their relationship has evolved and how Fiery Ginger is trying to maintain school sales through the pandemic.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Mortality Composting

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, director of NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana, talks with Cora Helm, owner and operator of LC Compost Solutions. The business, located near Helena, Montana, includes what is called "mortality composting," which Cora sees as method for organic waste reduction and a sustainable alternative to land-filling, burial, and cremation for livestock and other deceased animal companions.

Related ATTRA Resources
Soils and Compost

Other Resources
LC Compost Solutions

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

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Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Beekeeping and Agritourism

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:27:18 -0600

Multiple income streams can help farmers creatively expand their on-farm business. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan talks with Edward Morgan, Jr., about how he did just that with by turning a new beekeeping operation into an agritourism experience.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast

Related ATTRA Resources:

Beekeeping for Beginners

Agritourism for Beginners

Roots to Revenue: Making Agritourism Work for Your Farm

Other Resources

Bean's Bees and Honey

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Anthony Youth Farm: State Partnerships for School Markets

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jenileigh Harris, a National Farm to School Network program associate, talks with Alma Maquitico from Anthony Youth Farm in southern New Mexico.

Anthony Youth Farm is a small organic farm that provides farming and training opportunities for rural and low-income youth and sells its products to schools through a purchasing cooperative program facilitated by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Jenileigh and Alma talk about Alma's experience working with organizations and entities across the state to collaboratively develop state-run programs that reduce school market access barriers for small producers of color.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services."

Other Resources:
Anthony Youth Farm
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at tammyh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

Kansas City Food Hub and KC Farm School: Bringing the Farm to School to Farm Again

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lacy Stephens of the National Farm to School Network talks with Alicia Ellingsworth of the Kansas City Food Hub and KC Farm School. Alicia shares the benefits, opportunities, and strategies for successful school sales from the perspective of a food hub operator and also shares insight on the benefits of selling through a food hub from the perspective of the producer. She also talks about the unique relationship between KC Food Hub and KC Farm School that opens up the world of food and farming to children and the community.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services."

Related ATTRA Resources
Farm to School: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work
Farm to School Aquaponics Program
Local Food Systems

Other Resources:
The Kansas City Food Hub
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at tammyh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Arizona Microgreens: USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lacy Stephens of the National Farm to School Network talks with Joseph Martinez of Arizona Microgreens, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona Microgreens produce organically-grown microgreens – like micro salad mixes, micro kale, and pea shoots – for restaurants, farmers markets, schools, and hospitals throughout Arizona.

Joseph discusses the opportunities, challenges, and benefits of selling his produce to local schools for use in the USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services

Other Resources:
Arizona Microgreens
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at tammyh@ncat.org.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Electric Fencing 101. Part 2

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, continues a discussion about electric fencing with her husband, Jeremy Prater. Jeremy is the owner and operator of Cedar Creek Farm, a sustainable diversified livestock operation in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Jeremy has used electric fencing to manage cattle, goats, hogs, and poultry.

They go into detail about the equipment itself and how to use it effectively.

In the previous episode, Nina and Jeremy discussed why electric fencing is such a useful tool in management-intensive grazing; the NRCS's cost-share program for electric fence; how to adapt existing fence; and other ways electric fencing can be used to contain and manage livestock.

The link to that podcast is in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly via email at ninap@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Electric Fencing for Serious Graziers (NRCS)

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website /

Electric Fencing 101. Part 1

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks about electric fencing with her husband, Jeremy Prater. Jerry is the owner and operator of Cedar Creek Farm, a sustainable diversified livestock operation in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Jeremy has used electric fencing to manage cattle, goats, hogs, and poultry.

In this episode, Nina and Jeremy talk about why electric fencing is such a useful tool in management-intensive grazing; the NRCS's cost-share program for electric fence; how to adapt existing fence; and other ways electric fencing can be used to contain and manage livestock.

In Part 2 of Electric Fencing 101, they will go into greater detail about the equipment itself and how it works.

Other Resources:
Electric Fencing for Serious Graziers (NRCS)

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly via email at ninap@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Alderspring Ranch. Part 2

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:27:18 -0700

This episode is the second in a two-part series featuring NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Kara Kroeger talking with family members Glenn, Melanie, and Linnaea Elzinga from Alderspring Ranch in Idaho. Glenn and his family raise wild, organic grass-fed beef on their remote family ranch and deliver their products to customers across the nation. In this episode, they discuss the family's innovative marketing strategies and tools.

In the first part of the series, they discuss the family dynamics they have cultivated, how each family member determines his or her role, and the effects of COVID-19, among other topics. The link to that podcast is in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at karak@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources
Alderspring Ranch, Part 1
Livestock and Pasture

Other Resources:
Alderspring Ranch
Meathacker

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Alderspring Ranch. Part 1

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 13:27:18 -0700

This episode is the first in a two-part series featuring NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Kara Kroeger talking with ifamily members Glenn, Malanie, and Linnea Elzinga from Alderspring Ranch in Idaho. Glenn and his family raise wild, organic grass-fed beef on their remote family ranch and deliver their products to customers across the nation. In this episode, they discuss the family dynamics they have cultivate, how each family member determines his or her role and the effects of COVID-19, among other topics.

In the upcoming second part of the conversation, they talk about Alderspring's innovative marketing tools.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at karak@ncat.org.

Related Resources
Livestock and Pasture

Other Resources:
Alderspring Ranch

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 2

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, the second of a two-part series, NCAT Southwest Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell continues his conversation with guest Rowan Reid from Australia on agroforestry -— farming with trees. Rowan was a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne for 20 years, is the managing director at the Australian Agroforestry Foundation, and has written or co-authored eight books, including his most recent release: Heartwood: The Art and Science of Growing Trees for Conservation and Profit. In part two, Colin and Rowan talk about tools farmers need for producing high- value timber on their farm, fire management, farmer- to- farmer learning networks, and climate adaptation.

The link to the first half of the conversation is in the list of resources below. In that conversation, Colin and Rowan talk about the balancing of conservation and production, defining agroforestry, Rowan's path to becoming a "forester among farmers," and how agroforestry can help improve the environment.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly via email at colinm@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Agroforestry in Australia
Bambra Agroforestry Farm Instagram
Heartwood: The Art and Science of Growing Trees for Conservation and Profit

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 1

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, the first of two, NCAT Southwest Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell speaks with guest Rowan Reid from Australia to discuss agroforestry — farming with trees. Rowan was a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne for 20 years and is managing director of the Australian Agroforestry Foundation. He has written or co-authored eight books, including his most recent release: Heartwood: The Art and Science of Growing Trees for Conservation and Profit.

Colin and Rowan talk about balancing conservation and production, defining agroforestry, Rowan's path to become a "forester among farmers"; and how agroforestry can help improve the environment.

Watch for the second part of their conversation in a separate podcast, in which Colin and Rowan talk about tools farmers need for producing high-value timber on their farm, fire management, farmer-to-farmer learning networks, and climate adaptation.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly via email at colinm@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Agroforestry in Australia
Bambra Agroforestry Farm Instagram
Heartwood: The Art and Science of Growing Trees for Conservation and Profit

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Microbial Inoculants: Fact and Fiction

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Mike Morris, NCAT's Southwest Regional Director, talks with Dr. Barbara Bellows about her new ATTRA publication, Microbial Inoculants. Also known as biofertilizers or biostimulants, microbial inoculants contain beneficial microorganisms and are intended to stimulate plant growth, reduce pest and disease problems, and protect plants from various stress conditions.

Dr. Bellows is a soil scientist with the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University. She has been researching production methods for microbial inoculants and the various factors that can make them effective or ineffective. In this podcast, she explains how microbial inoculants work, offers practical advice for getting the most out of these products, and discusses which ones — if any — to use.

Other Resources:
Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research

For more information on this topic, you can contact Mike Morris directly via email at mikem@ncat.org.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

An Interview with Senator Boozman

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Margo Hale, NCAT's Southeast Regional Director, visits with U.S. Senator John Boozman of Arkansas. Margo has known the senator since she was a child and has worked with Sen. Boozman's office on agriculture issues since he entered Congress.

With Senator Boozman's new role as Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Margo welcomed an opportunity to visit with the senator about issues affecting small farmers. In their conversation, Senator Boozman shares his connection to agriculture, and they talk about the diversity of Arkansas agriculture.

They also discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the food supply and farmers, opportunities for small farmers in local food systems, the economic situation for farms, and looking ahead to the next Farm Bill.

Senator Boozman has been a long-time supporter of NCAT's ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program and Armed to Farm.

Watch the video version of this interview here and the related ATTRA Blog.

Related Resources
ATTRA COVID-19 Resources
Armed to Farm

Other Resources:
Senator John Boozman

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly via email at margoh@ncat.org.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Demystifying Soil Health Indicators and Tests

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Mike Morris, NCAT's Southwest Regional Director, talks with Dr. Barbara Bellows about her new ATTRA publication Soil Health Indicators and Tests.

Recent years have seen an explosion of new soil health tests, measuring a wide variety of indicators that depend on the activity of soil microorganisms.

Dr. Bellows is a soil scientist with the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University. In this podcast, she explains how more than a dozen soil health test procedures actually work and offers practical advice on choosing a test that will meet your needs.

Other Resources:
Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Getting Started in Livestock. Part 2: Species Considerations

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, NCAT Southeast Regional Office Director Margo continues her conversation with Linda Coffey, an NCAT livestock specialist, regarding tips for those considering raising livestock.

Margo also is a livestock specialist and lifelong livestock producer, and she and Linda both raise livestock near Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the NCAT Southeast Regional Office is located.

In Part 1 (Episode 179), they covered some of the main points to consider before beginning a livestock enterprise.

This episode addresses more of the strengths, challenges, and primary needs of various animals. Many resources are mentioned and linked below to help you learn more and be well prepared to include animals on your farm. The Small-Scale Livestock Production, publication, Managed Grazing tutorial, and many ATTRA blog posts are especially recommended to learn vital information.

For more information on this topic or to suggest a subject for a future podcast about livestock, you can contact Margo Hale and Linda Coffey directly via email at margoh@ncat.org or lindac@ncat.org.

Other Resources

Pandemics and the Farm

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Rockiell Woods, director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, has a conversation about the effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on farms – both as a growing operation and as a business.

Joining him are Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliot of Foot Print Farms in Jackson and Dr. Bill Evans, director of horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub, also located in Jackson.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly via email at rwoods@ncat.org.

Related Resources
ATTRA COVID-19 Response

Other Resources:
Foot Print Farms
Up in Farms Food Hub

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Meet the Subsurfer

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Dr. Phillip Owens and Dr. Amanda Ashworth about a new piece of farm technology called a subsurfer.

Dr. Owens is research leader with the Dale Bumpers Small-Farm Research Center in Booneville, Arkansas, and Dr. Ashworth is a research soil scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

The subsurfer inserts dry poultry litter into the soil without tilling the soil. It was originally designed for use in pastures, but Dr. Ashworth has been conducting research on the use of this technology in organic edamame and sweet corn production.

Other Resources:
Effect of Seeding Distance from Subsurface Banded Poultry Litter on Corn Yield and Leaf Greenness
The Subsurfer

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Getting Started in Livestock: Part 1

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Margo Hale and Linda Coffey, lifelong livestock producers and long-time NCAT livestock specialists, talk about getting started in livestock. What is the appeal, and what are the important considerations?

Margo is director of NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she and Linda both work.

In their conversation, Margo and Linda emphasize the importance of keeping farm goals and resources in mind and stress the need to start small but plan for expansion. They mention essential infrastructure to have in place before bringing livestock home and offer many tips that will help beginners succeed with livestock.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale and Linda Coffey directly at margoh@ncat.org and lindac@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Blockchain and Agriculture

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Jeff Schahczenski, NCAT agricultural and natural resource economist, and Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt discuss issues surrounding the possibly disruptive technology of blockchain as used in agriculture and food supply chain management.

Blockchain technology is often described as a system that maintains a record of transactions across several computers that are linked to a peer-to-peer network, which allows for the easy distribution of digital information.

Tanzanian-born Marieke is founder of The New Fork, a blockchain company based in Amsterdam. The New Fork builds new technologies for agri-food supply chains, specializing in blockchain.

Marieke's fascination with agri-food started while she was travelling in Africa at the age of 17. She began her career with computer science at Wageningen University and worked on farm data for more than 20 years, covering more than 50 countries. She returned to Wageningen University to fulfil several management positions, became director of a software company that digitizes compliance processes, and founded The New Fork in 2017.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly at jeffs@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
The New Fork
Blockchain and the Resurrection of Consumer Sovereignty in a Sustainable Food Economy
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. Who's the Fairest of Them All: The Case for Public Blockchains

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office:

Working-Lands Conservation Programs

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 13:27:18 -0700

In this episode, Jeff Schahczenski, an agricultural and natural resource economist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, discusses working-lands conservation solutions with NCAT outreach specialist Rich Myers. Both work out of NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.

In the 2018 Farm Bill, significant changes were made in the two most important federal working-lands conservation programs: USDA NRCS's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). Jeff and Rich discuss the importance of these programs to farmers and ranchers in supporting a more sustainable agriculture, as well as the recently adopted NRCS Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART), which is used to rank applicants for limited funding available for these valuable working lands conservation resources.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly at j effs@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources
Conservation Assessment Ranking Took (CART) webinar series

Other Resources:
USDA National Resources Conservation Service

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Starting a Farm: Water Issues

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:27:18 -0700

This week's episode is part of an occasional series from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This series is all about starting a farm.

Today's conversation is focused on water issues.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly at rockw@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Farm Answers
Up in Farms Food Hub

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Profiles of Tribal Mobile Markets

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Tammy Howard, an agriculture specialist who works out of NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana, talks with two tribal food officials about their approach to sourcing food and selling it through their "mobile markets" in rural areas of Minnesota and Mississippi. They also discuss their approach to providing healthy, local food to tribal members.

