Showing 1-20 of 24 results
Resources and Case Studies for Implementing Prairie Strips Across the Midwest
Compared to other Conservation Reserve Program practices, prairie strips (CP43) offer many advantages. Prairie strips can be placed both within fields and along their edges. Planting 10% of fields to prairie strips can reduce sediment and nutrient loss. The practice is flexible, with the option of driving on strips when needed for farm operations. And […]
Student Cooperative Start-Up Toolkit
This practical, digital toolkit was created by Ohio State University for educators and community members who are interested in building a student-led cooperative approach to an agricultural enterprise. The toolkit includes learning activities about agricultural cooperatives, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural marketing, as well as strategies and tools for developing a student-led cooperative model, an agribusiness […]
Getting Started in Agritourism Checklist
This checklist guides agritourism business owners through best management practices when hosting on-farm visitors. It was developed by Iowa State University. It includes sections on legal considerations, food regulations, visitor accommodations, farm emergency preparedness, biosecurity, pesticide safety, public play area safety, employee management and marketing practices.
Introduction to Ecological Outcomes Verification: Short-Term Monitoring
This Michigan State University course is designed to teach the foundations of short-term monitoring through the use of Ecological Outcomes Verification (EOV). EOV is a practical and scalable soil and landscape assessment methodology that tracks outcomes in biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem function (water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow and community dynamics). EOV applies to […]
Rotational Grazing with Cover Crops Case Studies
Since rotational grazing of cover crops is not a common practice, to address some of the current questions from farmers in the upper Midwest, the Sand County Foundation of Wisconsin partnered with the Sauk Soil and Water Improvement Group and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to explore short-term agronomic and environmental costs and benefits of managed […]
Kernza Disease Guide Cards
As a perennial grain crop, intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium, marketed under the trade name Kernza in reference to the grain) offers an economic opportunity to growers who are interested in improving the environmental condition of their farmland. Despite this opportunity, there is a possibility that perennial crops can harbor pathogen populations that increase over time. Although […]
Strawberry Chat Podcast
Strawberry Chat is a virtual discussion about strawberry production at small and diversified farms in Indiana and neighboring states. The hosts, Wenjing Guan and Miranda Purcell of Purdue University, invite guests to discuss activities that happen at the time of the year and cover different production systems. URL: https://anchor.fm/strawberrychat
Strawberries: Season Extension
This University of Minnesota publication shares the experiences of two farmer who tried growing day neutral strawberries in high tunnels using a table top system. It shares their experiences in the areas of production, yield and marketing, with a budget analysis. The farmers are Todd and Tracy Linbo, of Double T Acres, and Aaron Wills, […]
Diagnostic Tools for Honey Bee Diseases
Diagnostic Tools for Honey Bee Diseases is an interactive website designed to train beekeepers and veterinarians in honey bee medicine. It includes photos of honey bee diseases and clear instructions for known diagnostic methods for honey bee disease. Lessons include step by step instructions, common mistakes and even fun games to solidify learning objectives. This […]
Organic Field Crop Production Videos
The following videos walk farmers through sustainable concepts and practices for organic weed control, including crop rotations and cultivation techniques. The videos highlight farmer perspectives on these topics and are part of a larger organic field crops course, available at https://courses.organicagronomy.org. Designing a Crop Rotation The concept of crop rotation is not new to organic […]
Finding Success with Yellow Perch in an Aquaculture System
This document includes a summary of the aquaculture research projects that Bill West has participated in, as well as updates for each of those projects, written by West himself.
Iowa Meat Processors’ Resource Guidebook
A guide to building, upgrading or expanding a small meat processing facility in Iowa.
Internship Curriculum for Food Farmers in the North Central Region
With support from an NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant, Betrand Farm developed 24 educational PowerPoint modules that can serve as an educational curriculum for farmers in the North Central Region to use to train interns in sustainable and profitable food-growing practices. The modules have been combined and uploaded here as a single PDF. The individual curriculum modules […]
Creating Change in the Food System: The Role of Regional Food Networks in Iowa
In Creating Change in the Food System, the authors present a case study of an integrated effort to build long-term local and regional food commerce in Iowa using a community of practice approach. This report, authored by Rich Pirog of Michigan State University's Center for Regional Food Systems and Corry Bregendahl of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture […]
Soil Health and Nutrient Management for Minority Farmers: a Train-the-Trainer Workshop
With support from SARE, a team of researchers, educators, and producers in Minnesota developed a soil health and cover cropping handbook as a train-the-trainer resource for educators, mentors, and community leaders working with immigrant and minority growers.
Toward a Sustainable Agriculture: A Curriculum for High School Classes
This free high-school curriculum addresses the social, environmental and economic impacts of agriculture. The curriculum provides a critical analysis of agricultural and food systems, and helps students understand new concepts through hands-on examples. The curriculum includes six modules, designed to be incorporated into existing classes.
Spring Wild Bees of Wisconsin Online Identification Guide
The Spring Wild Bees of Wisconsin online guide is designed to help users identify wild bees commonly found in Wisconsin in the spring and early summer by their color, shape, size, and habitat. Users can learn to distinguish among different types of bees and learn about the important roles they play in nature and agriculture.
Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design
The steps provided in the Handbook for Agroforestry Planning and Design will allow you to identify what agroforestry products can grow on your land, which of these products you can sell profitably, and how to develop basic business and marketing strategies.
Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices
The Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices helps to explain agroforestry practices and their applications. It is designed for natural resources professionals and landowners, and includes worksheets and exercises for use as an educational tool. Additionally, the manual is designed to assist in the decision process so that, when established or managed, the agroforestry practice is most effective at achieving the desired objectives.
Women Caring for the Land: Improving Conservation Outreach to Female Non-Operator Farmland Owners Curriculum Manual
With the help of an NCR-SARE Research and Education Grant and funding from other sources, WFAN developed an award winning curriculum called Women Caring for the LandSM (WCL), which is designed to serve female non-operator landowners who are interested in learning more about conservation and other land management topics. The materials are also appropriate to teach youth about sustainable agriculture through hands-on conservation activity lesson plans.