www.sare.org resources what-is-sustainable-agriculture What is Sustainable Agriculture? A simple way to think about sustainable agriculture is that it involves producing enough food and fiber to satisfy today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. Farmers and ranchers who value sustainability embrace three common goals while running productive operations: To achieve these sustainability goals, a farmer typically views […]
www.sare.org resources building-soils-for-better-crops Building Soils for Better Crops The 4th edition of Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. It will show you how different physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil interconnect, and how […]
www.sare.org resources smart-water-use-on-your-farm-or-ranch Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch As producers throughout the nation grow increasingly concerned about water scarcity, farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators are beginning to explore new, conservation-oriented approaches to water use. They are managing soil to improve infiltration, selecting drought-tolerant crops and native forages, and designing innovative runoff collection systems. Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crop-economics Cover Crop Economics Farmers around the country are planting cover crops on millions of acres to protect and improve the soil, and the more that farmers use cover crops, the more they value this conservation practice. Cover Crop Economics: Opportunities to Improve Your Bottom Line in Row Crops looks at the economics of cover crops in corn and […]
www.sare.org resources what-is-soil-health What is Soil Health? Why is soil health so important? More and more, producers are understanding that healthy soils are more productive and lead to healthier crops. Dig into this interactive infographic to learn more about sustainable production practices that can help build healthy soil. Explore the on-farm benefits of using cover crops, crop rotation, manure amendments, composting and […]
www.sare.org resources cultivating-climate-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches outlines the new challenges that changing weather patterns pose in agriculture throughout the United States, and what you can do to make your farm more resilient. By understanding the climate risks to your production system and practices that can reduce those risks, you can identify some management steps […]
www.sare.org resources economic-and-environmental-aspects-of-cover-crops Economic and Environmental Aspects of Cover Crops Session recordings on this page include: Economics of Cover Crops Business Opportunities with Cover Crops and Soil Health Environmental Impacts of Cover Crop Systems Economics of Cover Crops Speakers will provide a commercial family farm perspective, using real research data to quantify the economic impact of a never-till and cover crop production system. Highlights include: […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crop-role-in-the-cropping-system Cover Crop Role in the Cropping System Session recordings on this page include: Cover Crops and Nutrient Management Cover Crop Impacts on Diseases and Insects Cover Crops, Herbicides and Dealing with Herbicide-Resistant Weeds Cover Crops and Nutrient Management The use of cover crops can have a significant impact in reducing nutrient losses in fields and affecting overall nutrient availability in soils. Speakers […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-as-part-of-an-overall-nutrient-management-system-2 Cover Crops as Part of an Overall Nutrient Management System In this session, Steven Mirsky (USDA-ARS) discusses the role of cover crops in integrated fertility management and maximizing nutrient availability, as well as the role of grasses versus legumes and matching other nutrient sources with cover crop performance. Heather Darby (University of Vermont) continues by addressing cover crops in the context of forages, dairies, perennials […]
www.sare.org resources managing-cover-crops-for-ecosystem-services-in-vegetable-systems Managing Cover Crops for Ecosystem Services in Vegetable Systems Natalie Lounsbury (University of New Hampshire) discusses how to manage cover crops for such ecosystem services as: suppressing weeds, attracting pollinators, cycling nutrients, promoting biological diversity and controlling erosion. This session was part of Cover Crops for Soil Health, a three-day professional development workshop hosted by Northeast SARE and Delaware State University in March 2016. […]
www.sare.org resources investing-in-the-next-generation-of-agricultural-scientists Investing in the Next Generation of Agricultural Scientists The challenges that farmers and ranchers face today are growing more and more complex, and the cornerstone of the SARE program is the idea that sustainable solutions to these challenges arise when scientists, educators and producers work together to test theories in real-world, on-farm situations. However, for this approach itself to be sustainable, there must […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-for-soil-health-workshop Cover Crops for Soil Health Workshop This three-day professional development workshop, hosted by Northeast SARE and Delaware State University in March 2016, addressed the latest research on the benefits and successful management of cover crops in grain, vegetable and animal production systems. All session recordings are available as a YouTube playlist, or browse to individual sessions below. Recorded sessions include: Overview […]
www.sare.org resources berry-soil-and-nutrient-management Berry Soil and Nutrient Management Guide for Educators and Growers Commercial berry growers in the Northeast have traditionally made standardized fertilizer applications based on crop age or past fertilization practices, and not on site-specific data of plant nutrient status. This practice continues today, some 20 years or more after commercial berry crop guidelines for analysis-based fertilization programs became widely available. Adoption of soil health improving practices (including the consideration of physical and […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations A condensed version of this page is available as a four-page PDF, Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations, or use the Order in Print button on this page to order free hard copies. Also available in Spanish and Chinese. What is a Cover Crop? Cover crops should be viewed as a long-term investment in improved […]
www.sare.org resources high-tunnels-and-other-season-extension-techniques High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques A condensed version of the content on this page is available as a PDF download, High Tunnels and other Season Extension Techniques. Or use the Order button on this page to order free hard copies. This page was created to provide information for producers and educators interested in generating more income by extending the growing season. […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-seed-selection-and-planting Cover Crops Seed Selection and Planting Knowing which cover crops to pick for your farm's goals can be daunting. So many options exist that it is sometimes hard to know what to pick and then how to plant it. Whether you are new to cover crops or an advanced user, hear from two experts in the field on how they best […]
www.sare.org resources environmental-impacts-of-cover-crops Environmental Impacts of Cover Crops Speakers in this session discussed both local and off-site impacts of using cover crops, including some of the latest information on cover crop impacts on water quality, nitrogen loss from fields in tile lines, phosphorous loss and wildlife considerations. Dr. Tom Kaspar, USDA-ARS Iowa (PDF) Dr. Ryan Stockwell, National Wildlife Federation (PDF) Dr. Jim […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-soil-health-principles-and-maximizing-yields Cover Crops, Soil Health Principles and Maximizing Yields Improving soil health not only cleans up water quality and reduces soil loss but also provides a better environment for cash crops to succeed. Learn about basic soil health principles and how cover crops are key to making those happen on your farm. Panelists include USDA Agricultural Research Service soil scientist Kristine Nichols and Indiana […]
www.sare.org resources 2014-national-conference-on-cover-crops-and-soil-health 2014 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health The National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health, held Feb. 17-19, 2014 in Omaha, Neb., brought together 300 agricultural leaders and innovators to explore how we can make American agriculture more sustainable through improved soil health. Attendees represented agricultural industry, the farm community, academia, government, commodity and conservation organizations. Recordings of presentations from the […]
www.sare.org resources kansas-state-high-tunnel-video-series Kansas State High Tunnel Video Series A high tunnel is a freestanding or gutter-connected covered structure used for crop production. This high tunnel video series features Cary Rivard, Kansas State Research and Extension fruit and vegetable specialist, and was produced by Kansas SARE coordinator Kerri Ebert. This high tunnel series includes videos on the following topics: High Tunnel Overview | Designing a High Tunnel […]