North Central

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 […]

Forest Farming in Missouri An Overview of the Production of Non-Timber Forest Products

"Forest Farming in Missouri" is comprehensive guide to forest farming written to support landowners, producers, and professionals interested in this practice

Raising Brix to Beat the Bugs: An Organic Strategy for Grasshopper Control

North Dakota farmer Glendon Philbrick is working to increase Brix levels—the sugar content in plant sap—as a strategy for managing grasshoppers.

Experimenting with Camelina: A Farmer-Led Look at Rotation, Oil, and Opportunity in South Dakota

In South Dakota, Art and Jennifer Walker have been exploring winter camelina as a sustainable rotational crop alternative.

Netting for Better Apples: A Sustainable Alternative to Thinning and Pest Control

In Michigan, researchers and apple growers have been testing the use of exclusion netting as a non-chemical thinning method.

Tarping for Weed Control Guide: A Low-Till Strategy for Vegetable Growers

This guide outlines methods of tarping use for weed management and provides information on tarp implementation and installation.

Winter High Tunnel Salad Mix Varieties Tested

Franklinton Farms tested different types of salad and lettuce greens to see which grew best in their high tunnel in Ohio. The goal was to find top performers for small-scale growers.

South Dakota Innovators Build Affordable DIY Roller-Crimper

Ryan Schmid with the Ecdysis Foundation worked with farmers in South Dakota on a do-it-yourself guide and videos for repurposing a disc into a low-cost roller-crimper.

Heirloom Corn Brings Flavor and Potential to Craft Distilling in Illinois

In Illinois, farmers and researchers investigated the potential of growing heirloom corn varieties specifically for use in craft spirits production.

Bringing Burgundy Truffles to Indiana

Mimi and Evan Kokosaka are developing Indiana's first large-scale truffle orchard, cultivating Burgundy truffles with oak seedlings.

Cedar Valley Innovation Advances Wide Row Cover Crop Practices in Iowa

In Iowa, Bob Recker has been comparing cover crop vigor in wide (60'' or 90'') row corn plots versus traditional (20'' or 30'') row plantings.

Tenth Street Orchard Tests Sustainable Strawberry Production Methods in Kansas

With SARE support, Tenth Street Orchard compared soil health and profitability of annual plasticulture and a combination plasticulture/matted-row system for strawberry production in central Kansas.

Nebraska Ranch Enhances Winter Livestock Feeding with Fodder System

Near Omaha, Nebraska, Bill Alward received SARE support to incorporate a fodder system on his small integrated livestock operation.

Apply for a Graduate Student Grant

Proposals must be submitted by 4pm central time, May 29, 2025.

Innovative Sliding Electric Fence System for Pastured Poultry

With 3,000+ pasture-raised laying hens, Michael Gutschenritter from Three Brothers Farm in Wisconsin needed a solution that saved time and energy. Enter the HenPen, a sliding fence system with an integrated feeder that gets the job done faster with less physical strain.

Beekeeping in Northern Climates Manual and Guidebook

The "Beekeeping in Northern Climates" Manual and Workbook are companion resources created by the University of Minnesota's Bee Lab to help beekeepers understand and apply region-specific best practices. Beekeeping in Northern Climates Manual The third edition of Beekeeping in Northern Climates is a manual from the University of Minnesota Bee Lab for both new and experienced beekeepers […]

Hybrid Tractor Combines Efficiency and Reliability

Robert Braun received a SARE grant to research and demonstrate a hybrid dual-fuel tractor conversion on his Wisconsin farm.

Exploring the Potential of Cover Crop Grazing in Kansas 

Cover Crop Grazing: temporary electric cross fencing was used to control grazing areas and was moved regularly in an on-farm cover crop grazing intensity study in Kansas. Photos courtesy of Logan Simon.

Growing Peaches in Minnesota: A Cold-Climate Success Story 

With support from a SARE grant, Dan Sheild developed a peach-growing system tailored to Minnesota’s harsh winters.