Zachary Paige is the coordinator of the White Earth Food Truck and facilitates the White Earth Food Sovereignty initiative of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

Daphne Snow manages the Choctaw Fresh program's five farms on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation and helps distribute produce to multiple locations through the reservation.

For more information on this topic, contact Tammy Howard directly at tammyh@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Choctaw Fresh Produce
White Earth Food Sovereignty Traditional Food Meal Kits
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Solarization, Biosolarization, and the Pandemic

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist based at NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, speaks with Alex Ellison of Castlerock Farm in Walnut Creek, California. The conversation includes a description of the Castlerock Farm operation as well as the initial results and challenges of Castlerock's trials in solarization and biosolarization. Alex also describes the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the farm.

For more information on this topic, contact Martin Guerena directly via email at marting@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Castlerock Farm

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

SIFT Farm's Unusual Year. Part 2.

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:27:18 -0600

SIFT — or Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program — aims to help communities increase their food security by producing their own healthy food. SIFT, with NCAT, has a working, sustainably managed, demonstration farm on five acres at our Butte office.

This farm is the center of a program that teaches farmers and future farmers, urban food producers, community leaders, and citizens how to produce high-value, nutrient-rich food on small parcels of land. And in Butte's case, in a challenging climate.

John and Andrew talk about the farm's educational capacity and what its research has shown concerning maximizing growing capacity, conserving water, hydroponics, and other issues.

For more information on this topic, contact John Wallace directly at johnw@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website /

Small (Ruminant) Talk: Internal Parasites

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Margo Hale, NCAT's Southeast Regional Office director and a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, joins livestock specialist Linda Coffey to discuss the important problem of internal parasites.

The conversation covers why internal parasites are such a force to be reckoned with, as well as ways producers can work with nature to manage their pastures and animals to minimize issues with parasites.

Other Resources
American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
ACSRPC Best Management Practices
Introduction to Goat Nutrition

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

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Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

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Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf S

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist based out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, is joined by Jeanne Merrill, policy director at the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN). Colin and Jeanne discuss different "Climate Smart Agriculture" tools and policies in California, including the Healthy Soils Program; the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program; the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program; the Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation Program; the Alternative Manure Management Program; and the Climate Adaptation Program.

They also discuss carbon markets, water quality trading, and other issues.

Other Resources
CalCAN
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Climate Change and Agriculture
California Air Resources Board California Climate Investments

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Native Seeds

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 14:27:18 -0600

In this episode, Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist who works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, talks with Bill Nieman, the owner of Native American Seed, a native seed company in Junction, Texas. Bill shares his history in the native-seed business and talks about how native seeds can help improve ecosystem health, among other benefits. He also shares success stories of folks he's worked with over the years.

We'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete a survey about the podcast. It really helps us improve our sustainable-agriculture resources. The link is in the notes below.

Other Resources
Native American Seed
Hill Country Alliance
The Land Institute

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, Linda Coffey, a Livestock Specialist with NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Janet Vorwald Dohner, a farmer and noted expert on livestock guardian animals. The author of four books about the wonderful dogs that serve as livestock guardians, Jan brings more than 40 years of experience and a wealth of research and knowledge to the conversation in hopes of helping people succeed with these dogs. Jan talks about the history and traits of livestock guardian dogs and how to find and manage them. She explains how to handle some common problems experienced by dog owners and talks about how to set up our dogs for success.

We'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete a survey about the podcast. It really helps us improve our sustainable-agriculture resources. The link is in the notes below.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Livestock Guardian Animals: Protecting the Flock or Herd

Other Resources:

Jan Dohner Website

Farm Dogs; A Comprehensive Breed Guide to 93 Guardians

The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators

Livestock Guardians; Using Dogs, Donkeys, and Llamas to Protect Your Herd

The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds

Food Animal Concerns Trust webinars

Livestock Guardian Animal Overview—Llamas, Donkey, and Dogs: October 18, 2018
A Deeper Dive into Livestock Guardian Dogs: November 1, 2018
Troubleshooting Livestock Guardian Dog Behaviors: November 15, 2018
Predator Protection for Poultry: January 7, 2019
Predator Protection of Livestock: January 14, 2019

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Resources

Livestock Guardian Dog Program

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Facebook page

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Resources

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website /

Water Quality Trading

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell is joined by Brian Brandt, the Agriculture Conservation Innovations Director at the American Farmland Trust. Colin and Brian discuss ecosystem service markets with a focus on water quality trading, a type of ecosystem service market that pays farmers for the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices that improve water quality through the reduction of runoff from manure, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and sedimentation from soil erosion. Brian goes into extensive detail discussing a multistate water quality trading pilot project focused on the Ohio River Basin watershed and a new pilot on the Scioto River watershed in Central Ohio.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly at colinm@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Payments for Ecosystem Services

Payments for Ecosystem Services Part I (webinar)

Payments for Ecosystem Services Part II: Carbon Markets and Credit Stacking (webinar)

Other Resources:

American Farmland Trust

Ohio River Basin Trading Program

National Network on Water Quality Trading

Nutrient Tracking Tool

Comet Farm

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Veterans Discuss USDA Programs

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, Margo Hale, NCAT's Southeast Regional Director and Director of NCAT's Armed to Farm Program, talks with Eric Grandon and Sara Creech. Eric is an Army veteran and owner of Sugar Bottom Farm in Ovapa, West Virginia. Sara is an Air Force veteran and owner of Blue Yonder Organic Farm in North Salem, Indiana. Both are alumni of NCAT's Armed to Farm program, a week-long, sustainable agriculture training for military veterans.

Eric and Sara share their experiences in accessing various USDA programs. They talk about the programs and services they have utilized, how those programs have helped them reach their farm goals, and tips for veterans and other farmers as they navigate USDA programs.

This podcast was supported with funding by USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly at margoh@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

NCAT's Armed to Farm: Website / Facebook

Veteran Resources

Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

Federal Conservation Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching

High Tunnels and the NRCS

Other Resources:

Eric's Sugar Bottom Farm: Website / Facebook

Sara's Blue Yonder Organic Farm: Website / Facebook

USDA Veteran Initiatives

USDA Service Center Locator

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website /

Agriculture in Turkey

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In today's episode, Justin Duncan, sustainable agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, interviews Helen Smiley, a sustainable agriculture consultant located in Turkey. Helen is formerly of Texas and was invited to Turkey to educate refugees in organic farming. She shares some of the differences in agriculture in Turkey versus Texas — from giant-sized cabbage to purple carrots.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Justin Duncan directly at justind@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Organic Specialty Crop Production in Texas: A Grower's Handbook

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

SIFT Farm's Unusual Year

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Rocky Mountain West office, has a conversation with farm manager John Wallace about the unusual growing season so far at NCAT's SIFT Farm.

Both Andrew and John work out of Butte, Montana.

SIFT -- or Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program -- aims to help communities increase their food security by producing their own healthy food. SIFT, with NCAT, has a working, sustainably managed, demonstration farm on five acres at our Butte office.

This year, the Butte farm site has endured a heavy spring snow and subsequent high winds, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic. John talks about how the farm has reacted, both in production and in its community associations.

Please take a few minutes to complete a survey when the podcast is done. We really value your feedback to help us make our podcasts better. The link is in the notes below.For more information on this topic, contact John Wallace directly at johnw@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Related ATTRA Resources:

NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm website

Urban and Community Agriculture

ATTRA COVID-19 Response

SIFT 2018: Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm

SIFT 2019: Continuing Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm

Production to Address Community Needs

Cherries and Honeyberries in a Cold Climate

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Websi

Soil Sessions: Understanding Soil pH

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, Nina Prater, a soil specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, and NCAT's Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale discuss soil pH. They cover the basics – why it's important, how to measure pH, and how to best remedy soil acidity, which is a common concern in Arkansas where they live. They don't discuss alkaline soils in as much depth because it is not Nina's area of expertise. But as she points out, NCAT's ATTRA program does have other specialists who can address that soil issue with farmers.

Margo is a livestock specialist, and she earned degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural & Extension Education without taking a single soil class, so Nina likes to get Margo caught up on all things soil-related. Margo and Nina both work out of NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

And please take a few minutes to complete a survey when the podcast is done. We really value your feedback to help us make our podcasts better. The link is in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, contact Nina Prater directly at ninap@ncat.org and Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Voices from the Field: Soil Sessions. Interpreting a Soil Test

Voices from the Field: Soil Sessions. Soil Health and the Five Soil Health Principles

Soil Sampling: A Management Strategy

Soil Management: National Organic Program Regulations

Sustainable Soil Management

Nutrient Cycling in Pastures

Other Resources:

University of Arkansas Extension Service Limestone Quality Calculator

Natural Resources Conservation Service: Soil Quality – Agronomy Technical Note No. 8: Liming To Improve Soil Quality in Acid Soils

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office:

Farming Medicinal Plants

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT's Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Communities, has a conversation with Maya and Ed Skopal.

Maya and Ed own I-TAL ACRES, a medicinal plant farm and apothecary in Floyd County, Virginia. The Skopals discuss their philosophy of medicinal plants, some of the plants they grow and the methods they use to grow them, how the medicinal plants are processed into products, and I-TAL ACRES' business philosophy.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Devona Bell directly via email at devonab@ncat.org.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Related ATTRA Resources:

I-TAL Acres video playlist

What are some options for marketing medicinal herbs?

Other Resources:

I-TAL Acres

Herbal Resources

Buhner Protocol

Making Plant Medicine

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Starting a Farm: Soil Considerations

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:20:18 -0600

IToday's podcast is part of the occasional series entitled "Starting a Farm" from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This episode is about soil considerations on a new farm. They talk about factors that affect soil, how to have yours tested, and the various ways you can improve your soil.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly at rockw@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

ATTRA Soil Resources

Sustainable Soil Management

How to Add Compost on Your Small Farm

Soil Management: National Organic Program Regulations

Tipsheet: Manure in Organic Production Systems

Tipsheet: Assessing the Soil Resource for Beginning Organic Farmers

Other Resources:

Web Soil Survey

Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Integrated Pest Management in Idaho Flocks

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 16:20:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT Livestock Specialist Dave Scott has a conversation with Caleb Pirc of Good Shepherd Farm in Meridian, Idaho, about integrated pest-management strategies for their sheep operations. Dave, who, among other duties, works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program out of NCAT headquarters in Butte, Montana, is the co-owner of Montana Highland Lamb near Whitehall, Montana.

Caleb, who also is the director of governmental affairs for the Idaho Wool Growers Association, raises registered Katahdin. He and Dave talk about reducing parasites in their flocks through grazing strategies, selective deworming, and selecting for genetic resistance in their animals, including the use of the National Sheep Improvement Program’s Estimated Breeding Values.

We'd appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content we’ve presented here. For more information on this topic, you can contact Dave Scott directly at daves@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Integrated Parasite Management: Train the Trainer

FAMACHA Out West Ruminant Pest Management Livestock and Pasture Sheep and Goats Animal Health and Nutrition

Other Resources:

Good Shepherd Farm

Sheep Things Podcast

Idaho Wool Growers Association

Katahdin Hair Sheep International

Rocky Mountain Katahdin Association

National Sheep Improvement Program

National Sheep Improvement Program Estimated Breeding Values

Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Fac

Hydroponic Trials at NCAT's SIFT Farm

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 17:33:18 -0600

Today's episode is about hydroponic systems NCAT has used at its Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training Program (SIFT) demonstration farm. Lilianna Bento, Energy Corps Intern at NCAT, interviews Andrew Coggins, Director of NCAT's Rocky Mountain West regional office in Butte, Montana, about innovations and simplifications made to their hydroponic system since 2016.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Andrew Coggins directly at andrewc@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

SIFT 2018: Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm

SIFT 2019: Continuing Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm

SIFT Blogs:

Hydroponics: Root Indicators By John Wallace, SIFT Farm Manager

SIFT Hydroponics SystemBy Westley Lund, SIFT Intern

Small Hydroponics Experiment Comparing Two Systems By Andrew Coggins, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Project Coordinator

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Small Ruminants: All About Health

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 17:33:18 -0600

In this episode, Margo Hale, Director of NCAT's Southeast Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Linda Coffey, Livestock Specialist with NCAT also located in Fayetteville, discuss ruminant health: how to encourage health, prevent illness, work with a veterinarian, and manage so that your flock or herd is mostly trouble-free.

They discuss tools and supplies they like to have on hand. They also share the contents of the first-aid kit of Dave and Jenny Scott, owners of Montana Highland Lamb. Dave is a Livestock Specialist in NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional office in Butte, Montana.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly at margoh@ncat.org or Linda Coffey at lindac@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Managed Grazing Tutorial

Blog 6. Adaptive Grazing: You Can Do It

Tipsheet: Organic Approach to Animal Health

An Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goats

Sheep and Goats: Frequently Asked Questions

Grazing to Control Parasites

Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production

Goats: Sustainable Production Overview

Tips for: Working with a Veterinarian

Managing Internal Parasites: Success Stories

Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats: Pasture Management

Sheep and Goats page

Animal Health and Nutrition

Other Resources

The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control

The American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners

Sheep and Goat Medicine, by Dr. D.G. Pugh

American Sheep Industry Association - Best Practices Factsheets

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regi

Conservation Easements

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:33:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell interviews Chad Ellis, CEO of the Texas Agriculture Land Trust (TALT) and a board member of the Ecosystem Service Marketplace Consortium (ESMC).

Colin works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and among other projects works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program.

Colin and Chad discuss the role of TALT in the creation and monitoring of conservation easements for working farms and ranches. Chad also explains conservation and mitigation banking and how TALT helps facilitate those opportunities.

Chad and Colin then move on to talk about ecosystem service markets, especially carbon markets, in detail. Chad highlights the work being done at the ESMC, including current pilot projects and the program's future ability to allow farmers and ranchers to gain market credits from multiple benefits they provide - including carbon storage, water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat conservation.

This podcast is part of a project conducted in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Bellows of Tarleton State University and the Texas Institute of Applied Environmental Research and is funded by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) through research and education grant LS17-277, Indicators and Soil Conservation Practices for Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration. A special thanks to Dr. Bellows and SSARE.

ATTRA Resources:

Payments for Ecosystem Services

Other Resources

Texas Agricultural Land Trust

Ecosystem Service Marketplace Consortium

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Pandemic Adaptation

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's Western Regional office in Davis, California, speaks with Hope Sippola and Shane Zurilgen of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento. Among other duties, Martin works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program.

Their conversation includes a description of the operation, as well as some of the challenges they've faced and the opportunities they've found due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide ideas to help producers adapt to the changes in their markets.

For more information on this topic, contact Martin Guerena directly via email at marting@ncat.org

ATTRA Resources:

ATTRA COVID-19 Resources

Local Food Systems

Marketing and Business

Community Supported Agriculture

Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making It Work

CSA Beginner and CSA Veteran

Other Resources

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Oregon State Small Farm Program. Small farms Local Food and COVID19

Cornell Small Farms Program: Building Farm Resilience During COVID19

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT agriculture specialist Felicia Bell talks with Carolyn Jones of the Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance. Felicia works in the NCAT Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, including work with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program.

Felicia and Carolyn talk about engaging young people in agriculture and the importance of involving the entire community in the effort to secure the future of minority farmers and land owners.

For more information on this topic, contact Felicia Bell directly via email at feliciab@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Economic Development - MS Food Justice Collaborative

Education - MS Food Justice Collaborative

Local Food Access - MS Food Justice Collaborative

Other Resources

Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance Facebook page

Land & Power. Sustainable Agriculture and African Americans

Fresno's Freedom School is Changing the Narrative on Farming for Black Youth

4-H at Home

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Using Cover Crops in an Organic Walnut Orchard

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In today's episode NCAT staffer Rex Dufour interviews organic walnut farmer and processor, Russ Lester, at Dixon Ridge Farms in Winters, California. Russ shares some very practical thoughts about why he uses cover crops and explains how multi-functional cover crops are to his orchards.

Rex Dufour has been a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT/ATTRA since 1994, and opened NCAT's Western Regional Office in California in 2001.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rex Dufour directly at rexd@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage

Tipsheet: Assessing the Soil Resource for Beginning Organic Farmers

Managing Soil and Irrigation for Drought Webinar

Other Resources

Dixon Ridge Farms website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COVID-19 Impacts on Local Livestock Producers

Wed, 27 May 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT Southeast Regional Director and ATTRA Livestock Specialist, Margo Hale, talks with Rebecca Thistlethwaite. Rebecca is the director of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) and works with livestock producers, processors, and marketers all across the country. Their discussion covers some of the opportunities and challenges livestock producers are seeing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss ideas and resources to help producers adapt to the changes in their markets.

For more information on this topic, contact Margo Hale directly via email at margoh@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

ATTRA COVID-10 Resources

Working with Your Meat Processor

Working with your Meat Processor podcast

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 1

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 2

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 3: Relationships

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 4. FAQs

Creating an Excellent Relationship with Your Lamb Processor

Other Resources

Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network

NMPAN COVID-19 Resources

NMPAN Listserv & Newsletter

NMPAN State Help

Farm to Freezer: The Logistics of Online Sales & Shipping Meat Webinar

The New Livestock Farmer: The Business of Raising and Selling Ethical Meat

Farms with a Future

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office:

Starting a Farm

Wed, 20 May 2020 16:55:18 -0600

Today's episode is the first in an occasional series from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This series is all about starting a farm.

Today's conversation is focused on how many acres are needed and what crops to choose.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly at rockw@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Evaluating a Farm Enterprise

Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

Planning for Profit in Sustainable Farming

Basic Accounting: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

Other Resources

Farm Answers

Up in Farms Food Hub

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Erosion Control and Mitigation

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In today's episode, we hear from Kara Kroeger, Sustainable Agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas. She interviews Mollie Walton, Land and Water Program Director for the Quivira Coalition in New Mexico. The Quivira Coalition works on biodiversity, building soil and resilience on western working landscapes. Mollie has a Texas ranching background and holds a PhD in biology from the University of Dayton in Ohio. She has been working in northern New Mexico since 2006.

Kara and Mollie discuss methods of slowing and sinking water on hillsides, slowing erosion, building soil, mitigating floods, enhancing groundwater replenishment, and improving overall habitat. They also talk about how livestock grazing factors into land restoration and erosion mitigation.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly at karak@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Soil for Water, NCAT project website

Other Resources

Quivira Coalition, website

Let the Water Do the Work: Induced Meandering, and Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels, by Bill Zeedyk and Van Clothier

An Introduction to Erosion Control, by Bill Zeekyk and Jan-Willem Jansens

A Good Road Lies Easy on the Land, by Bill Zeedyk

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Glyphosate Contamination

Wed, 06 May 2020 16:55:18 -0600

The situation has created a significant economic hardship for producers in Montana and elsewhere.

Joining Jeff in the discussion are Dr. William E. Dyer, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University; Lilianna Bento, an undergraduate researcher at Montana State University; and Bob Quinn, Montana Organic farmer, founder of Kamut International, and recent co-author of Grain by Grain: A Quest to Revive Ancient Wheat, Rural Jobs and Healthy Food.

They will explore the history of the recent contamination and recent research undertaken by Montana State University to better understand its sources, as well as future remedies available to organic grain growers in Montana and elsewhere in the United States.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly via email at jeffs@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

Protecting Organic Crops from the Impacts of Genetic Modification Technology (Coming soon to the ATTRA website)

Non-GMO Dairy Transition Guide

Organic Farming

Other Resources

Grain by Grain

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Using Cover Crops to Sequester Carbon

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In today's episode, we will learn about Carbon Sponge, an interdisciplinary collaboration in New York City that explores the potential for urban soils to sequester carbon as a means to reduce greenhouse gases and build healthy soil. Justin Duncan, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at NCAT's Southwestern Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, interviews Katharhy G., a plant and soil science researcher with Carbon Sponge. Katharhy talks about how they are engineering their own soil and researching the use of cover crops in urban areas for carbon sequestration. Originally from South America, Katharhy's background is in agroecosystem health, ethnobiology, regenerative food production and social ecology.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Justin Duncan directly at justind@ncat.org.

Please note: There is some background noise during the interview, but we think the conversation is worthwhile.

ATTRA Resources:

Urban Agriculture in the United States: Baseline Findings of a Nationwide Survey

Other Resources

Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Small (Ruminant) Talk. Springtime

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode NCAT Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale talks with Linda Coffey, an NCAT livestock specialist, about springtime on their farms.  Both Margo and Linda are specialists with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, among other duties, out of NCAT's office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and they both farm in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

Their discussion includes grazing, kidding, watching for parasites, dairy goats, and Linda's new livestock guardian dog puppy. Margo also points listeners to ATTRA resources, including the page dedicated to COVID-19 resources on NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture website.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly via email margoh@ncat.org and Linda Coffey at lindac@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:

ATTRA Covid-19 Response

Managed Grazing Tutorial

Livestock Guardian Animals: Protecting the Flock or Herd

Goats: Sustainable Production Overview

Dairy Goats: Sustainable Production

An Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production

Sheep and Goats: Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for: Preventing Internal Parasites

NCAT's ATTRA Specialists: COVID 19 Market Adjustments

Small (Ruminant) Talk: Fall Feed and Breeding for Sheep and Goats

Small (Ruminant) Talk: Considerations for Fall

Small (Ruminant) Talk: Pastures, Parasites, and Predators

Trimming Sheep & Goat Hooves

Other Resources

Food Animal Concerns Trust webinars (See "Pasture Based Systems") Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook<

Agricultura en California

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 16:55:18 -0600

Javier Zamora es agricultor orgánico productor de fresas, moras, flores y vegetales en Watsonville, California. Narra su historia personal y cómo desarrolló su negocio en el éxito que es hoy. También habla sobre su educación y experiencia con ALBA la incubadora de agricultores orgánicos en Salinas California, acceso a tierra, establecimiento de mercados, detalles sobre la producción de fresa, extensión de temporada por medio de túneles.

Describe los desafíos de producción orgánica, control de plagas, fertilización y termina con su consejo a agricultores principiantes.

Para obtener más información sobre este tema, puede contactar a Martin Guerena directamente: marting@ncat.org.

Recursos de ATTRA:

Recursos en Español

La Conferencia del Agricultor Latino Facebook

NCAT Facebook

Granja SIFT de NCAT SITIO Website

Oficina del suroeste: Website / Facebook

Oficina occidental: Website / Facebook

Oficina de Rocky Mountain West: Facebook

Oficina de los Estados del Golfo: Website / Facebook

Oficina sureste: Website / Facebook

Oficina del noreste: Website / Facebook

Farmers Battling Lyme Disease. Part 2

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT director of sustainable agriculture and NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Dr. Sunjya Schweig about the treatment of Lyme disease.

Dr. Schweig works with the California Center for Functional Medicine.

This episode is the second of a two-part series on the effect of Lyme Disease on farmers and ranchers.

In the first part of the series, Devona, who has contracted Lyme Disease twice, spoke with farmers from New Hampshire and Minnesota about how Lyme Disease has affected their families and their farming operations.

Be sure to listen to the first part of the series. A link is provided in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Devona Bell directly via email at devonab@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Farmers Battling Lyme Disease. Part 1.
Is There an Organic Control for Ticks?
Where Can I Find Information on Guinea Fowl Production?

Other Resources
International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society
California Center for Functional Medicine
Why a 30-Day Elimination Diet?
Infectious Disease Society of America
Out of the Woods. Healing Lyme Disease – Mind, Body, & Spirit
The Spoon Theory
Cowden Protocol
BuhnerProtocol

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 1-800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Farmers Battling Lyme Disease

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT director of sustainable agriculture and NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with two farmers about the impact of Lyme Disease on agriculture.

Christine Pressman and her husband, Andy Pressman, own and operate Foggy Hill Farm, a sustainable produce operation near Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

Dayna Burtness and her husband, Nick Nguyen, own and operate Nettle Valley Farm, a 70-acre farmstead near Spring Grove, Minnesota. Her main focus is finishing heritage breed hogs on pasture.

Christine, Dayna, and Devona all have contracted Lyme Disease, and they talk about the battle to overcome the disease, how it affects their families and farming operations, the food sensitivities it can bring, and strategies for coping with the ticks that carry the disease.

This episode is the first of a two-part series on Lyme Disease. Next week, Devona will Dr. Sunjya Schweig of the California Center for Functional Medicine about the issues involved with treating Lyme Disease.

ATTRA Resources:
Is There an Organic Control for Ticks?
Where Can I Find Information of Guinea Fowl Production?

Other Resources
Out of the Woods. Healing Lyme Disease – Mind, Body, & Spirit
The Spoon Theory
Cowden Protocol
Buhner Protocol
Foggy Hill Farm Facebook page
Nettle Valley Farm Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

A Flower Farm Blossoms

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, Tammy Howard, an agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with Heather Folls of the Folls Flower Farm, which is based in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

Tammy also has a flower operation, which is located in Belgrade, Montana. She works out of NCAT's national headquarters in Butte, Montana.

Heather and her mother, Thea, have been operating Folls Flower Farm for nearly two decades. Tammy and Heather talk about the evolution of the farm over the years. Heather also has some tips for flower farmers just getting started.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly at tammyh@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Specialty Cut Flower Production and Marketing
Woody Ornamentals for Cut Flower Growers
Cut Flower Production

Other Resources
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
Growing for Market
The Flower Farmer

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Connecting Refugees to Sustainable Agriculture

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:55:18 -0600

In today's episode, we learn about a program in Texas that connects refugees with sustainable agriculture. Colin Mitchell, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at NCAT's Southwestern Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, visits with New Leaf Agriculture's Director, Matt Simon, and a New Leaf Agriculture farm apprentice Doli Wikongo. New Leaf Agriculture is a social enterprise of the Multicultural Refugee Coalition based in Elgin, Texas, near Austin. It connects refugees to sustainable farming opportunities by operating community gardens and a commercial farm. Matt discusses New Leaf's mission, farm practices, and community partners. Doli, a refugee, describes her experiences from her home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and her transition to life in Austin, Texas, that led her back to a life of farming.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly at colinm@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction

Other Resources
Multicultural Refugee Coalition, website
New Leaf Agriculture, website
New Leaf Agriculture, Facebook
>New Leaf Agriculture, Instagram

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Soil Considerations for Orchards

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 16:55:18 -0600

Today's episode focuses on soil considerations for fruit and nut trees. Rex Dufour, the director of NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, talks with Guy Ames, Horticulture Specialist at NCAT's Southeastern Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, about the differences between soils in the western United States versus the soils in the East.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rex Dufour directly at rexd@ncat.org or Guy Ames at guya@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Climate Change and Perennial Fruit and Nut Production
Fruit Trees, Bushes, and Vines for Natural Growing in the Ozarks
Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and Vineyards

Other Resources
Web Soil Survey, website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

The National Center for Appropriate Technology, in cooperation with USDA Rural Development, Montana State University, and Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE), is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Soil Health Innovations Conference. This national conference will be held at Montana State University on March 30 and 31, 2020.

The 2020 Soil Health Innovations Conference will bring together producers, industry professionals, educators, and students who are at the cutting edge of soil health across the country: On-farm practices, soil biology, carbon markets, and public policy. Join us for a far-reaching exploration of agriculture's sustainable future.

For more information and to regist

The PLFA Soil Test

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with soil specialist Lance Gunderson about the PLFA soil test.

