Entries by Rich Myers

Episode 287. Uber for Tomatoes: Could “Crowdshipping” Solve Food Transportation Problems for Small Farms?

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, we meet Dr. Carolyn Krejci, an industrial engineer and expert on supply-chain management at the University of Texas at Arlington who is designing surprising new ways of supporting local and regional food systems. She and NCAT Southwest Regional Director Mike Morris sit down to discuss her pioneering […]

Episode 286. What is Biochar?

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Luz Ballesteros talks with Michael Navarro of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley about his biochar research. Michael, working with biochar created from grapefruit peels, is examining its ability to remediate soils that have been contaminated with heavy metals. Luz and Michael […]

Financing an Organic Farm with Federal Programs

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Starting a farm can be tough, especially if you don’t have cash upfront to invest into your business. Luckily, there are many government programs that beginning farmers can take advantage of to help cover some costs. In this video, we hear Juan Raygoza tell the story of starting his farm. Juan, a vegetable farmer in […]

AgriSolar Podcasts Ep. 2: Keeping Family Farms in Family Hands with AgriSolar in Massachusetts

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This episode is a conversation between Stacie Peterson, NCAT’s Energy Program Director and Manager of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, and Nate Tassinari, the owner of Million Little Sunbeams, a third-generation hay farm in Monson, Massachusetts. It is the second in a series of AgriSolar Clearinghouse podcasts that are being featured on ATTRA’S Voices from the Field […]

Episode 284. Carbon Farm Planning

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Lynette Niebrugge, Associate Director of Education and Training at the Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI), and Loren Poncia, co-owner of Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales, California, broke new ground with one of CCI’s first Carbon Farm Plans almost a decade ago. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lynette and Loren speak with NCAT Climate […]

Growing Hemp for Fiber

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Hemp can be grown for many purposes, one of which is to produce fiber. In this video, we head to California’s San Joaquin Valley to learn how to grow hemp for fiber — including deciding when to seed and when to harvest, determining seeding rates and seeding methods, irrigation, pest management, harvesting methods, drying methods, […]

Growing Hemp for Seed Production in California’s San Joaquin Valley

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Hemp can be grown for many purposes, including for seed. In this video, we head to California’s San Joaquin Valley to learn about how to grow hemp for seed production — including deciding when to seed and when to harvest, determining seeding rates, and achieving high-quality seed. The video also explains why California is a […]

The Internal GAP Audit: General Questions

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Every GAP audit will have a section on general questions that relate to the food safety practices on a farm. This is the first set of questions in the audit. The general questions will be both broad and specific with questions such as, “Are employees and visitors following good hygiene/sanitation practices?” and “Are readily understandable […]

Episode 283. The Real Story Behind the Real Organic Project

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How is organic farming changing in America? Should soil-free hydroponic produce be certified as organic? And why have 1,100 certified-organic farms started adding a Real Organic label to the familiar green USDA Organic label? In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Southwest Regional Director Mike Morris sits down with Linley Dixon, Co-Director of […]