Entries by Tracy Mumma

Farmer Involvement Key in Developing Effective Biodiversity Strategies

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Researchers from the University of Exeter wrote in The Conversation about how the Burren Life project in Ireland is involving farmers in developing effective strategies to promote biodiversity on agricultural lands. The authors explain why incentive programs aimed at changing farmer behavior often fail to achieve long-term success: because they fail to acknowledge farmers’ understanding […]

Results of On-farm Onion Variety Trial Available

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Practical Farmers of Iowa published the results of a trial of six onion varieties, conducted by four cooperating farms. The cooperators measured yield and storage stability for Patterson, Talon, Blush, Ailsa Craig, Redwing, and Rossa di Milano onions. They also looked for a correlation between thrips resistance, yield, and storage stability, but found no such […]

Southern SARE Graduate Student Grant

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Applications are due May 16, 2025. The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program is accepting Graduate Student Grant Program proposals up to $22,000. This program is open to Master’s and PhD students, enrolled at accredited institutions across the Southern region, who are interested in exploring areas of sustainable agriculture through quantitative and qualitative […]

Agriculture Education Program Serving Youth in USVI

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The Center for Educational Growth (CFEG), an education-based nonprofit organization and hybrid online and in-person school, developed a virtual and in-person youth sustainable agriculture education program on St. Croix with grant support from the Southern SARE program. This model program exposes young people to agriculture in the Virgin Islands and encourages them to become entrepreneurs […]

Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship

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Applications are due by May 1, 2025. The Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON) and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) are accepting applications for the Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, in memory of Cynthia Hayes, co-founder and former director of SAAFON, is a $5,000 award that includes the opportunity to connect with […]

Researchers Ask Livestock Producers Grazing Grassland to Complete Survey

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Researchers from South Dakota State University, West Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research are inviting producers with livestock grazing on grassland to complete an online survey. The survey relates to pasture cropping, asking users their perception of the benefits, costs, and challenges of adopting pasture cropping and asking non-users of pasture cropping about […]

Research Summarizes Results of Using Cover Crops for Phytoremediation

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The Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research summarized the results of more than 100 scientific studies to identify cover crops that could be useful for phytoremediation of agricultural lands. Using plants to remediate soils is not a new idea, but utilizing cover crops to remediate agricultural lands is a less understood practice. In this study, researchers […]

Northeast Farmers Invited to Participate in Farm Transfer and Progression Survey

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Penn State Extension is working to identify and compare farm succession planning and patterns, as well as to understand farmers’ attitudes and intentions regarding farm transfer and progression across the Northeast. Farmers are invited to take a 15-minute, confidential, online survey to share their views. Findings from this collaborative research project will inform the development […]

Heat Stress Impacts Dairy Production, Especially on Small Farms

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A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that high heat and humidity lead to a 1% decline in annual milk yield for U.S. dairy producers. The study also revealed that small farms experience a disproportional impact, amounting to a 1.6% decline, because larger farms are often better able to mitigate some of […]

Natural Predators Could Help Control Spotted Lanternfly Pest

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Research led by Penn State and published in Arthropod-Plant Interactions evaluated the effectiveness of various predator insects in controlling spotted lanternfly populations. The spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest insect that causes damage to vineyards and orchards, is now found in 18 states. This study found that spined soldier bugs, Carolina mantises, and Chinese mantises were […]