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ATTRA’s daily recap of sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet.
ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).
Our services are available to farmers, ranchers, market gardeners, Extension agents, researchers, educators, farm organizations, and others involved in agriculture, especially those who are economically disadvantaged or belong to traditionally underserved communities.
Our experts will answer your questions about horticulture, livestock, organic farming, pests, and much more!
GET HELPThe ATTRA Question of the Week features a relevant topic chosen by our experts.
JOIN THE DISCUSSIONWhether you're a beginning farmer, or an experienced agricultural producer interested in transitioning to more sustainable practices, you may want to start by learning more about the principles of sustainable agriculture and some of the "systems" approaches associated with it.
LEARN MOREWhether you’re an experienced or a beginning producer, you can find useful information relating to traditional livestock such as beef and dairy cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry, as well as introductions to alternative livestock options from bees to bison.
LEARN MOREArmed to Farm is Sustainable Agriculture Training For Military Veterans. Learn more about current opportunities, technical assistance, and online tutorials.
LEARN MOREWhile in Washington, DC, last spring, just as the rising tide of COVID-19 began, I had the pleasure of visiting with Senator John Boozman of Arkansas during a chance encounter outside the Capitol. A warm and friendly man by temperament, his dedication to sustainable agriculture and local food systems quickly animated our curbside conversation.
By Steve Thompson, NCAT Executive Director
I’ve been on staff for decades at the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), which has, over the years, managed a wealth of projects related to sustainable agriculture, sustainable energy, and sustainable communities. Throughout that time, one of the most common questions we consistently receive from our clients is some version of “Is federal assistance available for my project?” And the simple answer is “Yes, lots!”
By Cathy Svejkovsky, NCAT Publications Director
NCAT Southeast Regional Director and Livestock Specialist Margo Hale and I are doing a series on getting started in livestock: see blog posts 41 and 42, and listen to podcast episodes 179 and 182 to read or hear our discussions. We have a lot more to say on the subject. We often joke that episodes might be titled, “What Linda Should Have Done,” and so I offer to you some stories in hopes that I might save you some hard lessons. I’m focusing on our sheep enterprise to keep this post short, and also because we learned the most from our sheep. I believe the lessons will apply to other types of livestock as well, so please read on.
By Linda Coffey, NCAT Livestock Specialist
Because our farm brand is your farm story, here are some ways that will spice up your farm brand and give you new ways to connect to your customers that you can explore. The point of all this is to better understand how to connect a story with its audience.
By Daniel Prial, NCAT Community Food Specialist
ATTRA’s daily recap of sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet.
ATTRA’s interactive calendar of events will keep you updated on the the goings on in Sustainable Agriculture. We also provide the opportunity for organizations to publicize their upcoming event, festival and projects through our online events calendar.
A directory of on-the-job learning opportunities in sustainable and organic agriculture in the U.S. (and some in Canada) has been published since 1989 as a tool to help farmers and apprentices connect with each other.
A clearinghouse of available grant and funding opportunities within the realm of Sustainable Agriculture.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign published a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that shows pollinator decline receives little mainstream news coverage. A search of nearly 2
In coordination with the Canadian Space Agency, NASA has opened the Deep Space Food Challenge. The goal of the competition is to generate novel food production technologies or systems that require minimal resources and p
Related ATTRA Publication: Tips for Selling with: Agritourism and “Pick-Your-Own” A survey conducted by the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Illinois Specialty Growers Association, and the Illinois Fa
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