From the Field Profiles

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.

Using Lung Scanning Technology to Identify Respiratory Illnesses

Using a SARE Farmer/Rancher grant, Tabitha Steckler Hurst of Hunley Creek Heifer Farm in southern Indiana set out to see if the same ultrasound technology used to scan cows for pregnancy could be used in a practical setting to scan lungs for illness.

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.

Adapting to Climate Change Through Data-Driven Decisions

Jeff Miller used a SARE Farmer Rancher grant to introduce drone imagery and weather station data to better assess the impacts of extreme weather on his fields and crops and to inform his responses.

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.

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.

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.

Grazing Cover Crops and Advancing Farmer Networks in Wisconsin

Dane County Land Conservation was able to support and create intentional spaces for a group of farmers willing to take a chance on establishing and utilizing cover crops on their farms to improve soil health.

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.

Cultivating Food and Community with Indianapolis' Soul Food Project

Indianapolis' Soul Food Project is growing food and community with a farmers market stand and CSA program for Northeast side residents.

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.

Best Practices for Hemp Production in Kansas

The Kansas Hemp Consortium is working to increase awareness and industry knowledge of industrial hemp.

Physical Weed Control Strategies for Midwest Vegetable Growers

A group of farmers and researchers has been working to generate useful, farm-tested, and detailed observations on the best methods and tools for managing in-row weeds. This image is a Tilmor cultivating tractor with finger-weeders belly mounted.

Bringing Fresh Foods to Illinois Schools and Institutions

Illinois' Hendrick House Farm is working to create new opportunities for local farmers, bringing the local food revolution to community farms and schools.

North Dakota Farmers Lead the Way With Bale Grazing

In, North Dakota, siblings Erin and and Drew Gaugler are experimenting with bale grazing, or the practice of leaving hay bales in fields during the winter for livestock to graze.

‪Increasing Food Security in a Mohican Tribal Community

With support from SARE, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Agriculture Agent Kellie Zahn is working with local educators to give new and existing farmers hands-on training in many areas that she hopes will improve the tribe’s ability to grow fresh produce.

Figs as a Niche Crop in Northern Ohio

Tim and Beth Malinich received a SARE grant to experiment with overwintering methods for raising figs on their Ohio farm.