The conversation is the second of two that Kara and Lance have had on ATTRA: Voices from the Field concerning soil tests – last week's podcast featured Lance's take on the Haney test. You can find the link to that podcast in the notes below.

This week, they discuss the scientific basis of the PLFA, when it's appropriate, and a number of the ways in which it's scored.

Kara works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and Lance is the founder of Regen Ag Lab in Pleasanton, Nebraska.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara directly at karak@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Soils and Compost
The Haney Soil Test

Other Resources
Haney Test Interpretation Guide
Regen Ag Lab website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

The Haney Soil Test

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with soil specialist Lance Gunderson about the Haney soil test.

They discuss the history of the Haney test, how it's scored, its effectiveness on both cropland and pasture and range land; the management practices it can suggest, and more.

The conversation is the first of two that Kara and Lance will have concerning soil tests – next week's podcast will feature Lance's take on the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) test. Be sure to listen to that discussion, as well.

Kara works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and Lance is the founder of Regen Ag Lab in Pleasanton, Nebraska.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara directly at karak@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Soils and Compost

Other Resources
Haney Test Interpretation Guide
Regen Ag Lab website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

Community Gardens and Sustainable Agriculture

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:55:18 -0700

Today's episode explores community gardening and its relationship to sustainable agriculture.

Daniel Prial, sustainable agriculture specialist from NCAT's Northeast Regional Office in Keene, New Hampshire, has a conversation with folks from Antioch University New England's Community Gardens Connections program.

This episode looks at the importance of community gardening as part of the greater food system. Students from Antioch University New England's Environmental Studies Department, who are also coordinators of the Community Gardens Connections program, give advice on how to establish and maintain community gardens. They even touch on the role that farmers can play in community gardening initiatives.

In this podcast, we'll hear from doctoral candidate, Jess Gerrior, and from Emma Rohleder, Jess Barnes, and Rachel Brice, who are all students in Environmental Studies and also co-coordinators of the Community Gardens Connections program at Antioch University New England.

For more information on this topic, please you can contact Daniel Prial directly at danielp@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Community Gardening

Other Resources
Community Gardens Connections website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

The 2020 Soil Health Innovations Conference will bring together producers, industry professionals, educators, and s

Organic Pioneer: Tom Willey

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, has a conversation with Tom Willey, one of the pioneers of organic agriculture in the Central Valley of California.

Martin works out of the NCAT Western Regional Office in Davis, California.

Tom – "farmer emeritus" at T and D Willey Farms, the operation he co-founded in Madera, California – discusses his entry into agriculture and the organic movement, the importance of finding mentors, what the past can teach us going forward, and some of the challenges he sees in the future of organic agriculture.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Martin Guerena directly at marting@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Organic Farming
A Conversation with Amigo Bob

Other Resources
T and D Willey Farms
Ecological Farming Association

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

For more information and to register go to

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 4: FAQs

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:55:18 -0700

Today's episode – Part 4 of our "Direct Marketing Meat" series – features a question-and-answer session with Dave and Jenny Scott. Linda Coffey asks questions submitted by listeners, and Dave and Jenny provide great answers. You will hear some innovative marketing ideas, as well as more information about production practices and nutrition.

Dave and Linda are livestock specialists with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program. Dave works out of NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, and Linda is on the staff of NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Dave and Jenny are co-owners of Montana Highland Lamb near Whitehall, Montana.

Be sure to check out the first three parts of this series. In Part 1, Dave and Jenny talk about marketing meat and how they started and grew their business. Meat processing was the primary topic in Part 2. And, Part 3 focused on working with customers, assessing profitability, and deciding on the scale of the enterprise.

If you have a question, please do not hesitate to contact Dave or Linda directly at daves@ncat.org and lindac@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Direct Marketing Lamb: A Pathway
Putting a Hand on Them: How to Tell When Your Lamb is Finished (Publication)
Putting a Hand on Them: How to Tell When Your Lamb is Finished (Video)
Lamb Cut Guide for Direct Marketers
Creating an Excellent Relationship with Your Lamb Processor
The Lambulator: A Cut-Yield Calculator
ATTRA YouTube Channel, Livestock and Pasture
Working with Your Meat Processor

Other Resources
Montana Highland Lamb Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott, Part 3: Relationships

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode – part 3 of our "Direct Marketing Meat" series – Dave Scott and his wife, Jenny, join Linda Coffey to talk about aspects of working with customers, planning pricing, assessing profitability, and deciding on the scale of the enterprise.

Dave and Jenny also are co-owners of Montana Highland Lamb near Whitehall, Montana. During the discussion, Dave and Jenny emphasize the challenges and rewards of their business and the importance of relationships – family, business partners, and clients.

Dave, Jenny, and Linda will be back next week with a different format – taking questions from listeners. You'll hear some innovative marketing ideas, as well as more information about both nutrition and production practices.

If you have a question for them, don't hesitate to contact Dave and Linda directly at daves@ncat.org and lindac@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 1
Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part 2: Processing
The Lambulator
Working with Your Meat Processor (Podcast)
Working with Your Meat Processor (Publication)
Creating an Excellent Relationship with Your Processor
Intensive Grazing: One Farm's Setup
It's More than Getting the Wool Off
Putting a Hand on Them – How to Tell if your Lamb is Finished (Video)
Putting a Hand on Them - How to Tell if Your Lamb is Finished (Publication)
Direct Marketing Lamb: A Pathway
Lamb Cut Guide for Direct Marketers

Other Resources
Building a Sustainable Business, MISA/SARE
Montana Highland Lamb Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.<

Montana Farm's Profound Changes

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, we feature a conversation with Kurt Myllymaki, a Montana farmer and rancher who, with his family, raises crops and beef cattle on 10,000 acres of leased and deeded land in north central Montana near the town of Stanford.

He talks about the profound changes the operation is making, including diversifying cash crops raised on the farm and adding cover crops to reduce the use of summer fallow.

The interview was conducted in collaboration with Western SARE, and Stacie Cleary of Western SARE acted as this week's guest host. Al Kurki, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, introduces the conversation with some background on the Myllymaki operation.

He also has an important invitation for listeners at the end of the conversation to the upcoming Soil Health Innovations Conference cooperatively presented by NCAT, SARE, Montana State University, and USDA Rural Development.

You can get in touch directly with Al Kurki directly via email akurki@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Soil Health Innovations Conference
Soils and Compost
Livestock and Pasture
Horticultural Crops
https://attra.ncat.org/topics/field-crops/

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

The 2020 Soil Health Innovations Conference will bring together producers,

'Pocket Prairie' on the Golf Course

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, an agriculture specialist in NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Jay Randolph about prairie restoration. Jay is the Ben Geren Golf Course Superintendent and Sebastian County Park Administrator in Fort Smith, Arkansas. They discuss the prairie restoration work Jay has undertaken at the golf course since 2016. The conversation covers all the improvements Jay has seen at the park since starting this work, and the benefits any landowner can enjoy from re-establishing diverse prairie ecosystems.

For more information on this topic, contact Nina Prater via email at ninap@ncat.org

ATTRA Resources:
Converting Cropland to Perennial Grassland
Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage
Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop
Voices from the Field: Allen Williams and Adaptive Stewardship Management Grazing

Other Resources:
Thomas Nutall: A Journal of Travels into the Arkansas Territory during the Year 1819
The Prairie Ecologist
National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
Missouri Prairie Foundation
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Acres for Wildlife Program
Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership
Ben Geren Park

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website /

History of Food Cooperatives in the South

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Felicia Bell, sustainable agricultural specialist at NCAT's Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, interviews Wendell Paris about the history of food cooperatives in the South and his involvement in this movement, specifically in the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.

Mr. Paris is the Chairman of the Board for Panola Land Buyers Association and has been involved in the Federation of Southern Cooperatives since its inception, which took place during the Civil Rights movement. In this episode, he describes the connections between the Civil Rights movement and the beginning of the food cooperative model in the South.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Felicia Bell directly at feliciab@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Tips for Selling to: Aggregators/Grower Marketing Co-ops
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction
ATTRA's Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Other Resources:
Federation of Southern Cooperatives website
"Land Assistance Fund Feeds Farmers' Hopes" blog post from AMISTAD Research Center

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!

A Talk with Fred Provenza. Part 2

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 15:55:18 -0700

This episode is the second of two featuring a conversation between Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, and Fred Provenza. Fred is a well-known author and expert on animal health, human health, plant health, and how they are related – as well as their role in the care of ecosystems.

Kara works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas. The conversation took place at the recent 2019 Regenerate Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted by the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grassfed Association. There may be a bit of background noise, but the conversation is well worth it.

In the last episode, Kara and Fred talked in-depth about the importance of the quality and diversity of foods for animals and humans, and how important the relationships between particular foods are. Be sure to check out that part of the conversation if you haven't yet. Today's episode begins with pasture management and covers a wide range of practical and philosophical areas.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly at karak@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
A Talk with Fred Provenza, Part One
Soil Health Innovations Conference
Livestock and Pasture

Other Resources:
Quivira Coalition website
Holistic Management International website
The American Grassfed Association website
Behavioral Education for Human Animal Vegetation and Ecosystem Management website
Nourishment
The Art and Science of Shepherding
Is Grassfed Meat and Dairy Better for Human and Environmental Health?

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office:

A Talk with Fred Provenza. Part 1

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:55:18 -0700

This episode is the first of two featuring a conversation between Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, and Fred Provenza. Fred is a well-known author and expert on animal health, human health, plant health, and how they are related – as well as their role in the care of ecosystems.

Kara and Fred talk in-depth about the importance of quality and diversity of foods for animals and humans, and how important the relationships between particular foods are.

Be sure to come back next week for the second part of the conversation, when the discussion begins with pasture management and covers a wide range of practical and philosophical areas. You'll be sure to enjoy it.

ATTRA Resources:
Livestock and Pasture

Organic Agriculture in the South

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:55:18 -0700

In this podcast, Jeff Schahczenski, agricultural and natural resource specialist with NCAT, has a conversation with Marty Mesh of Mesh and Associates of Gainesville, Florida about the current and future development of organic production in the South.

While certified organic farming and ranching has been expanding nationwide, its growth in the southern United States has been much slower. In this episode, Jeff and Marty explore many reasons for this slower growth.

Marty Mesh is a leader in organic agriculture in the south and nationwide. A pioneer, visionary, and expert in organic agriculture and food systems, Marty began organic production in 1972. Four years later, he helped found the Bellevue Gardens Organic Farm, which made its reputation by growing and selling much-beloved and sought after organic watermelons nationwide. In 1987 he co-founded Florida Organic Growers and Quality Certification Services in Gainesville, Florida and served as its Executive Director for over 30 years. In 2004, Marty was named one of the twenty "Most Influential People Developing the Organic Industry," and in 2014 the Organic Trade Association awarded him the "Growing the Organic Industry" Award.

Marty has helped start, and has served on, Boards of many organizations, including: the Organic Certifiers Council (OCC), Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG), Accredited Certifiers Association (ACA), Organic Trade Association (OTA), Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), Agricultural Justice Project (AJP), The Organic Center (TOC), and many others. Most recently, Marty has worked with Farm Aid connecting farmers around the country with legal, financial, and mental health resources, as well as, with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) on a project researching the question, "Is Organic Farming Risky?"

Now, Mesh and Associates, LLC continues the work Marty has been committed to for well over 40 years. The diverse team collaborates on a variety of efforts that include national organic research initiatives and local community food projects, always with a focus on increasing opportunities for organic agriculture and farmers and creating socially just food and agricultural systems.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly at jeffs@ncat.org.

ATTRA Resources:
Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control
Guide for Organic Crop Producers
Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas
Cover Crop (340) in Organic Systems
Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems
Organic Crop Production Overview
Tip Sheet: Crop Rotation in Organic Farming Systems
Companion Planting and Botanical Pesticides: Concepts and Resources

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, vide

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part Two. Processing

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 15:55:18 -0700

oday's episode is the second in an ATTRA: Voices from the Field ongoing series on Direct Marketing Meat. Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, follows up on a listener's question by interviewing fellow NCAT ATTRA livestock specialist Dave Scott and his wife, Jenny, about their direct-marketing meat business, Montana Highland Lamb.

Linda works out of NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Dave is on the staff at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.

In the previous episode, Dave and Jenny shared their farm story, and we focused on the marketing aspect of their business. In this episode, the focus is on processing. Processing is critical for Dave and Jenny's business and for others raising livestock for meat. Topics in this episode include finding a processor and the important criteria when looking for a processor; communication and building a great relationship; scheduling appointments; handling drop off and pickup; and managing and tracking inventory, storage, and orders.

Please let us know what further questions you'd like answered in the Direct Marketing Meat series.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Dave Scott at daves@ncat.org and Linda Coffey at lindac@ncat.org.

Other Resources
Montana Highland Lamb Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

Give Thanks and Don't Miss the Soil Conference!

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 15:55:18 -0700

ATTRA: Voices from the Field is taking a bit of a holiday break this week to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family. We sincerely hope that everyone has a terrific holiday. Next week, we'll be back with the second in the Direct Marketing Meat series. In it, Linda Coffey and Dave Scott, both livestock specialists with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, along with Dave's wife, Jenny, will talk about the always important issue of processing.

In the meantime, don't miss the chance to register for the inaugural Soil Health Innovations Conference, March 30-31 in Bozeman, Montana, on the campus of Montana State University.

You'll hear farmers and ranchers from around the country tell their stories on achieving soil health profitably, along with the perspectives of scientists, private companies and other experts.

Some of the topics that will be covered at the Conference include:

The connection between soil health and water management
Building healthy soil on a large scale
Regenerative grazing practices AND
New markets for soil carbon sequestration

To register and for more information: https://soilinnovations.ncat.org/

ATTRA Resources:
ATTRA: Voices from the Field archive

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:55:18 -0700

This episode is the first of an occasional ATTRA: Voices from the Field series on Direct Marketing Meat. Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, follows up on a listener's question by interviewing fellow NCAT ATTRA livestock specialist Dave Scott and his wife, Jenny, about their direct-marketing meat business, Montana Highland Lamb.

Linda works out of NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Dave is on the staff at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.

Although the listener was asking about lamb, and both Dave and Jenny produce lamb, this series will be useful for anyone direct marketing meat.

Dave and Jenny discuss their business and how it evolved, how to produce an excellent product and reach out to customers, how to keep customers, and the pros and cons of various marketing venues they've used. They talk about their partnership, and how important it is to have help – it's not a one-person show. And they share lessons learned.

The next episode of ATTRA: Voices from the Field will address the important topic of processing as the Direct Marketing Meat series continues.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Dave Scott at daves@ncat.org and Linda Coffey at lindac@ncat.org.

Other Resources
Montana Highland Lamb Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

Allen Williams and Adaptive Stewardship Management Grazing

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Lee Rinehart, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with world renowned rancher and grazing educator Allen Williams.

Lee, who works out of NCAT's Northeast Regional Office in Keene, N.H., and Allen talk about what Allen calls adaptive stewardship management grazing and how it could increase the supply of livestock on the market as it helps solve many issues currently associated with animal agriculture.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Lee Rinehart directly at lee@ncat.org.

Other Resources
Understanding Ag website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

A Beginning Farmer Tells Her Story

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:55:18 -0700

In this episode, Margo Hale, director of NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, interviews Lauren Stine, a beginning farmer in Northwest Arkansas. Lauren shares how she went from being a lawyer in California to raising goats in Arkansas. She talks about the keys to her success, obstacles she has faced, and the resources that have helped her. Lauren also explains the ways she is educating others about pastured-based livestock production.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly at margoh@ncat.org.

Other Resources
Lauren Stine's farm on Instagram
Ozark Pasture Beef website
"Are You Truly Ready to Buy a Farm?" article
"Beginning Farmers Identify Three Barriers" article
Sacred Cow website
Southern SAWG Conference—Raising, Finishing and Marketing Pasture-Raised Meat Short Course

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office:

Integrating Livestock with Cash and Cover Crops

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:55:18 -0600

This podcast is part of a Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education project for integrating livestock with crops.

In this episode, Dave Scott, livestock specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Office in Butte, Montana, has a conversation with Roy Benjamin, a farmer of nearly 20,000 acres in Devon, Montana.

For the past few years, Roy has been integrating livestock with his crops. In this episode, you'll hear about his experience with his operation and lessons he has learned.

Before we get started, I'd like to point out that towards the end of the podcast, when Roy is talking about his water sources, he mentions a map of his farm. We have included a link below to a video of Roy referring this map.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Dave Scott directly at daves@ncat.org.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

COMING SOON!
The National Center for Appropriate Technology, in cooperation with USDA Rural Development, Montana State University, and Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE), is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Soil Health Innovations Conference. This national conference will be held at Montana State University on March 30 and 31, 2020.

The 2020 Soil Hea

Quivira Comes to Montana

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Director and a specialist based in Butte, Montana, with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with Alexis Bonogofsky, Northern Coordinator of the Quivira Coalition's New Agrarian program.

Alexis discusses the New Agrarian program, which supports apprenticeships and mentors in agriculture. The Quivira Coalition recently brought the program to Montana for the first time.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Andrew Coggins directly at andrewc@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
List of Internships
Beginning Farmer

Other Resources:
Quivira Coalition website
Quivira Coalition Facebook page
Mannix Brothers Ranch website
Vilicus Farms website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Scaling Up: Land and Water - Podcast

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode of "Scaling Up," an occasional series at ATTRA, Rockiell Woods, director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, talks with Dr. Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson, Mississippi.

Rockiell and Bill discuss land and water considerations when scaling up a farm. You'll hear about how to determine the best use for land and the economic feasibility of scaling up. They also talk about the importance of the source and quality of water for your operation.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly at rockw@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
National Resources Conservation Service: Web Soil Survey

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Texas-Sized Sustainable Pasture Operations: Greener Pastures Chicken

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:55:18 -0600

In this episode, we introduce Texas Sized Sustainable Pasture Operations, a new occasional series on ATTRA: Voices from the Field.

Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, hosts Cameron Molberg, owner and operator of a larger-scale organic and pastured chicken operation, Greener Pastures Chicken, located in Elgin, Texas.

Colin works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas.

Cameron and Colin discuss Cameron's experiences and what he's learned that has allowed him to create a sustainable and efficient system that produces healthy chickens and a quality meat product at a large scale.

Cameron gives the listener an idea of a chicken's life on his farm from the day it arrives to the day it ends up on the plate. He also discusses his participation in the Real Organic Project and the Regenerative Organic Certification.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly at colinm@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Poultry resource page

Other Resources:
Greener Pastures Chicken website
Greener Pastures Chicken Facebook
Real Organic Project
Regenerative Organic Certified

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Transitioning from Conventional to Organic Farming

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 16:55:18 -0600

In this podcast, Justin Duncan, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, has a conversation with Lois Kim, Vice President of Public Relations and On-Farm Research Coordinator for Plantation Produce Company (PPC) Farms in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

In this episode, you'll hear how PPC Farms is transitioning its 1,500-acre operation from conventional to organic farming. Lois talks about some of the new practices they have adopted, such as the use of cover crops, companion planting, crop rotation, and the many benefits these practices bring.

t's worth pointing out that there are melons that Lois refers to as "weeds" in the podcast. These are cucumis melo that self-selected in Texas cotton fields and are now found all across south and east Texas. They are affectionately known as "smell melons."

For more information on this topic, you can contact Justin Duncan directly at justind@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Plantation Produce Company (PPC) Farms

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office:

Small (Ruminant) Talk. Considerations for Fall

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode from NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Regional Director Margo Hale and Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey talk about Linda's recent trip to attend an international meeting about internal parasite management, and some of the lessons she learned there.

They then discuss what's happening on their farms in the fall: breeding season, and considerations about selecting and caring for the males; assessing male temperament and safety; and assessing the condition of the females. They also briefly discuss fall pasture management and stockpiling for winter.

E-mail Margo and Linda with feedback or questions or suggestions for future topics at margoh@ncat.org and lindac@ncat.org. Also see the link to the NCAT Southeast Regional Office website and Facebook page below.

Other Resources:
American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
Dr. Faffa Malan – FAMACHA. South African Landbou video on the history of FAMACHA
Got a Mean Ram? You May be to Blame

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Farm to School Aquaponics Program

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this podcast, Al Kurki, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana, has a conversation with Rachel Jones, Executive Director of Farm to School of Park County. With a USDA Farm to School grant, Rachel turned one of the school's greenhouses into an aquaponics laboratory. Middle- and high-school students of Park County now raise trout and vegetables for food for their schools. In this episode, you'll hear about the challenges and triumphs using an aquaponics system in a school setting.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Al Kurki directly at akurki@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Farm to School of Park County
Farm to School of Park County, Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Heirloom Apples

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this podcast Nina Prater, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, has a conversation with her NCAT colleague Guy Ames, horticulture specialist and owner-operator of Ames Orchard and Nursery in Elkins, Arkansas. Guy has been farming in Arkansas since 1971, but became interested in heirloom apples in 1980.

In this episode, discover things you might not have known, such as, what qualifies as an heirloom. What's in a name? How do you decide what variety to grow? Guy and Nina also talks about the history of heirloom apples, some pros and cons, and the role heirloom apples can play in today's market and environment.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Guy Ames directly at guya@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Apples: Organic Production Guide (in this ATTRA publication, Appendix 1, "Disease Resistant Apple Varieties," is a chart showing the relative disease resistance of more than 100 apple varieties, many of them "heirlooms.")

Other Resources:
North American Fruit Explorers
Changes in the Land, book by William Cronon
Old Southern Apples, book by Creighton Lee Calhoun
The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Tools for Farmer Success as seen by long-time Colorado Extension Agent, Adrian Card

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, NCAT's Tammy Howard has a conversation with her colleague, Adrian Card, about his 15-year career as an extension agent in Boulder County, an increasingly urban area of Colorado. Adrian talks about his experiences with developing useful tools and programming for farmers in the front range of Colorado.

Tammy Howard is an agriculture specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West office in Butte, Montana. Adrian Card is the founder of the Colorado Building Farmers Program and co-founder of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly at tammyh@ncat.org.

Other Resources:
Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Growing Organic Grapes in the Southeast

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this podcast NCAT horticulture specialists Luke Freeman and Guy Ames discuss the joys and trials of growing grapes in the humid Southeast.

The conversation touches on organic grape production; diseases and pests; trellising and pruning grapes; organic grape management; and cultivars of table grapes, wine grapes, and muscadines suited for organic production.

Luke and Guy both work as horticulture specialists with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program out of NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Luke shares research findings from the University of Arkansas high tunnel grape project, led by Dr. Elena Garcia, and Guy shares his personal experience growing grapes and muscadines on his home farm.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Luke Freeman and Guy Ames directly via email at lukef@ncat.org and guya@ncat.org.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office:

Regenerative Rangeland Management and Contour Subsoil Ripping

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, discusses regenerative rangeland management with Travis and Mandy Krause of Parker Creek Ranch in D'hanis, Texas.

Travis and Mandy are taking part in NCAT's Soil for Water Project. Colin works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas.

Travis describes three of the regenerative practices they use on their ranch: holistic multipaddock grazing, pasture cropping, and contour subsoil ripping. He then discusses the changes they've seen from 2010-2019 in the ranch's soil and ecological health while using these practices. Mandy then passes off their two young sons to Travis so she can discuss the Southern SARE on-farm research grant they are conducting on the ranch. It focuses on the effects of contour subsoil ripping on rangeland health.

Other Resources:
NCAT's Soil for Water Project
Southern SARE
Parker Creek Ranch Facebook page
Parker Creek Ranch website
Water for Every Farm: Yeoman's Keyline Plan by PA Yeoman
Mark Shepherd Managing Water on Your Farm Video
Holistic Management International

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

Farming the Ocean at GreenWave

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, Lee Rinehart, an agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Jill Pegnataro of GreenWave, a nonprofit focused on expanding opportunities for fisherman and farmers to start sustainable shellfish and aquatic plant farming enterprises. Jill works as a farm manager and instructor with GreenWave in New Haven, Connecticut.

Lee works out of NCAT's Northeast Regional Office in Keene, New Hampshire. Jill and Lee talk about how Jill got into vertical ocean farming, how vertical ocean farming works, the skills and resources some needs to begin ocean farming, and how to get started.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Lee Rinehart directly at lee@ncat.org

Other Resources:
Ocean Approved Kelp Farming Manual
GreenWave website
GreenWave Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Celebrating Farmers Markets

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, airing on National Farmers Market week (August 4 -10), Tammy Howard, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West office in Butte, Montana, talks with Ben Feldman, interim director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a national organization representing farmers markets. Tammy and Ben discuss the important role that farmers markets play as business incubators and their economic impact in rural and urban communities. They also discuss some of the resources available to help farmers and farmers markets be successful.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly at tammyh@ncat.org

ATTRA Resources:
Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets
Farmers Markets: Marketing and Business Guide
Low-Income Local Food Access – Podcast
Farmers Market Coalition website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Benefits of Birds

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 10:31:18 -0600

Today, we hear from Martin Guerena, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, and Jo Ann Baumgartner, Executive Director of the Wild Farm Alliance. In this episode, they talk about birds on farms: are they friend or foe? Well, you might be surprised to know that birds can be very beneficial to your farm. In fact, birds are being used as agrosystem providers. Learn how you can integrate the benefits of birds into your farm.

Jo Ann is the author of many publications on the intersection between biodiversity conservation and agriculture, including beneficial birds.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Martin Guerena directly at marting@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Beneficial and Pest Birds: Vertebrate IPM Tip Sheet

Other Resources:
Wild Farm Alliance: Supporting Beneficial Birds and Managing Pest Birds

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Cut Flower Production

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, Nina Prater, an agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program talks with farmer Janet Bachmann about Janet's production practices at Riverbend Gardens in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Nina works out of NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, where Janet, who also is a former NCAT agriculture specialist, has been farming since 1989. They talk about specialty cut flower production and marketing and how Janet makes it all work as a one-woman operation.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly at ninap@ncat.org

Other Resources:
Riverbend Gardens Facebook page
Lynn Byczynski, The Flower Farmer
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
Native Plant Network

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Food safety for your farm

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this podcast, we hear from Tammy Howard, agriculture specialist at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West office in Butte, Montana, and David Wise, certified Produce Safety trainer and consultant. They talk about a new tool to help farmers navigate the complicated food safety regulatory environment. The Farmer Regulatory Toolkit helps farmers understand the different regulations that might apply to them based on their size and markets. It also provides an additional tool to conduct a quick food safety self-assessment. This innovative tool will create a document that can be used to present to buyers or any markets that may be requiring food safety standards on the part of the farmer.

Related ATTRA Resources:
ATTRA's On-Farm Food Safety and FSMA page
Farmer Regulatory Toolkit

Additional ATTRA resources include:
Farm-Based Food Safety video series
An Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on your Farm
Farm Food Safety and Organic Certification Co-Compliance Guide for Specialty Crop Farmers

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Scaling Up. An Introduction

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, Rockiell Woods, director of NCAT's Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, begins an occasional series on scaling up agriculture operations with Bill Evans, director of horticulture with Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson.

Rockiell and Bill talk about when scaling up – increasing production or investing in ways to reduce costs – is appropriate. They also set the stage for discussing other issues a small producer considering scaling up would need to address, such as marketing, finance, and labor costs.

For more information on this subject, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly via email at rockw@ncat.org

Other Resources:
Up in Farms Food Hub website
Up in Farms Food Hub Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

A Conversation with Amigo Bob

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 10:31:18 -0600

In this episode, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program talks with "Amigo Bob" Cantisano.

Bob is a pioneer in California organic agriculture, and he is well known as the founding organizer of the annual Ecological Farming Conference, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2020. It is one of the largest sustainable agriculture gatherings in the western United States.

Martin works at NCAT's Western Regional office in Davis, California.

Martin and Bob discuss the history of organic agriculture and what Bob sees as its challenges and opportunities going forward, including regulatory practices, labor challenges, and increased demand.

You can contact Martin Guerena directly via email at marting@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Organic Farming

Other Resources:
Ecological Farming Association
Felix Gillet Institute website
Felix Gillet Institute Facebook page

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Alternative Feed for Poultry

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this podcast Margo Hale, Regional Director of NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Dr. Anne Fanatico about ecological poultry production and alternative feeds for poultry diets. Anne teaches and conducts research at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. They talk about poultry feed and alternatives to the standard corn and soybean diet, including insects, worms, and potatoes. They also discuss practical tips for ecological poultry production. For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly at margoh@ncat.org

Other Resources

Webinar - Producing and Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Small Poultry Flocks

Sustainable Fish and Invertebrate Meals for Methionine and Protein Feeds in Organic Poultry Production - The Journal of Applied Poultry Research

American Pastured Poultry Producers Association

Fertrell Company - Natural and Organic Fertilizer, Soil Amendments and Livestock Nutrition

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 1-800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website

Making Agritourism Work for Your Farm

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this podcast NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell has a conversation with Tracy Galloway, of Galloway Family Farm near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Felicia and Tracy talk about how to add value to an existing farm through agritourism. Tracy is a third-generation family farmer who began to transition his farm to a tourist destination three years go with tours, education, special events, and products for sale. Felicia Bell is located at NCAT's Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

NCAT Resources
Agritourism for Beginners

Roots to Revenue: Making Agritourism Work for Your Farm

Tips for Selling with Agritourism and “Pick-Your-Own”

Other Resources

Iowa State University resources and risk-management for agritourism

Home | Galloway Family Farm

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Researching and Using Biostimulants

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, Omar Rodriguez, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, has a conversation about biostimulants with Meerae Park, a master's degree student in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of California Davis. Omar, who works out of NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, and Meerae give an overview of biostimulants – which are generally described as substances that aren't fertilizers, pesticides, or growth regulators but can affect plants' yield, quality, and vigor. They discuss categories of biostimulants, how they may affect plants, the sometimes difficult task of defining which substances are biostimulants, how farmers can research which biostiumulants might be helpful for their crops, and other aspects of Meerae's research. For more information on this topic, you can contact Omar Rodriguez directly at omarr@ncat.org.

Other Resources

Biostimulants: What are they and do they work?

Crop Biostimulants

Plant Biostimulants: Definition, concept, main categories and regulation

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website /

Small (Ruminant) Talk – Pastures, Parasites, and Predators

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, Margo Hale, director of NCAT Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, discuss some timely spring topics that are impacting their own farms: pastures, parasites, and predators. Margo and Linda, who whose farms are both in the area talk about: handling excess forage, electronet tips and warnings, weeds and poisonous plants, and grazing recordkeeping. They also touch on pasture management to minimize internal parasite problems and the use of livestock guardian animals to protect stock from predation.  They refer to a number of resources and invite listeners to contact them with ideas for future podcasts. To suggest podcasts subjects or get more information on the issues in this podcast, you can contact Margo Hale and Linda Coffey directly via email at margoh@ncat.org and lindac@ncat.org

Other Resources

Food Animal Concerns Trust website

Food Animal Concerns Trust Livestock Guardian Animal Overview

Livestock for Landscapes

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

Understanding the Soil Microbiome with Nicole Masters

Wed, 29 May 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Nicole Masters, a New Zealand agroecologist and director of Integrity Soils. Kara, who works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, caught up with Nicole via telephone while Nicole was visiting a client in Big Timber, Montana. They talk about ways in which the "soil microbiome" system that acts as a plant's digestive system mirrors the microbiome of the human digestive system. They discuss how to understand the health of an agricultural operation's soil microbiome, and they talk about ways regenerative agriculture with its focus on soil health can help mitigate the challenges to agriculture that come with a changing climate. Nicole and Kara share resources they see as helpful resources for understanding the topic in more depth.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Soil for Water
Soils & Compost
National Center for Appropriate Technology website

Other Resources

Integrity Soils website

Teaming with Microbes:The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web

The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health

Science in Agriculture

Fertility Pastures

Dirt to Soil

Nourishment

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Faceb

Seed Saving – What Beginners Need to Know

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, John Wallace, manager of NCAT's SIFT farm, talks with Robin Kelson of the Good Seed Company in Whitefish, Montana. Robin and John discuss questions that beginning seed savers often have as well as resources that are available for those who want to get into the subject in more depth. The SIFT – or Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training – farm is part of NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program and is located NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.For more information on this topic, you can contact John Wallace directly at johnw@ncat.org.

Other Resources

The Good Seed Company Facebook

The Good Seed Company Website

Free the Seeds workshop videos

Seed Savers Exchange Facebook page

The Seed Garden: The Art & Practice of Seed Saving

Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance Facebook page

Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance Website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan Part 2

Wed, 15 May 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this second half of a two-part series, Steve Thompson, executive director of NCAT, sits down with Loren Birdrattler, project manager of the Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan, or ARMP. They take a closer look at a new partnership between NCAT and the Blackfeet Nation to evaluate the feasibility of a multispecies meat-processing plant. This project is a key part of the Tribe's strategy to create local markets for producers, engage youth more directly in agriculture, and provide healthy, culturally appropriate food for tribal members in this remote corner of rural Montana. In this episode, Loren and Steve have a conversation about how a beef and bison processing plant could support food sovereignty at the Blackfeet Nation. The climate-friendly plant would produce nutritionally superior meat and not only support biodiversity in the region, but also improve the health of Native peoples. Loren spent over a decade working for federal agencies in Washington D.C. and is now back in Montana working for the Blackfeet Tribal Government. Steve Thompson is located at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana where this podcast was recorded.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Natural Livestock Feasibility Study reports on the feasibility of producers developing alternative markets for grass-finished and organic livestock in Inyo and Mono counties of California.
Building a Montana Organic Livestock Industry examines how organic beef producers in Montana can better access regional and national markets.
Organic and Grass-Finished Beef Cattle Production highlights the practices producers are using to provide customers with nutritious food from pasture- and rangeland-based farms and ranches.

Other Resources

SARE: Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook<

Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan

Sun, 05 May 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this first part of a two-part series, Steve Thompson, executive director of NCAT, sits down with Loren Birdrattler, project manager of the Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan or ARMP.They talk about a new partnership between NCAT and the Blackfeet Nation to evaluate the feasibility of a multispecies meat processing plant. This project is a key part of the Tribe's strategy to create local markets for producers, engage youth more directly in agriculture, and provide healthy, culturally appropriate food for tribal members in this remote corner of rural Montana. In this episode, Loren and Steve have a conversation about the landscape, culture and history of land management by the nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy. They also discuss the overall vision that inspires the Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan. Loren spent over a decade working for federal agencies in Washington D.C. and is now back in Montana working for the Blackfeet Tribal Government.Steve Thompson is located at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana where this podcast was recorded.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Natural Livestock Feasibility Study: A report on the feasibility of producers developing alternative markets for grass-finished and organic livestock in Inyo and Mono counties of California.
Building a Montana Organic Livestock Industry examines how organic beef producers in Montana can better access regional and national markets.
Organic and Grass-Finished Beef Cattle Production highlights the practices producers are using to provide customers with nutritious food from pasture- and rangeland-based farms and ranches.

Other Resources

SARE: Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office:

Soil Sessions -- Soil Health and the Five Soil Health Principles

Wed, 01 May 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, Nina Prater, a soil specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, sits down for a conversation with NCAT Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale to talk about the basics of soil health and to go over the five soil health principles that farmers and ranchers can follow to regenerate soil to a healthy, productive condition. Margo is a livestock specialist, and she earned two degrees in Animal Science without a single soil class. Nina tries to remedy this around the office on a regular basis, so they decided to record one of these conversations. Margo and Nina both work out of NCAT's regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly at ninap@ncat.org and Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

Other Resources

SARE: Building Soil for Better Crops

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Poultry Processing Strategies

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode, Ann Baier, a program specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with California pastured poultry producers Caleb Barron of Fogline Farm on the central coast of Santa Cruz and Gary Roberts of Zenter's Fogbound Farm in Petaluma during a break at the recent Small Farm Conference at the University of California Davis.Ann, who works out of NCAT's California office in Davis, talks with Caleb and Gary about the essential role that the availability of processing – and the processing rules that go along with operations of varying sizes – plays in pastured processing.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Ann Baie directly at annb@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Poultry Processing

Other Resources

Fogline Farm website

Fogline Farm Facebook

Zenter's Fogbound Farm website

Zenter's Fogbound Farm Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Bear Paw Meats: Selling Beef to Schools

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 17:31:19 -0600

In this episode of Voices from the Filed, Al Kurki, a program specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, interviews Karla Buck, co-owner of Bear Paw Meats in Chinook, Montana. Al, who works out of NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, talks with Karla about how the Bucks raise, process, and market meat to school districts in the area surrounding their business.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Farm to School Sales. Profiles of Ranches Making it Work

Other Resources

Bear Paw Meats website

Bear Paw Meats Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services."

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:54:19 -0600

In this episode Dave Scott, agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, sits down with Korey Fauque, a farmer of 4,500 acres and owner of KW Insurance, a crop insurance company in Sunburst, Montana. He has an Agriculture Technology degree from Montana State University Northern in Havre, Montana. Dave Scott is located at NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Office in Butte, Montana.

In this podcast, Dave and Korey talk about soil health and regenerative agriculture, which is the use of agriculture practices that mimic nature.

They talk about the issues that go into a CSA - crop planning, marketing, effective harvesting strategies, qualifying to accept SNAP payments, deciding what to do with excess produce, and more.

They discuss the Five Principles of Soil Health, which are: 1) Minimum disturbance; 2) Roots in the ground year-round; 3) Crop diversity; 4) Soil Armor; and 5) Incorporating livestock. Korey explains how he implements these principles on his farm, how a farmer can transition to a soil health approach, and the pros and cons of chasing markets.

ATTRA Resources:

Crop Insurance Options for Specialty, Diversified, and Organic Farmers

Primer on Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Crop Insurance: Updates for 2018

No-Till Case Study, Brown's Ranch: Improving Soil Health Improves the Bottom Line

Building Healthy Pasture Soils

Integrating Livestock and Crops: Improving Soil, Solving Problems, Increasing Income

Nutrient Cycling in Pastures

Tutorials:

Soil Health Online Tutorial

Videos:

Gabe Brown: Farming in Nature's Image

Organic Farming and Crop Insurance Options

Intensive Grazing: One Farm's Set Up

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

CSA Beginner and CSA Veteran

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 09:54:19 -0600

In this episode, Andy Pressman, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Northeast Regional Office in Keene, New Hampshire, and a specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with two farmers with differing experiences in offering Community Support Agriculture – or CSA – subscriptions to their customers.

Sam Humphrey, director of the NCAT Demonstration Farm at Piney Woods School near Jackson, Mississippi, joins in the discussion along with Christine Doherty Pressman, of the Foggy Hill Farm near Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

Christine, who is married to Andy, has nearly 20 years' worth of experience with CSAs. By contrast, the most recent growing season was Sam's first time offering a CSA.

They talk about the issues that go into a CSA – crop planning, marketing, effective harvesting strategies, qualifying to accept SNAP payments, deciding what to do with excess produce, and more.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Andy Pressman directly at andyp@ncat.org and Sam Humphrey at samh@ncat.org

Related ATTRA Resources:

Community Supported Agriculture

Tips for Selling Through CSAs — Community Supported Agriculture

Urban Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Low-Income Local Food Access

Using Social Media to Grow Your Farm Business

Marketing, Business, and Risk Management

Beginning Farmer

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Hipbillies: Deep Revolution in the Arkansas Ozarks

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 09:54:19 -0600

In this episode Guy Ames, horticulture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program at NCAT's Southeastern Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Jared M. Phillips, author of the new book Hipbillies: Deep Revolution in the Arkansas Ozarks. In his book, Jared writes about the back-to-the-land movement of the 1960s and 1970s and how that counterculture affected the Arkansas Ozarks.

Jared holds a doctorate in American history and is assistant professor of international studies at the University of Arkansas. He lives and works on a small, traditional farm outside of Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

In this podcast, Guy and Jared also talk about the value of slowing down and working on an appropriate scale while comparing traditional farm practices to newer, "more efficient" ones.

Resources:
Hipbillies: Deep Revolution in the Arkansas Ozarks by Jared M. Phillips

ATTRA publications:
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction

Applying the Principles of Sustainable Farming

Draft Animal Power for Farming

Other resources:
How Can I Use Draft Horses for Power on My Farm?

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Establishing Hedgerows on California Farms

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:58:19 -0600

In this podcast Rex Dufour, director of NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, talks with Omar Rodriguez, sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, about working with California farmers to establish hedgerows.

Hedgerows provide many benefits to farms in addition to adding beauty. They play an important role in pest management and help prevent erosion as well as create visual and dust barriers.

Omar and Rex also discuss preparing the ground for planting a hedgerow and what kinds of plants are commonly used.

ATTRA publications:

A Pictorial Guide to Hedgerow Plants for Beneficial Insects

Companion Planting & Botanical Pesticides: Concepts and Resources

Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems

Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control

Other Resources

Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Form and Guide

Hedgerows and Farmscaping for California Agriculture

Farming with Native Beneficial Insects

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

From 'Shovel and Rototiller' to Conservation Champ

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 10:58:19 -0600

In this episode, Madelynn Nelson, an AmeriCorps member serving with Energy Corps as a sustainable-agriculture farm-energy educator at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, talks with West Virginia farmer and beekeeper Eric Grandon.

Eric, an alumnus of the Armed to Farm training for veterans offered by NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, runs Sugar Bottom Farm in Clay County, West Virginia. After farming for just five years, Eric and Sugar Bottom Farm won the Conservation Farm of the Year for 2018 in West Virginia's Elk Conservation District.

Eric and Madelynn talk about farm energy conservation and using solar power on the farm as well as water and other kinds of conservation. He also discusses the work and learning curve that came along with the decision to pursue sustainable energy.

Related ATTRA Resources

Crop Insurance Options for Specialty, Diversified, and Organic Farmers

Energy-Efficient Lighting for the Farm

Federal Conservation Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching

Renewable Energy Opportunities on the Farm

Solar-Powered Livestock Watering Systems

Farm Energy Alternatives

Other Resources

Sugar Bottom Farm Facebook

Sugar Bottom Farm website

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Sustainable Fisheries

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:58:19 -0600

In this episode, Lee Rinehart, a specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, takes a break during the 2019 Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Conference to talk with commercial fisherman Steve Kurian.

Steve is the owner of Wild for Salmon, which directly markets fresh and frozen wild salmon caught in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Lee, who works out of NCAT's Northeast Regional Office in Keene New Hampshire, introduces Steve, followed by a conversation about sustainable fishing practices and their effect on waterfront communities. They also discuss Steve's business model, including a Community Supported Fishery, similar to the Community Supported Agriculture – or CSA – that many small agriculture producers offer.

If you would like more information on this topic, you can contact Lee Rinehart directly via email at lee@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources

Ecological Fisheries and Ocean Farming

Ocean Farming: A Conversation with Bren Smith

Other Resources

Wild for Salmon website

Wild for Salmon Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

A Conversation with Atina Diffley

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 12:18:19 -0600

In this episode, NCAT community foods outreach specialist Daniel Prial, and Andy Pressman, director of NCAT's Northeast Region office in Keene, New Hampshire, talk to Atina Diffley, author of Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works, a 2013 Minnesota Book Award winner.

Both Andy and Daniel work with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program.

Atina is a Minnesota organic farmer and public speaker. Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works is a memoir based on Atina's life running the Gardens of Eagan organic vegetable farm. Her advocacy has addressed the pressures of suburban development, and she successfully led a legal and citizen campaign opposing Koch Industries to create an organic mitigation plan for organic farms in Minnesota.

Andy and Daniel have a wide-ranging discussion on organic production with Atina, touching on intermediary markets, the links between risk management and crop diversity, strategies for scaling up production, pricing, labor, the history of the organic movement, and more.

Related ATTRA Resources

Organic Farming

Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

Scaling Up for Regional Markets

On Farm Food Safety and FSMA

Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Positive Practices in Farm Labor Management

Tips for Selling to: Wholesale Buyers at Terminal Markets

Scheduling Vegetable Plantings for Continuous Harvest

Other Resources

Atina Diffley website (including information on purchasing Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works)

Family Farmed

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Texas Farmer in Underserved Community

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 10:58:19 -0600

In this podcast, Robert Maggiani, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Juan Raygoza about his farm in South Texas.

Juan moved to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas in 2007 with little money. His goal was to farm vegetables for his family. At first he borrowed land to farm, and then was able to purchase seven acres with the help of a USDA loan and is now owner of Terra Preta Farm in Edinburg, Texas. NCAT has worked with him on several projects over the past five years and helped get his farm certified organic.

Juan talks about the challenges of starting from scratch to become a farmer in an underserved community.

Robert is a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program in NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, TX.

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Juan Raygoza's farm website

ATTRA Resources:

Videos

Urban Farms: Commercial Farms or Socially-Minded Operations?

Crop Planning for Vegetable Farmers

Farm to Hospital in the Rio Grande Valley: Getting Ready

Pubs

Feasibility Study for a Texas Organic Food Hub

Community Supported Agriculture

Federal Conservation Resources for Sustainable Farming and Ranching

Basic Accounting: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

Food Hubs: A Producer's Guide

Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

Organic Specialty Crop Production in Texas: A Grower's Handbook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website /

Beyond Fresh, a Value-Added Guide

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:58:19 -0600

In this episode, Sue Beckwith and Mike Morris, co-authors of the new book Beyond Fresh: a Food Processing Guide for Texas Farmers, discuss the book and the issues it addresses.

The book, a workbook, is focused mostly on Texas farmers, helping them decide whether they should move beyond just selling fresh and whole fruits and vegetables by trying to create and sell value-added food products.

Beyond Fresh isn't a how-to book for creating particular products. Rather, it looks at product development, storage and distribution, regulations, labeling, market trends and more - as part of determining whether a product will be profitable for the producer.

A team of farmers, economists, and food experts led by the National Center for Appropriate Technology studied opportunities in Texas to create value-added food products from sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables, and created this workbook.

Though the information is derived from the market in Texas, its benefits are easily transferable to producers in other states.

If you would like more information on this topic, you can contact Mike Morris at mikem@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources

Beyond Fresh: A Food Process Guide for Texas Farmers

ATTRA: Value-Added Food Products

Other Resources

Texas Center for Local Food

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Crop Planning 101

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:58:19 -0700

In this episode, we hear a conversation between Rockiell Woods, director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Sam Humphrey, director of the NCAT Demonstration Farm at Piney Woods School near Jackson. The purpose of the farm is to give hands-on training to farmers and producers in the region, as well as to the students of Piney Woods.

This Demonstration Farm is part of Mississippi Food Justice Collaborative, NCAT's multifaceted food-justice project, which is working to improve access to healthy, culturally appropriate food for historically disadvantaged communities throughout Mississippi. It's funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Rockiell, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, asks Sam about his crop-planning process for the farm, which markets produce both to the school and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) subscription.

They talk about how to start developing a crop plan and its importance for both production and marketing.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Rockiell Woods directly at rockw@ncat.org and Sam Humphrey at samh@ncat.org

Related ATTRA Resources

Scheduling Vegetable Plantings for Continuous Harvest

ATTRA: Voices from the Field: Crop Planning and Labor Costs

ATTRA Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

NCAT Demonstration Farm:
Instagram

Other Resources
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Website

The Piney Woods School Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website /

Low-Income Local Food Access

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 16:34:19 -0700

In this podcast, Tammy Howard, a horticulture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with Anna Elbon and Kim Gilchrist about their low-income local-food access work with farms and farmers markets in Montana.

Kim Gilchrist is a food access program manager at the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition in Missoula, Montana. She helped start the Double SNAP Dollar program which is a SNAP incentive program for farms, farmers markets, and some retail locations throughout Montana.

Tammy works at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Zenger Farm's "The CSA Farmer's Nationwide Guide to Accepting SNAP/EBT Payments"

Double SNAP Dollars

Wholesome Wave

Double Up and the Fair Food Network

Fair Food Network

ATTRA Resources

Outreach Tips for Farms that Accept SNAP Payments for CSAs

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Helping Young Farmers

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 11:06:21 -0700

In this episode, Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with the NCAT ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Kate Greenberg – who at the time was the acting Western program director of the National Young Farmers Coalition and chair of the board of the Quivira Coalition.

Kate has since left those positions to become the Colorado Agriculture Commissioner.

Kara works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas.

Their discussion was recorded during the recent "Regenerate" Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which was sponsored by the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grass-Fed Association.

Kara and Kate have a wide-ranging conversation about the demographics in American agriculture, including the growing number of young people who are interested in becoming farmers, their diversity, and the obstacles they face. Kate talks about the National Young Farmer's Coalition – how it works and some of the recent state-level policy changes it has been involved in.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroger directly at karak@ncat.org

Related ATTRA Resources

Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

Beginning Farmer tutorials

Funding Opportunities

On-Farm Food Safety and FSMA

Social Media Tools for Farm Product Marketing

Using Social Media to Grow Your Farm Business

Using Instagram to Grow Your Farm Business

Using Facebook to Grow Your Farm Business

Getting Started in Farming: an Introduction to Farm Business Planning

Other Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

National Young Farmers Coalition

Quivira Coalition

Holistic Management International

American Grassfed Association

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Re

Organic Integrated Pest Management in the South

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:40:45 -0700

In this episode, Felicia Bell, an agricultural specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Dr. Ayanava Mujamdar, an entomology and plant pathology Extension Service specialist at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Felicia works out of the NCAT Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dr. A, as he's known, talks about creating an Integrated Pest Management plan for organic operations that takes into account conditions in the southern states. He talks about a three-step method of organic pest control - cultural practices, exclusion methods, and finally organic bio-insecticides – as well as specific strategies for each. He also emphasizes proper management, equipment, and techniques and talks about resources available to farmers.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Felicia Bell directly at feliciab@ncat.org

Related ATTRA Resources:

Tipsheet: Organic Pest Management

Companion Planting & Botantical Pesticides: Concepts & Resources

Organic IPM Field Guide

Other Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Dr. Mujamdar's email address bugdoctor@auburn.edu

Alabama Extension's Beginning Farmer Program website

Alabama Extension Commercial Horticulture Facebook

Alabama Vegetable IPM Facebook

Alabama Beginning Farmer Slide Charts and Field Guides

Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Facebook

IPM Communicator Newsletter and Blog

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Poultry Processing

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:40:45 -0700

In this episode, Margo Hale, NCAT's Southeast Regional Director, has a conversation with farmer Terrell "Spence" Spencer about his poultry-processing facility.

Margo is a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program at NCAT's Southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Spence is a pastured-poultry producer in northwest Arkansas, raising nearly 12,000 broilers on pasture each year. He shares the challenges he has faced in regard to finding a reliable processor for his chickens and how that led to him opening a poultry-processing facility.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Margo Hale directly at margoh@ncat.org

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Across the Creek Farm Facebook page

American Pastured Poultry Producers Association website

You also can find Spence's podcast, The Fighting Farmer, on your favorite podcast app/service.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Small Poultry Processing Plants and Services

Small-Scale Poultry Processing

Poultry Processing

Veteran Resources

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Cherries and Honeyberries in a Cold Climate

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 08:40:45 -0700

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, the Sustainable Agriculture Project Coordinator with NCAT ATTRA's SIFT - Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program - talks with John Wallace, who manages NCAT's SIFT farm.

Andrew and John are both specialists with NCAT's ATTRA - the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service – and work at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, where the SIFT farm is located.

Butte is in a USDA zone 3 area, and its cold climate and short growing season can be...let's just say challenging.

Starting in 2017, the SIFT farm began growing fruit bushes to see which would thrive best in Butte, including several varieties of cherries and a relatively new species in Montana — honeyberries.

Andrew and John talk about their plans for continuing the project and what they've learned so far.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Andrew Coggins and John Wallace directly at andrewc@ncat.org and johnw@ncat.org.

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm Website

Honeyberry USA

Some Related ATTRA Resources:

Cherries: Organic Production

ATTRA Identification Sheet: Cherry Insect Pests

ATTRA Identification Sheet: Cherry Diseases

High Tunnel Fruit and Grape Production for Eastern Growers

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Introduction to Mycology

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:16:45 -0700

Mycology is the study of fungi, an important topic in agriculture and soil science.

Myco Alliance is a science and education company focusing on mycology in the central Texas area.

In this podcast, Colin and Daniel cover a range of topics, from raising mushrooms – a type of fungi – to the role of fungi in soil health and the story of how the Mycology Alliance came to be.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Colin Mitchell directly at colinm@ncat.org

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

Myco Alliance Website / Facebook

Central Texas Mycological Society Website

Some Related ATTRA Resources:

ATTRA: Voices from the Field: Christmas Trees to Mushrooms

Mushroom Cultivation and Marketing

Alternative Soil Amendments

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Access to Land and Capital with California FarmLink

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:23:45 -0700

In this episode, Martin Guerana, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA – the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service – talks with Brett Melone, the Director of Lending with California FarmLink.

California FarmLink, which began in 1999, helps beginning, limited-resource, immigrant, and other underserved farmers who are trying to get access to land or financing. It is particularly focused on the Central Coast, Central Valley, and North Coast regions of California.

Martin, who works out of the NCAT Western Regional Office in Davis, California, spoke with Brett during the Ecological Farming Association's recent EcoFarm Conference in Pacific Grove, California.

Brett gives advice for farmers who might be in a position to come to California Farm Link for assistance and how they should prepare to begin a search for land access. He also talks about organizations that can help, both in California and around the country.

Let's listen.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Martin Guerana directly at marting@ncat.org

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:

California Farm link

Farmland Information Center

Land for Good

Young Farmer Coalition Finding Farmland Calculator

Some Related ATTRA Resources:

Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers

Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

Beginning Farmer Tutorials

Financing a Farmland Purchase

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Feeding Ruminants in the Winter

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:23:45 -0700

In this episode, Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, at NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Ken Coffey, a Ruminant Nutritionist at the University of Arkansas about strategies for winter ruminant feeding.

Linda and Ken, who are married, have raised sheep since 1986.

They talk about a number of subjects, including feeding strategies; managing hay waste; assessing hay quality; protecting hay from winter weather; and nutrition and nutrition supplementation.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Linda Coffey directly at lindac@ncat.org

Related ATTRA Resources:

Small Ruminant Resource Manual

Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers

Sheep: Sustainable and Organic Production

Goats: Sustainable Production Overview

Sheep and Goats Frequently Asked Questions

In this short video, Dr. Ken Coffey demonstrates how to sample hay using a core sampler. Note that the video tself has been edited to shorten the length, so the actual sampling process is shown at the beginning.
How to Sample Hay Using a Core Sampler

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Soil Sessions - Interpreting a Soil Test

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:23:45 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, a soil specialist with NCAT's ATTRA - the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - sits down for a conversation with NCAT Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale to talk about Margo's recent soil test results for her 20-acre livestock farm.

