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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.


tractor in field

Identifying Waste: Becoming a Lean Farming Machine

By Hakeem Holmes, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Lean is a business…

Can Cover Cropping Heal Abused Soil? A Mad Farm Reflection

By Lee Rinehart, NCAT Agriculture Specialist In my past two…
Grow Enrichment’s silvopasture system includes hybrid chestnuts, mulberry, pecan, sassafras, and persimmons, and the understory is seasonally grazed by a herd of goats.

Agroecological Crop Selection, Part 2

By Justin Duncan, NCAT Agriculture Specialist For the past…
Group photo at Montanans Feeding Montanans summit

The Quest for Montana Food Self-Reliance—What Will It Take?

By Tammy Howard, NCAT Agriculture Specialist I recently attended…

Right Livelihood: Reflecting on my 24 years working for NCAT’s ATTRA program

By Guy King Ames, retired NCAT Horticulture Specialist This…

More Than a Farm: Setting Your Agribusiness Up for Success

By Hakeem Holmes, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Farming—one…
Cow at frozen pond

Providing Water to Livestock in Frigid Weather

Weather events bring all sorts of challenges to livestock producers, but perhaps none more than severe winter weather. The bitterly cold temperatures in February 2021 sparked a conversation among NCAT Livestock Specialists about how we provide water to stock during such times.
By Linda Coffey, Margo Hale, and Dave Scott, NCAT Livestock Specialists

Agroecological Crop Selection, Part 1

By Justin Duncan, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist For…
Closed high tunnel system

High Tunnel Soil Management for Season Extension

By Chris Lent, NCAT Agriculture Specialist When I began to…
White clover undersown into corn

Living Mulch Cover Cropping for Gardens and Small Farms: Managing an “organic matter” system

By Lee Rinehart, NCAT Agriculture Specialist I’m sure farmers…