Organic Farming Research

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Tiffany Stanley runs A Different Chick Farm, a Certified Organic family farm on just under 6 acres in Johnson City, Tennessee. She is participating in OFRF's Farmer Led Trials (FLT) Program to explore options for making on-farm compost to reduce input needs and increase fertility on her farm.

Compost 52

Compost Farming Farming Family Farming 52

Civil Eats

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Kava has endured a long history of adversity, said Lakea Trask, a Hawaiian farmer and local activist who cultivates kava and other Native crops for Kanaka Kava , his familys farm-to-table restaurant in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island. For Trask, kava is also central to healing Hawaiis post-plantation scars.

Food 129

Food Plantation Acre Production 129

UnderstandingAg

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

One common way to put a value on soil is to determine how much fertilizer it would take to replace the lost nutrients. An example from our family farm is shown below. To determine the cost of erosion, I used the NRCS tolerable soil loss or “T” value for our farm of 5 tons per acre.

Acre 96

Acre Fertilizer Crop Ranching 96

Sustainable Food Trust

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Temporary grasslands, in the form of fertility-building leys, play a key role in more environmentally sustainable arable systems that don’t rely on costly, fossil fuel-dependent agrichemicals. ” Well-managed grasslands don’t just provide benefits for people.

Livestock 81

Livestock Pasture Cattle Arable Land 81

Modern Farmer

AUGUST 24, 2023

But she maintains that “organic is still really important,” and that’s why USDA organic standards, food grown without most pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, is the minimum baseline for the ROC certification. Her family farm has been organic certified since 2006, but it only adopted the ROC standards in June 2022.

Food 98

Food Ranching Ecology Fertilizer 98

Organic Farming Research

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

As a sixth-generation farm, Elmwood has learned to adapt to changing times, shifts in market opportunities, and modifications in state and Federal support programs over the generations. For farmer John Bell, a key to Elmwood’s success has been an ongoing fertility program based on crop-livestock integration and long crop rotations.

Crop Rotation 52

Crop Rotation Farming Farming Livestock 52

Civil Eats

OCTOBER 12, 2023

While these programs haven’t always been used to make farms climate resilient, they all have the potential to do so—and more funding and specific guardrails specified within the IRA would make that even more likely. Seth Watkins, a farmer from Clarinda, Iowa, was able to save his family farm with the help of conservation funding.

Farming 145

Farming Farming Family Farming Cattle 145

Civil Eats

APRIL 8, 2024

When farmer Joshua Manske heard about the acquisition of an Iowa fertilizer plant by Koch Industries in December, he saw it as a “microcosm of what’s going on nationally.” Because corn requires nitrogen fertilizer to grow, Manske is concerned that further consolidation of the fertilizer industry will drive his input prices up more.

Fertilizer 145

Fertilizer Acre Farming Farming 145

Modern Farmer

AUGUST 28, 2023

Above those temperatures, heat stress causes cattle to produce less milk and decreases their fertility. Payne’s family farm is a microcosm of American agriculture’s monocrop past and its changing future. His family was hardly alone in doing so: Along with cattle, corn and soybeans make up the top three farm products in the U.S.,

Livestock 98

Livestock Farming Farming Cattle 98

Trimble Agriculture

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Despite this rapid decline, the average farm size increased five percent to 463 acres. This ag census data highlights the trend toward farm consolidation as more and more family farm operations are feeling the pressure to go big or get out. Farms gained more than 10 percent in equity in 2022.

Farming 59

Farming Farming Farmland Acre 59

Modern Farmer

OCTOBER 9, 2023

This certification prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This certification is only provided to small independent or family farms, and the AGW does not charge a fee to award this certification, making it unique among certification standards.

Food 122

Food Free Range Pasture Poultry 122

Civil Eats

APRIL 29, 2024

He plants nitrogen-rich legumes and other perennial cover crops amongst his pear, apple, plum, peach, and cherry trees, but he buys a commercial compost product to keep his 100-acre, fourth-generation family farm thriving. Ela knows first-hand how central compost is to his organic farm—and all organic agriculture.

