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ATTRA Blog

Whether you’re a seasoned or beginning producer, a curious consumer, or simply someone who appreciates the bounty of the earth, you’ll find valuable insights and engaging stories here.

Written by ATTRA specialists on topics they are passionate and knowledgeable about, the ATTRA blog highlights techniques, how-tos, insight, success stories, and much more in support of sustainable agriculture.

A hoophouse

Helping a Neighbor—and helping NCAT, too

I've spent most of my life working in large-scale crop production. Through this work, I've developed a passion for growing food and feeding people, which feels even more important right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Andrew Coggins, NCAT Rocky Mountain West Regional Director

Mississippi Food Justice Collaborative: Transforming Mississippi Food Systems

Food culture is very rich here in Mississippi. No matter where your adventures lead you, food will navigate you across the state to people, culture, landmarks, history, and all of the things that I feel make The Magnolia State so great.
By Asha Tillman, NCAT Agriculture Specialist and Co-Coordinator of the MS Food Systems Fellowship
Ann Baier

Processing Poultry Meat for Sale: The Right Approach for Your Farm?

Beginning poultry producers commonly ask How do I navigate poultry processing regulations for selling poultry meat? or Does it make more sense to process my broilers on-farm or to take them to a processing facility?
By Ann Baier, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
farmer walking away in field

Weekly Wednesday Workshop: Intellectual Property

Felicia Bell, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at the…
Red Lodge Farmers Market

Farmers markets are ESSENTIAL. Let’s celebrate them the first week of August

Like many beginnings farmers, I started out selling at farmers markets in central New York State. It afforded me the opportunity to try out my marketing skills with relatively little risk.
By Maura Henn, NCAT Community Food Systems Specialist; Tammy Howard, NCAT Agriculture Specialist; and Dave Scott, NCAT Livestock Specialist
Colin Mitchell

Payments for Ecosystem Services

By Colin Mitchell, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist My…
drought tolerant garden

Low-Maintenance Gardening in the Time of Pandemic and Drought

During these challenging times, home gardening has become one of the more popular past times for many people.
By Martin Guerena, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Kara with group

Feeding Communities Impacted by the Pandemic

The most amazing thing I have seen come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is our ability to adapt and mobilize into positive action, regardless of the circumstances.
By Kara Kroeger, NCAT Agriculture Specialist
Asian pear leaves

Pear Trees Exemplify Resilience

Resilience is the latest buzzword in the lexicon of sustainable agriculture... and for good reason. Resilience is the ability to recover or bounce back after a challenge or setback.
By Guy Ames, NCAT Horticulture Specialist

Selling Meat During the COVID-19 Pandemic

While we never have a problem selling what we have available, we also don’t usually have an overwhelming demand. As soon as COVID-19 hit, though, people who have never bought meat from us before began reaching out to see if we had any meat available for sale. They wanted to stock their freezers!
By Margo Hale, NCAT Southeast Regional Director and NCAT Livestock Specialist