Remove Cattle Remove Compost Remove Family Farming
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On The Ground: Your Dog’s Food Probably Comes From a Factory Farm. Meet Some Folks Who Want to Change That

Modern Farmer

Farm Hounds Family farms often struggle to stay profitable as agriculture becomes more concentrated. There were 141,733 fewer farms in the US in 2022 than in 2017, according to the Census of Agriculture. Like the hog tails, hides, organs, and hooves that aren’t always suitable for compost. Farm Hounds jerky.

Food 109
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Opinion: Farm Forward’s Investigation Into Alexandre Farms and the Greenwashing of Large-scale Dairy

Modern Farmer

Farm Forward recently published a major investigative report detailing systematic animal suffering and consumer fraud at Alexandre Family Farm—a leading large-scale organic dairy company with “well over 9,000 head of cattle,” according to co-owner Blake Alexandre—whose products are covered in certification labels.

Farming 127
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On the Ground with the Midwest Farmers Going All-In On Agroforestry

Modern Farmer

A small sheep herd that was on the property from when her parents farmed the land was integrated into organic crop rotation. The Joia Food & Fiber Farm farmstead pictured with sheep, sheepdogs, and cattle grazing. Agroforestry is family farming, and agriculture is a family and community-based, hands-on activity.

Acre 125
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Q&A: Why Do Small-Scale Farmers Persist in Place?

Daily Yonder

My parents both worked full-time off the farm. We raised a small herd of cattle on the farm, as well as the hay to feed them through the winter. And when I was in high school, around 2009, I started a community garden on our farm called “Project: Plant a Seed.” A childhood photo from the family farm.

Ruralism 117
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Farmer Conservation Stories: Why Inflation Reduction Act Funding Must Remain Focused on Climate Change

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Joseph Fischer, of Fischer Farms in St. Anthony, IN, has substantially reduced the impacts of downpours on his farm by adopting managed rotational grazing and improving his pastures. Not only does his cattle system capture carbon, but he also improves water infiltration and water holding capacity in his soils.

Pasture 116
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Almonds are Under Threat. The Key to Saving Them Could Be in the Soil

Modern Farmer

Treehouse Almonds sources nuts from roughly 50,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, and Gardiner’s family farm provides about 20,000 of them. The farm has changed a lot since his grandfather ran it and grew tomatoes and potatoes. Photography courtesy of Burroughs Family Farms. And guess what it replaces?

Orchard 94
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‘An Insane Amount of Water’: What Climate Change Means For California’s Biggest Dairy District

Modern Farmer

But thirsty crops and cattle have taken their toll: Amid California’s cycles of drought, excessive groundwater pumping has left Central Valley basins the most overdrafted in the state. Despite the resilience of family [farms], the mega-trend is undeniable,” says Raudabaugh.

Farming 97