Entries by ncat-admin

Episode 177. Working-Lands Conservation Programs

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jeff Schahczenski, an agricultural and natural resource economist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, discusses working-lands conservation solutions with NCAT outreach specialist Rich Myers. Both work out of NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana. In the 2018 Farm Bill, significant changes were made in the two most […]

Episode 176. Starting a Farm: Water Issues

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This week’s episode of Voices from the Field is part of an occasional series from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT’s Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This series is all about starting a farm. Today’s conversation is focused on water […]

Test Driving the New LandPKS Land Monitoring App

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In my work on NCAT’s Soil for Water Project, I’ve tried a lot of different ways of monitoring land and soil health. For years, I’ve been hearing about LandPKS (Land Potential Knowledge System), a mobile app that has been under development by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) since 2013. I was excited to hear that a full version was released earlier this year, and a couple weeks ago I finally got around to installing the app on my phone and running it through some tests.
By Mike Morris, Director of NCAT’s Southwest Regional Office

Episode 175. Profiles of Tribal Mobile Markets

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Tammy Howard, an agriculture specialist who works out of NCAT’s Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana, talks with two tribal food officials about their approach to sourcing food and selling it through their “mobile markets” in rural areas of Minnesota and Mississippi. They also discuss […]

Overgrazing and the Maturing of an Adaptive Grazing Thought Process

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Close to 20 years ago, we noticed a discouraging event slowly unfolding on our pivot-irrigated pasture of 12 acres: The first 120 feet of the pasture starting from the pivot point was producing less and less grass in comparison to the remaining perimeter of the pivot.
By Dave Scott, NCAT Livestock Specialist

Episode 174. Solarization, Biosolarization, and the Pandemic

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist based at NCAT’s Western Regional Office in Davis, California, speaks with Alex Ellison of Castlerock Farm in Walnut Creek, California. The conversation includes a description of the Castlerock Farm operation as well as the initial results and challenges of Castlerock’s trials […]

Healthy Animals, Happy Farm: Strategies for Sheep and Goat Care

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What is not so much fun is when you have an animal that does not feel well. An animal that is lethargic, disinterested in grazing or in being with the flock, is depressed and slow-moving or having trouble standing is worrisome. Watching one of those animals makes me feel anxious to fix the problem.
By Linda Coffey, NCAT Livestock Specialist

Episode 173. SIFT Farm’s Unusual Year. Part 2

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Andrew Coggins, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Rocky Mountain West regional office, continues his conversation with farm manager John Wallace about research in season extension and other topics at NCAT’s SIFT farm. Both Andrew and John work out of Butte, Montana. SIFT — or […]

USDA Programs Can Help Farmers Succeed

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By Margo Hale, NCAT Southeast Regional Director, Armed to Farm Program Director, and Agriculture Specialist I have worked on NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program as an Agriculture Specialist and educator for more than 15 years. Over the years, I have taught thousands of farmers through workshops and presentations. I am often surprised by the number […]