Margo and Nina both work out of NCAT's regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Margo and her family graze cattle and meat goats, and while they have been happy with forage productivity, they wanted to do soil tests to see if there was any room for improvement. Nina and Margo discuss the many, sometimes mystifying, numbers reported on a University of Arkansas Extension Service soil test and how to turn these numbers into cost-effective and sustainable management practices on the farm.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly at ninap@ncat.org and Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Margo Hale's Soil Test Result

Building Healthy Pasture Soils

Nutrient Cycling in Pastures

Soil Health Tutorial

Managed Grazing Tutorial's Fertility Lesson

Video: Regenerative Grazing: Learning from Nature. Stockpiled Grass.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Soil Health and Johnson-Su Composting

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:23:45 -0700

In this episode, Nina Prater, a Soil Specialist with NCAT's ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - at NCAT's Southeast Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, sits down with Dr. Buz Kloot of the University of South Carolina to talk about a new composting system developed by Dr. David Johnson and Hui-Chen Su Johnson, dubbed the Johnson-Su Composting Bioreactor, which allows for beneficial-fungal growth. The conversation, which took place during the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) 2019 Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, also includes discussion of fungi-to-bacteria ratios as a soil health indicator, the five "Soil Health Principles," and how soil health practices can help farmers achieve greater financial freedom.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly at ninap@ncat.org.

Related ATTRA Resources

Soil and Compost

Learn more about Johnson-Su Composting

The Johnson-Su Composting Bioreactor video

Managing Soil Microbiology to Increase Soil Carbon Sequestration video

Follow Dr. Buz Kloot's work on Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Growing and Processing Oilseed and Hemp

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 12:26:46 -0700

In this episode, Al Kurki, a specialist with NCAT's ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana, talks about growing oilseed and oilseed production with Bob Quinn of Big Sandy, Montana.

Bob operates Quinn Farms and the Oil Barn in Big Sandy, Montana. The Oil Barn is a processing plant that produces 100% organic, high-oleic safflower oil that is grown and pressed in Montana.

Al and Bob discuss growing oilseeds, processing them on the farm, and marketing the oil to institutional and retail markets - along with some sound advice for producers who might be interested in growing oilseeds.

Bob also was one of 14 Montana farmers who began growing hemp in 2017 under an experimental program administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture. He talks about his experience growing hemp, and what he learned.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Al Kurki directly at akurki@ncat.org.

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:

Other Related ATTRA Resources:

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Organic Field-Crop Futures Market

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 11:09:52 -0700

In this episode, Jeff Schahczenski, agricultural and natural resource economist for NCAT's ATTRA Program, talks about the current and future development of organic field-crop markets with Jessie Bovay and Ryan Koory.

Production to Address Community Needs

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 16:35:46 -0700

Production to Address Community Needs

Veteran Tells Dusty Hound Story

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 13:27:58 -0700

In this episode, Tammy Howard, a specialist with NCAT’s ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, at NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana, has a conversation with Rebeca Nolan of Dusty Hound Farms in Tetonia, Idaho.

Regenerative Grazing - Outcomes and Obstacles

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:31:04 -0700

In this episode, National Center for Appropriate Technology Livestock Specialist Dave Scott talks about the factors that led him to transition his own lambing operation to regenerative grazing.

Insuring Your Farm’s Revenue

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 15:22:48 -0700

In this episode NCAT’s Rich Myers has a conversation about Whole Farm Revenue Protection Insurance with Jeff Schahczenki, an agricultural and natural resource economist.

Aquaponics - A Primer

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 15:40:50 -0700

In this episode, Lee Rinehart, an NCAT/ATTRA Ag Specialist, talks with Brian Filipowich of Anacostia Aquaponics in Washington, D.C. Lee works out of NCAT's Northeast Regional Office in Keene, New Hampshire.

Land Loss in African-American Communities

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 15:46:14 -0700

Land Loss in African-American Communities

GAP Standards and Food Safety

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:45:28 -0700

In this episode, Rock Woods, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, talks with Dr. William Evans concerning Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards.

Online Portal for Organic Grains

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 14:53:14 -0700

In this episode Robert Maggiani, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT’s ATTRA Program has a conversation with Thea O'Carroll the founder and CEO of YieldOrganic

Veteran Helps Veterans Learn to Farm

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 17:01:48 -0700

In this episode, Tammy Howard, a horticulture specialist with NCAT’s ATTRA program, who works out of NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana, sits down with Lawrence Rhone of Farm Retreat Rhone in Flaxvill, Montana.

Small (Ruminant) Talk - Fall Breeding and Feeding for Sheep and Goats

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 09:37:52 -0700

In this episode NCAT SE Regional Director Margo Hale and Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT’s ATTRA the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, discuss fall and winter production considerations for sheep and goat producers.

Organic Greenhouses - Soil Fertility, Pests, Marketing and More

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:33:04 -0600

Organic Greenhouses - Soil Fertility, Pests, Marketing and More

High Tunnels and the NRCS

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:31:58 -0600

High Tunnels and the NRCS

The Jumping Off Point

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 10:31:18 -0600

An interview with Dave Halpin; a young beginning farmer.

Looking to the Future

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:20:00 -0600

Looking to the Future

Camaraderie at Armed to Farm

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:27:00 -0600

Camaraderie at Armed to Farm

From Christmas Trees to Mushrooms

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 11:05:00 -0600

From Christmas Trees to Mushrooms

2018-09-20_2018-08-23-sengerpc1edit

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:41:36 -0600

Senger part 1 edt

Heritage Chickens and Fermented Feed

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Heritage Chickens and Fermented Feed

Building and Marketing a Small-Ruminant Dairy Operation. Part 2.

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Building and Marketing a Small-Ruminant Dairy Operation. Part 2.

Building and Marketing a Small-Ruminant Dairy Operation. Part 1.

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Building and Marketing a Small-Ruminant Dairy Operation. Part 1.

Coping with a Hurricane

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 09:44:18 -0600

Coping with a Hurricane

Increasing Consumer Awareness

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Increasing Consumer Awareness

Gardens, Children, and Communities

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Gardens, Children, and Communities

Changing Blueberry Market

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Changing Blueberry Market

Battling Food Insecurity Near Detroit

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Battling Food Insecurity Near Detroit

2017 Census of Agriculture

Fri, 18 May 2018 10:00:00 -0600

2017 Census of Agriculture

The Evolving Poultry Operation

Fri, 18 May 2018 10:00:00 -0600

The Evolving Poultry Operation

Interview with Organic Farmer Aldo Andres Marega

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:05:00 -0600

Aldo Andres Marega of Gauchito Hill Farm

Organics in Pennsylvania

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Organics in Pennsylvania

Opportunities in Agroforestry

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Opportunities in Agroforestry

Biosecurity for Poultry

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Biosecurity for Poultry

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 3. Transportation, Packaging, and Training

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 3. Transportation, Packaging, and Training

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 1. Harvesting

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 1. Harvesting

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 2. Packing

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Scaling Up in Texas. Part 2. Packing

Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:00:00 -0600

Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Cover Crops

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:17:00 -0700

Tammy Howard discusses the uses of cover crops for various purposes, including fertility, weed management, and increasing biomass. She also discusses crop rotation and termination.

Food Safety and Rodent Control

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:00:00 -0700

Food Safety and Rodent Control

Draft Horse Question

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:00:00 -0700

Draft animals

Carbonomics

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:00:00 -0700

Carbonomics

Therapy and Sustainable Agriculture

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 10:00:00 -0700

Therapy and Sustainable Agriculture

Vilicus Farm

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Vilicus Farm

Crop Planning and Labor Costs

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Crop Planning and Labor Costs

Organic Beef Processor and Producer

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Organic Beef Processor and Producer

Food Safety and Water ~ County Rail Farm

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Water Safety ~ County Rail RFarm

Organic Cover Crops ~ Terrapin Farms

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Terrapin Farm Podcast

Food Safety and Water ~ Strike Farm

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Food Safety and Water - Strike Farm

Organic Slaughterhouse Setup

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Organic Slaughterhouse Setup

Cover Cropping with Farmer Griff Bye

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Cover Cropping with Farmer Griff Bye

Wildlife and Food Safety

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Wildlife and Food Safety

Organic Farmer Luis Guevara in California

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Rancho Familia

Situational Grazing with 'Grass Whisperer' Troy Bishopp

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Grass Whisperer

School Harvest of the Month ~ Part 3

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:15:00 -0700

School Harvest of the Month ~ Part 3

Keeping Peaches Cool

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Keeping Peaches Cool

Organic Considerations

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Organic Considerations

Packing Peaches Near Paradise

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Packing Peaches Near Paradise

Entrevista con Luis Guevara agricultor orgánico del Rancho La Familia

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Entrevista con Luis Guevara agricultor orgánico del Rancho La Familia

One Farm’s Traceability Strategy

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

One Farm’s Traceability Strategy

Growth of a California Organic Operation

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Growth of a California Organic Operation

Local Foods and Food Banks

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

In the this episode, Michael McCormick, the executive director of the Food Resource Center in Livingston, Montana, talks about how the FRC grew from a more typical food pantry to a more active role in addressing poverty and its effects in the community.

Food Safety-A Farmer's Perspective

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0700

In this episode, Tracy Potter Finns and Margaret Debona from Country Rail Farn near Huson, Montana, talk about why they became GAP certified and the process of developing their food safety plan.

Chicks or Pullets for Eggs

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0600

In this episode, we take a question from the “Ask an Ag Expert” feature offered by NCAT’s ATTRA program. The question is whether it’s a better idea to start a pastured poultry egg operation.

School “Harvest of the Month” Part 2

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:10:00 -0600

In this episode, Demetrius Fassas, a Local Food Program Specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, and Aubrey Roth, the Montana Food to School Coordinator with Montana Team Nutrition discuss the producers' role.

Montana Food Hub

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:05:00 -0600

In this episode, Dave Prather of the Western Montana Food Growers Cooperative talks about the challenges that were overcome when the cooperative was created.

School “Harvest of the Month” Part 1

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Demetrius Fassas and Aubrey Roth discuss the “Harvest of the Month” program in Montana.

Work-site and Institutional Marketing in Texas

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Kevin Ellis, a Sustainable Agriculture Specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, visits with two presenters at the 2017 Texas Hispanic Farmer and Rancher Conference.

The Grazing Calculator

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Dave and Lee talk about ATTRA's grazing calculator spreadsheet.

More Than Getting the Wool Off

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 11:05:00 -0600

In this edition, Dave Scott, a livestock specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology and co-owner of Montana Highland Lamb near Whitehall, Montana, discusses how to prepare for the “before, during, and after” of shearing.

Keys to Composting

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Keys to creating an effective composting strategy.

Keys to Cover Crops

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Andrew Coggins, Agriculture Project Coordinator with the National Center for Appropriate Technolgy’s headquarters in Butte, MT, discusses the goals of cover cropping. He also describes the cover-cropping strategy NCAT’s SIFT demonstration farm in Butte.

What is a Lambulator?

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:05:00 -0600

You've gone to great effort to raise a nice set of finished lambs and have them processed. Now what?

Food Safety in Montana

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Food Safety in Montana with Betsy Miller; New Federal Safety Regulations

Food Safety and GAP

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Tammy Howard talks with him about the internal audit program and different food safety certification programs throughout the state.

Marketing Vebetables Workshop

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Marketing Vegetables Workshop Panel Discussion

Value Added Products at Boggy Creek Farm, Austin Texas

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Robert Maggiani, a horticulture specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, talks with Larry Butler, co-owner of Boggy Creek Farm in Austin, Texas.

Ocean Farming: a Conversation with Bren Smith

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Ocean farming is the new frontier for sustainable and restorative food production. More than that, it holds promise for job creation, coastal community development, and ecosystem restoration. In this podcast Lee Rinehart, a Sustainable Agriculture Special

Ecological Seafood Production

Tue, 30 May 2017 11:05:00 -0600

The world demand for seafood is increasing and is putting pressure on our oceans for protein.

Blackberries in Arkansas

Mon, 08 May 2017 11:05:00 -0600

National Center for Appropriate Technology specialist Luke Freeman hold a conversation about blackberries with Dr. John Clark of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Brambles

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Growing Brambles in High Tunnels

Entrevista con Aldo Andres Marega agricultor orgánico

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Entrevista con Aldo Andres Marega

Where’s My Beef?-Specific Risk Material: How It Affects Cuts and Boxed Yield

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0600

No, the butcher did not have it for his dinner. By federal law, any beef that is older than 30 months is subject to the Specific Risk Material regulation.

Managing Vertebrate Pests (Part 2)

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Vertebrate pests distinguish themselves from insect pests and diseases by their ability to learn.

Managing Vertebrate Pests (Part 1)

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:05:00 -0600

Experiences living with and trying to manage vertebrate pests like birds, deer, rabbits and more.

Overwintering in a Cool, Short Growing Climate

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 11:05:00 -0700

John Wallace, who manages the SIFT Farm at NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana, talks about the challenges of growing in the relatively short and cool climate at the farm.

Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas: Part 1. Building Soil Organic Matter

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Hot humid areas need especially large and frequent inputs of organic matter to maintain soil fertility, yet standard cover crop recommendations don’t always work in these locations.

Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas: Part 3. Suggested Cover Crops

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Hot humid areas need especially large and frequent inputs of organic matter to maintain soil fertility, yet standard cover crop recommendations don’t always work in these locations.

Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas: Part 2. Choosing Cover Crops

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:05:00 -0700

Hot humid areas need especially large and frequent inputs of organic matter to maintain soil fertility, yet standard cover crop recommendations don’t always work in these locations.

Farm Energy Efficiency

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:05:00 -0700

In this podcast, NCAT Energy Specialist Stacie Peterson discusses ATTRA’s new Farm Energy Efficiency Tutorial.

Working With Your Meat Processor

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:05:00 -0700

In this episode, NCAT Specialist Linda Coffey discusses her new publication, "Working with Your Meat Processor."