Attra - Sustainable Agriculture

For centuries, draft animals were the premier power source for agriculture.  Although tractors eventually usurped draft animals on most farms, ranches, and forests, some teamsters have kept the traditions alive. With the upswing of modern homesteading and people striving for ecologically beneficial agricultural practices, it looks like draft power is making a comeback.  In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist andwanna-be teamster Linda Poole quizzes seasoned experts Tracy Mumma (also an NCAT staff member), Tracy’s husband David Sturman, and Jim Gronau – an oxen teamster from Canada –on the what, why, and how of getting started with draft animals.  If you want to learn more, be sure to come back for the next episode– an in-depth conversation between Tracy and Jim about using draft animals in farming. Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Draft Animal Power for Farming: Other Related Resources: ·        Oxen: A Teamster’s Guide to Raising, Training, Driving & Showing · 

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit sare.org.In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan talks with Edmund Frost at the Twin Oaks Intentional Community in Virginia. Edmund is the managing director of Common Wealth Seed Growers, a cooperative of seed growers producing farmer-grown, regionally trialed seeds in the Southeast.Since 2013, he has received funding from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education for research and breeding work with butternut squash. Justin and Edmund talk about breeding strategies to produce butternut squash that is resistant to downy mildew while still maintaining its eating quality. They also discuss how Edmund conducts taste tests of the squash and how he gathers the data from his research.Related AT

This episode of Voices from the Field introduces one of NCAT’s newest staff members. Danielle Duni recently joined NCAT as a Carbon Farm Planner who will aid Wyoming shepherds as they build profitable businesses and healthy landscapes.   Danielle shares her winding career path working with livestock across the western U.S. and her vision for ranchers “finding that interface where we can all work together to build resilient communities.” Also, Danielle and NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole sketch the shape of the Climate Beneficial Fiber Partnership, a five-year program to provide technical assistance and cost-sharing to ranchers and farmers growing wool or cotton using climate-beneficial practices. With support from USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, Danielle will lead NCAT’s work to build a better future for Wyoming woolgrowers and working lands. Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Climate Beneficial Practices ·        Growing Hope: Practical Tools for Changing Climate and Soils ·        Episo

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet one of NCAT’s impressive new staff members, Allison Cooley-Agee. Allison talks with NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey about her background and the interesting and varied experience she brings to her new position as a Carbon Farm Planner. Training cutting horses, milking goats on an organic dairy, raw milk, 4-H, and Nicole Masters all make their way into the conversation.  Allison also discusses the Climate Beneficial Fiber Project, which will be the main focus of her work for the next few years and will benefit sheep producers in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. She also explains the process of carbon farm planning, and how to go about applying for the Climate Beneficial Fiber Project.  Related NCAT Resources: Climate Beneficial Fiber Project Related ATTRA Resources: Episode 321. Meet NCAT: Tyler Jenkins on Carbon Farm Planning Spotlighting Carbon Farm Planning Episode 317. Meet NCAT: Cody Brown on Carbon Farm Planning Episode 284. Carbon Farm Planning

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, Director of NCAT’s ATTRA and Armed to Farm programs, visits with Dr. Adam Ingrao, a beekeeper and educator in Michigan. Adam, a military veteran, talks about his farming operation and the programs that have been beneficial to it.  He shares how his military service and farming experiences led him to beekeeping. He also discusses the Heroes to Hives program, which reaches thousands of veterans each year, and he offers some advice for veterans who are interested in farming.  Related NCAT Resources: ·        NCAT Armed to Farm ·        NCAT Armed to Farm Facebook page  Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Veteran Resources ·        Veteran’s Business Planning Tipsheet ·        Armed to Farm Map Connects Farmer Veterans Across the U.S. ·        Farmer Veteran Finds Passion in Horticulture Therapy ·        Programs Focus on Farmer Well-Being ·        Veterans Discuss USDA Programs ·        From the Air Force to Alpacas Other Resources:  ·        Heroes to Hives · 

This episode of Voices from the Field is the first of a new podcast series, "Lessons Learned on a Southern Farm." In it, NCAT Gulf States Regional Coordinator Felicia Bell talks with Marguerite McClintock from Alchemy Farms and Plants in Huntsville, Alabama.   Marguerite discusses the lessons she has learned from operating her certified organic vegetable farm and from raising heritage and registered sheep, specifically Katahdinand Gulf Coast Native. She offers some tips and ideas that Alchemy Farm used tostay in business while maintaining the farm's organic integrity.  Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Pasture Management ·        Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers ·        Organic Tomato Production ·        Grazing to Control Parasites ·        Small Ruminant Sustainability Checksheet ·        Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats Other Resources: ·        Alchemy Farms and Plants Contact Felicia Bell at feliciab@ncat.org. Please c

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit sare.org.In it, NCAT Sustainable Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames talks with Weston Lombard, who grows mulberries on his Millfield, Ohio, farm and was a SARE farmer/rancher grant recipient on the topic “Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the Midwest” in 2016.Guy and Weston talk about the commercial possibilities and challenges mulberries present, along with different cultivars and growing strategies.Related ATTRA Resources:Community OrchardsFruit Trees, Orchards, and Vines for Natural Growing in the OzarksCommunity Forest Gardens: Case Studies Throughout the United States Related SARE Resources:Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the MidwestSustainable Agriculture Solutions for Appalachia: M

We have only recently begun to understand the true nature of soil organic matter. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater is joined by Dr. Johannes Lehmann, a Cornell University professor with the School of Integrative Plant Science - Soil and Crop Sciences Section as well as the Department of Global Development. They talk about misconceptions around soil humus and explore new ways to look at the organic components of the soil. They also discuss a number of other issues, including the carbon cycle, the importance of diversity, and the challenges of creating a circular economy.Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Managing Soil for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage ·        Climate SolutionsOther Resources: ·        Lehmann Lab: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Contact Nina Prater at ninap@ncat.org.Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podca

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a discussion between Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole. Mickey touches on the value of reading, the role of on-farm experiments, the need for a good veterinarian/client relationship, and learning from people we don't agree with. Related ATTRA Resources:·        Episode 325. She’s Raising Sheep: Mickey Willenbring of Oregon, Part 1·        Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire ParticlesOther Resources:·        Dot Ranch·        Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep)·        Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op·        Navajo Shepherd Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical su

Raising sheep can be a hobby or a business, a joy or a trial. And with the right intent and actions, it can also be a powerful way to heal ourselves and our relationship with the Earth.  Listen as Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-Churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, shares her shepherding journey and the wisdom she's gleaning along the way. In the first of a two-part discussion with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Mickey touches on the shepherding challenges of parasites, predators, and marketing. Related ATTRA Resources: She’s Raising Sheep Series  Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles  Other Resources: Dot Ranch Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep) Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op Navajo Shepherd Contact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  You can get in touch with

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater and her husband, Jeremy Prater – a cattle and meat goat farmer – explore the science and history of potassium. Potassium fertilizer prices have increased 45 percent in the past few years, and finding ways to reduce  off-farm inputs of potassium can improve a farm’s bottom line. Nina and Jeremy discuss potassium in the soil and in plants as well as the human history around this element. They then share  ways to manage soils sustainably and require less off-farm potassium fertilizer.   Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Rising Fertilizer Costs: Look to History for Answers ·        Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology  ·        Cotton Fields to Pasture: Soil Health Matters with Bill Robertson ·        Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use Other Resources: ·        The Nature and Properties of Soils ·        Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners: Potassium ·        Fertilizer Prices  ·        Impacts and Repercuss

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez talks with his NCAT colleague Local Foods Specialist Molly Kirkham. Molly, who also manages the Dillon Farmers’ Market in Dillon, Montana, gives us a glimpse into the work required to make a farmers market operate smoothly and function as a place where the community can connect. She also discusses several important points for farmers to consider when evaluating whether farmers markets are a good marketing option for them.  Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Local Food Systems ·        Farmers Markets Other Resources: ·        Dillon Farmers’ Market Contact Molly Kirkham and Omar Rodriguez at mollyk@ncat.org and omarr@ncat.org. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we get to know one of our newest NCAT employees, Tyler Jenkins. Tyler is joining the NCAT team as a Carbon Farm Planner and will be working on our “Building Soil, Building Equity” project, as well as contributing to the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater talks with Tyler about his work before coming to NCAT, what he will be focused on as part of the NCAT team, and to how to make the perfect tomato sandwich.Related ATTRA Resources: ·        NCATReceives $30 Million to Expand Climate Beneficial Wool, Cotton Production Other Resources: ·         The Accountant   Contact Tyler Jenkins at tylerj@ncat.org Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. You can getin touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. This podcast is produced by the Nationa