Compost 141

Compost Manufacturing Food Production 141

Todays Farmer Magazine

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

When his father, Randy, equipped his combine with a yield monitor in the early 1990s, teenage Ryan thought it was a huge step forward for the family farm. The Britts now farm 5,000 acres, raising cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat and hay in Randolph, Chariton and Macon counties.

Fertilizer 40

Fertilizer Crop Rotation Cattle Family Farming 40

Wisconsin Farmers Union

DECEMBER 20, 2022

All plots were treated the same in terms of custom planting, herbicide, rolling (on soybean ground), fertilizer, and land rent. How farmers use these practices has a big impact on erosion of soil from fields, infiltration of rainwater, and thus fertility needs of crops grown on the fields.

Yield 52

Yield Acre Fertilizer Crop 52

Modern Farmer

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

(Photo courtesy Leia Vita/Farmers’ Footprint) The starting pay for refugee farmers is “competitive with other certified organic farms in the region and actually higher than some small, family farm managers make,” says Simon. “We We also give yearly raises and paid time off.”

Crop 122

Crop Cultivation Textiles Farming 122

Agribusiness Blog

APRIL 29, 2021

The USDA issued a press release yesterday titled “The American Families Plan Honors America’s Family Farms” In the press release, they strived to indicate that the transfer tax proposed in the American Families Plan will not affect 98% of farm estates. 1 million grain facility worth $1.5

Farming 52

Farming Farming Grain Family Farming 52

Modern Farmer

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Elderberry, becoming popular as a hedgerow crop, provides both farm income and ecological benefits. Photos courtesy of Wil Crombie) Manure from the fowl helps fertilize the silvopastures and fields, and the chickens help with pest control by eating insects and grubs. Chicken, originally jungle fowl, thrive in forested environments.

Acre 125

Acre Pasture Farming Farming 125

UnderstandingAg

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Our family farm in Northeast Iowa with 3% SOM in the top six inches has about 67,000 lbs. It’s the tiny input from fertilizer and seed. The box represents the carbon stored in your soil. The actual amount will vary depending on your soil organic matter (SOM) percentage and how deep in the soil you measure.

Compost 91

Compost Acre Processing Crop 91

Farm Credit of Southern Colorado

JANUARY 11, 2024

The USDA Conservation Reserve Program is essentially where farmers get rental payments for environmentally sustainable farming practices and the Emergency Conservation Program is on that provides funding and technical help for farmland affected by disasters. What makes these Conservation Programs unique?

Family Farming 52

Family Farming Farmland Fertilizer Farming 52

Wisconsin Farmers Union

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

This allows farmers to try new things like seeding cover crops with a drone or dialing back their synthetic fertilizers using data from brand new tests that aren’t yet approved by government-based programs. Meanwhile farmers in the Hay River watershed have focused on dialing back fertilizer use through Haney soil testing.

Fertilizer 52

Fertilizer Crop Manure Farming 52

NASDA

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

Failing to reauthorize a farm bill without meaningful investments in commodity programs and crop insurance, or settling for a simple extension of current law, would leave thousands of family farms with no options to continue producing for this nation in 2025 and beyond.

Farming 130

Farming Farming Grain Supply Chain 130

Daily Yonder

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Since we had land—and we also had a good relationship with the local Farmer’s Cooperative, which generously donated seeds, plants, and fertilizer—a garden felt like a good way to support the community. I should mention that our farm was, and still is, a family farm in the strongest sense. My accent resembles theirs.

Ruralism 117

Ruralism Farming Farming Agriculture 117

Modern Farmer

JULY 10, 2023

Within decades, a network of dams, levees and canals had dried up the basin, transforming the fertile crater into an agricultural hub. Despite the resilience of family [farms], the mega-trend is undeniable,” says Raudabaugh. These state incentive programs all help to keep family farms in business while advancing innovations. “It

Farming 97

Farming Farming Manure Agriculture 97

Modern Farmer

AUGUST 23, 2024

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. Their excrement, frass, is a rich fertilizer for agriculture.

Food 109

Food Farming Farming Compost 109

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

DECEMBER 15, 2023

Through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Carney Family Farms in Iowa has received funding for watering, waterways, field buffers, and no-till practices. The farm is profiled along with other conservation-minded farmers here. His EQIP cost-share helped him build up his cover crop system and diversify his pastures.

