North Central

The Commercial Potential of Mulberries in the Midwest

Weston Lombard has successfully incorporated mulberries into the agroforestry system on his farm, where harvested leaves and dropped fruit provide excellent forage for chickens and hogs.

From the Earth: Advancing Food Sovereignty with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community

With their From the Earth project, Tribal growers and educators with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community are increasing access to traditional foods using sustainable growing methods.

Goats Adapt to Virtual Fencing

Allysse Sorensen has been experimenting with virtual fencing for targeted grazing with goats.

Generating Income from Pollinator Habitat on an Urban Farm

Mark Brannen of Benson Bounty in Omaha, Neb., used a SARE Farmer Rancher grant to establish native plant habitat on his 0.75-acre urban farm and assess what revenue stream he could get by selling cut flowers.

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Urban Farms

Always seeking ways to improve the sustainability of their farm, EarthDance Farm in Ferguson, Missouri used a SARE Farmer Rancher grant to incorporate both permaculture and IPM practices.

Bringing Healthy Options to Food Deserts

Partnering with two other farms, Legacy Taste of the Garden Operations Director John Jamerson used a SARE Farmer Rancher grant on a multi-faceted project to increase the availability of whole foods in food deserts in Princeton, Evansville, and Indianapolis.

Pollinator-Friendly Cover Cropping for Vegetable Producers in the Upper Midwest

Growers are increasingly interested in adding cover crops to rotations to improve soil health, break disease cycles, and provide ecosystem services. In addition to these benefits, cover crops present an opportunity to add crucial floral resources and habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects on the farm. However, identifying appropriate cover crop species and management […]

Farming Matters Video Series

NCR-SARE staff members discuss inspirations and motivations of farmers, researchers, and educators in our "Farming Matters" YouTube video podcast. Each episode provides insights into the innovative approaches SARE grantees take to address challenges. With this story-sharing series, as with all our outreach efforts, NCR-SARE is working to broaden the narrative about farmers and their communities […]

Guide to Building a Meat Processing Facility

This guide will aid producers in the upper Midwest as they navigate the requirements of establishing and operating small meat processing facilities.

Growing and Selling Mushrooms with Lauren McCalister

Lauren McCalister has been working with a network of farmers, brewers, coffee vendors, and consumers near Bloomington, Indiana who are reducing by-product waste through the production and marketing of mushrooms.

"Farming Matters" Video Series Showcases Grantees

NCR-SARE's “Farming Matters” YouTube video series features farmers, ranchers, educators, and researchers sharing the stories of their sustainable agriculture research.

Lessons to Go for Youth by KC Farm School

KC Farm School's ‘Lessons To Go’ bring sustainable agriculture education and food sovereignty practices to local youth aged 4-18.

Sustaining the Human Spirit in Farm Country

A course in skills-based suicide alertness prepared Ruth Linkenmeyer-Meirick for a desperate call from a friend.

Exploring Hydroponics with Youth

With support from an NCR-SARE Youth Educator grant, University of Missouri Extension Horticulture Specialist Donna Aufdenberg developed resources to teach sustainable approaches to hydroponic growing methods.

Improving Honeybee Queen Quality and Diversity in Ohio

Hongmei Li-Byarlay is working to improve the quality and quantity of queen bee production in Ohio.

Black Soldier Fly Composting Takes Flight on Urban Farms

Caydee Terrell received SARE support to study the utility of black soldier fly larvae composting on urban farms.

Sustaining the Sugarbush in a Tribal Community

For more than 15 years, Eric DuPuis has been a sugarmaker with the Nagaajiwanaang band of Anishinaabe Ojibwe people near Cloquet, Minnesota. With SARE support, he made some improvements to his sugarmaking enterprise that benefited his business and community.

Growing Solutions with Chicago’s West Side

Growing Solutions Farm received a SARE grant to enhance their sustainable growing program in Chicago that engages with young, diverse, West Side learners.

High-Efficiency, Year-Round Tropical Greenhouse in South Dakota

In Aurora, South Dakota, Shannon Mutschelknaus received SARE support to compare the various features of multiple passive solar greenhouse designs.

Prairie Strips as a Farmland Conservation Practice

Farmers and researchers in Iowa have been planting prairie strips in their crop fields to help reduce surface runoff.