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole and Dr. Kathy Soder, who runs 125 Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan. They cover a variety of issues, including predators, parasites, and profits in the discussion, which is part of ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.”The link to the first part of the discussion is in the notes to this podcast, so be sure to check it out along with the rest of the “She’s Raising Sheep” series.ATTRA Resources:Episode 320. She’s Raising Sheep: Dr. Kathy Soder of Pennsylvania, Part 1She’s Raising Sheep SeriesSheep and GoatsOther Resources: Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health SheepContact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.orgPlease complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, vi

This episode of Voices from the Field continues ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.” In a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Dr. Kathy Soder discusses building a healthy, profitable flock of sheep no matter where you farm. Kathy, an animal scientist and ruminant nutritionist with decades of experience raising sheep in both Montana and Pennsylvania, runs 125 production Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan.Be sure to come back next time for the second part of the conversation, when Kathy and Linda turn their attention to parasites, predators, livestock guard dogs, production equipment, and the mistakes Kathy has learned from along the way.ATTRA Resources:She’s Raising Sheep SeriesSheep and GoatsOther Resources: Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health SheepContact Linda Poole at lindap@ncat.org Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist and Montana Farmers Market Network Manager Tammy Howard talks with Erin Austin of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) about its online Abundant Montana platform. Erin is the Director of Community Partners and Sales at AERO and Abundant Montana. She talks with Tammy about how new and existing farmers market vendors can use the platform as a vendor tool — from finding area farmers markets to creating a digital marketing strategy.  ATTRA Resources: ·        Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets  ·        Farmers Market Pricing Strategies for Vendors ·         Farmers Markets NCAT Resources:  ·        Montana Farmers Market Network  Other Resources: ·        Abundant Montana  Contact Tammy Howard at tammyh@ncat.org  Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content ofthis podcast.  You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and findaccess to our trusted, practical sustainable-agricult

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Samantha O’Byrne, CEO of the O’Hara Commons & Sustainability Center farmers market in Hamilton, Montana, gives us a behind the scenes look at the role of a farmers market manager during a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez.  Key to Samantha’s management philosophy is a dedication to local foods and the desire to ensure that both the market and the farmers who offer their goods for sale succeed through mutual support and engagement.  This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number G182-21-W7903 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number PDP20-009. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Depa

This episode of Voices from the Field is a conversation centered around two organizations helping the community through sustainable agriculture and education in the San Antonio, Texas, area. Stephen Lucke of Gardopia Gardens in San Antonio's Gardopia Gardens and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan take a candid look at their organizations’ missions as well as the projects they have done and are doing – and how those projects impact the community. ATTRA Resources:·        Community Gardening·        Local Food SystemsOther Resources:·        Gardopia GardensContact Justin Duncan at justind@ncat.orgPlease complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet Fred Bahnson, NCAT’s new Executive Director. Fred tells us the story of the journey that led him to NCAT and talks with Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis about the strength of NCAT’s resources — and staff — and some of its many programs.Related Resources:·        National Center for Appropriate Technology·        ATTRA·        Armed to Farm·        Soil for Water·        AgriSolar ClearinghouseContact Fred Bahnson and Mike Lewis at fredb@ncat.org and mikel@ncat.orgPlease complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialists Andrew Coggins and John Wallace talk about biochar and NCAT’s use of biochar in its Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training (SIFT) program.  John runs NCAT’s SIFT farm at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Butte, Montana.SIFT does sustainable agriculture trials at the farm, including some that have focusedon biochar. John and Andrew talk about renewed interest in biochar as a meansof sequestering carbon and as a soil amendment and even a possible soil enhancement.  Related ATTRA Resources: ·        Biochar ·        Episode286. What is Biochar? ·        Biocharand Sustainable Agriculture ·        Buildinga Biochar Retort Kiln ·        Producersand Researchers Agree, Scaleup of a Sustainable Biochar Industry isCritical to Meet Climate Targets and Build Agricultural Resilience and Soil Health ·        BiocharPolicy Project Aims to Scale Up Rural Climate Solution ·        Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production ·        Agriculture