Pasture 116

Pasture Crop Orchard Farming 116

Modern Farmer

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

“I was actually doing a Zoom call with the Farm Bureau, the state board, and we were talking about broadband and connecting people, and those 11,000 missing locations in our state. Haxby and her family farm corn and soybeans and raise cattle and goats. And I kept glitching out, because I didn’t have an internet hotspot.”

Ruralism 135

Ruralism Farming Farming Distribution 135

Daily Yonder

APRIL 11, 2023

Leadership from the USDA and agriculture schools, like the one at Iowa State University, influence farm methods; but even recommendations to reduce farm chemicals have unintended outcomes. Winter cover crops could mean using less fertilizer and herbicide in the Spring. But farm-chemical exposure is no laughing matter.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Acre Seeding 52

RR2CS

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

On one of the plots, Tim and Doug planted a standard mix using cereals only—a barley and oats mix—and added fertilizer to help with tonnage. On the next plot, they used less fertilizer but planted five crop varieties. In 2019, they ran a series of crop trials on 20 acre paddocks to experiment with different crop mixes.

Ranching 52

Ranching Cattle Crop Acre 52

Daily Yonder

DECEMBER 19, 2023

“I was actually doing a Zoom call with the Farm Bureau, the state board, and we were talking about broadband and connecting people, and those 11,000 missing locations in our state. ” Haxby and her family farm corn and soybeans and raise cattle and goats. And I kept glitching out, because I didn’t have an internet hotspot.”

Ruralism 117

Ruralism Farming Farming Agriculture 117

CalCAN

AUGUST 15, 2023

CalCAN is one of hundreds of sustainable, organic, and family farming organizations across the country that is engaged in farm bill advocacy this year. Transitioning to or increasing pasture-based production would also be eligible.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Manure Pasture 52

Sustainable Food Trust

JULY 12, 2023

In the US, for example, organic milk producer Albert Straus works with a group of small family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties. We are especially passionate about livestock farming and cattle, as, in our experience, they are completely integral to the carbon cycle, building soil health and fertility.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Meadow Pasture 52

Agwired

DECEMBER 8, 2023

International Trade Commission to consider the impacts that tariffs on Moroccan shipments of fertilizers are having on family farms. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with 57 agriculture organizations including 22 state corn grower groups, urged the U.S.

Plowing 45

Plowing Ruralism Agriculture Agriculture 45

Sustainable Food Trust

MARCH 12, 2024

It follows the stories of three young farmers in the UK: Anna, who left a career as a photographer to come back to the family farm and work with her father; Adrienne, a new entrant farmer looking to grow veg; and Ben, who grew up on a dairy farm, and now raises a herd of Belted Galloways on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, using regenerative practices.

Food 59

Food Farming Farming Production 59

Caff

JANUARY 27, 2021

This year’s nominations–submitted by people like you–overflowed with inspiring stories of change-makers who are innovating, giving back and working to make our soils more fertile for the next generation. LEGACY FARMER Will Scott, Scott Family Farms Will Scott Jr.

Food 52

Food Farming Farming Ecology 52

Sustainable Food Trust

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Conservation uses valuable land, and yet I am sure that areas are available on all farms which, if taken out of production, would provide the habitat so vitally needed for wildlife. INTENSIFICATION Modern farming is intensive. Gone are the days when a family farm could make a living with 20 cows and a few sheep.

Ruralism 52

Ruralism Farming Farming Food 52

Food Tank

JUNE 28, 2024

“It changes what your vision of a family farm is and how you have to go about getting there.” Between 1935 and 2023, the number of farms in the U.S. decreased by 72 percent, while the average farm size nearly tripled. Independent family farms are the bedrock of healthy rural economies,” says Treakle.

Ruralism 127

Ruralism Farming Farming Family Farming 127

Modern Farmer

JUNE 6, 2024

The United Nations Environment Programme has pegged the global food system and its encroachment on wildlife habitats, along with its use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals, as directly threatening 86 percent of species at risk of extinction worldwide. They worry about the inconveniences it might cause to production.

Agriculture 111

Agriculture Agriculture Crop Farming 111