Entries by ncat-admin

Grazing for Resilience: Bouncing Forward from Catastrophic Events

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For many areas of the western United States and Canada, 2021 was one of the hottest and driest years in recorded history. With temperatures exceeding 110 degrees F and precipitation at one-third to one-half of what’s been the norm, these are unparalleled conditions that are catastrophic in their effect on the land, animals, and people. But what is to be done when nature dishes out severe weather events such as flooding, fire, or grasshoppers that eat every green leaf in sight? Is it possible to not just bounce back from such catastrophes but to bounce forward by rising to even greater resilience in the future? The answer is a resounding YES!

By Justin Morris and Linda Poole, Regenerative Grazing Specialists

Farrowing on Pasture

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Join NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis for an overview of farrowing pigs on pasture. This webinar provides an overview of the best practices when it comes to pasture-based farrowing, […]

Episode 241. NCAT’s Soil for Water Project to Connect a Community of Regenerators

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The National Center for Appropriate Technology has officially re-launched its Soil for Water project, opening access to the free, voluntary network to all commercial farmers, ranchers, and land managers across the United States. Soil for Water aims to connect farmers, ranchers, and land managers who are interested in land management practices that improve soil health, catch more water in soil, reduce erosion, sustain diverse plant and animal life, and filter out pollutants all while sustaining a profitable business.
NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders and NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole

Bigger Isn’t Always Better: When Small Cows Shine

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Our farm is small, and it doesn’t have a lot of infrastructure or equipment. This makes handling cattle an intimidating proposition for our family. Fortunately, not all cattle are created equal. By selecting Aberdeen Angus, a small breed of cattle about 44 inches at the hip and 1,000 pounds per cow, we were able to work a beef enterprise into our farm operation with minimal difficulty. 

By Tracy Mumma, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Episode 240. Urban Agroforestry for Dryland Environments 

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Urban agroforestry is the intentional use of perennial trees and shrubs to improve the sustainability and resilience of urban farms and communities. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agroforestry Specialist Katherine Favor sits down with Christopher Marciello of Ecology Artisans — a regenerative landscape and design firm — to talk about urban agroforestry in dryland environments.
Katherine Favor and Christopher Marciello

Looking for On-farm Diversification? Consider Pastured Pigs

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I once had a platoon sergeant who liked to say, “the best defense is having a diversity of offense.” It wasn’t until recently that I made this connection to my farm and to my work at NCAT. One of the most common topics that I speak with farmers about is how to best diversify their operation to successfully weather the current reality we find ourselves in.

By Mike Lewis, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist