Civil Eats

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

At Georges Mill Farm in northern Virginia, Molly and Sam Kroiz’s goats are on the move. Some roam through pastures testing bunches of fescue, a cool-season grass, for the sweetness the frost brings. Others push into a strip of bushes, munching through brambles. This herd, however, is not quite as free-range as it appears.

Pasture 143

Pasture Cattle Technology Ruralism 143

Civil Eats

JULY 2, 2024

From pasture to parlor, its organic, butterfat-rich milk travels less than 10 miles, produced by a herd of Jerseys pasture-raised on the misty coast. The ice cream shop is an extension of the Nicholson family’s sixth-generation, 120-acre farm in nearby Ferndale. milk supply, mostly on industrial farms in the Central Valley.

Pasture 142

Pasture Production Marketing Supply Chain 142

ATTRA

APRIL 2, 2024

Our pastures are devastated by livestock feeding areas, hooves, gate ruts, excessive rain, snow melt, and lack of vegetative cover during the non-growing season. We are too aware of the cost of pasture forage restoration, truck fenders, and loss of man hours, but there is also a cost to the health and welfare of our livestock.

Soil Compaction 98

Soil Compaction Pasture Forage Livestock 98

Civil Eats

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Yet the bucolic scene belies an environmental problem roiling beneath the surface: The groundwater in this part of Minnesota is so contaminated with nitrates running off farm fields that the U.S. Since the 1940s , oats, wheat, hay, and pasture have been replaced by a duoculture of corn and soybeans.

Crop 140

Crop Farming Farming Acre 140

Farmbrite

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Livestock health and wellness can directly impact the productivity, yields, product quality, and overall safety of livestock and the community served by your farm. The Benefits of Animal Wellness Practices on the Farm Animal wellness brings numerous benefits to your farm, enhancing the quality, productivity, health, and stability of animals.

Livestock 97

Livestock Manure Farming Farming 97

Modern Farmer

AUGUST 28, 2023

Payne operates a 300-acre regenerative farm in Concordia, Missouri, an hour outside of Kansas City, where he raises sheep and cattle. Rooted in preindustrial farming, the method involves intentionally incorporating trees on the same land used by grazing livestock, in a way that benefits both.

Livestock 98

Livestock Farming Farming Cattle 98

Modern Farmer

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Agroforestry—the integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems—has been used since ancient times to produce fruits, nuts, coffee, cocoa and medicinal herbs. Wendy Johnson’s ‘natural savannah’ Wendy Johnson and her husband, Johnny Rafkin, own Jóia Food & Fiber Farm, in Charles City, Iowa. Johnson laughs.

Acre 125

Acre Farming Farming Pasture 125

UnderstandingAg

APRIL 30, 2023

Manure slurry is a valuable but difficult resource to manage on dairy farms. Slurry pits must be emptied to make room for the never-ending stream of manure. Manure is often not a top priority for most dairies and handling may have to wait until seasonal fieldwork is completed.

Manure 52

Manure Pasture Fertilizer Crop 52

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JULY 14, 2023

A reference to diversification is fundamentally a reference to restoring the ecosystem function of farmland by allowing living organisms to reclaim roles that beginning in the mid-20th century have been assigned largely to synthetic chemicals or machines in conventional farming. However, NSAC covers the land access issue elsewhere.

Agriculture 96

Agriculture Agriculture Crop Rotation Pasture 96

Civil Eats

JANUARY 8, 2024

He found this disconcerting, not only for himself but the future of small-scale grain farming in California, once known for its golden hills of grain. This specialized, often professionally operated equipment—and all farm equipment , for that matter—can be prohibitively challenging for many farmers to buy and maintain.

Grain 143

Grain Orchard Farming Farming 143

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. The original farm bill was enacted during the 1930s in part as a response to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, and was an element of President Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Manure Pasture 52

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JULY 26, 2023

Dairy farmers are working to implement climate-smart manure management practices, and the COWS Act will offer the needed resources to enhance both air and water quality,” said Rob Larew, National Farmers Union President. “Getting the AMMP award sped up our plans to modernize our manure management system by about 10 years. .

Manure 40

Manure Compost Livestock Agriculture 40

ATTRA

OCTOBER 31, 2023

If you have an unkempt area on a farm, some highly predator- resistant fencing and a few goats will get it under control tout de suite! Both “cut and carry” and “chop and drop” allow for nutrient cycling, especially if the goat manure can be collected and used to fertilize the trees they are eating, closing that loop.

Rural Development 85

Rural Development Manure Compost Pasture 85

Caff

OCTOBER 22, 2024

On September 19th, Community Alliance with Family Farmers held a field day at Vitis and Ovis farm in Capay Valley, CA. Gisèle Herren of Vitis and Ovis Farm alongside their flock of grazing ducks. Hans Herren showing attendees an on-farm device as he discussed their experience in making compost tea.

Orchard 52

Orchard Farming Farming Construction 52

Modern Farmer

JULY 10, 2023

But the epic flooding this past March was simply unprecedented, says the owner of Lerda-Goni Farms. The torrent overwhelmed dams, swelled rivers and crumbled levees, inundating entire farming communities, including Lerda-Goni and a dozen other ranches, and reawakening a long-dormant lake lying beneath the vast agricultural region.

Farming 97

Farming Farming Manure Agriculture 97

Sustainable Food Trust

JULY 12, 2023

This year our farm trials will test the use of the Global Farm Metric framework to enable farmers and others to navigate the complex world of farm sustainability, so that they can support and drive change. The trials will also explore the value of assessing vital aspects of farm sustainability that are sometimes overlooked.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Agroecology Crop 52

Farmbrite

JULY 18, 2024

and the decision of which type of hay to grow is unique to each farm operation. We hope this helps you better understand all the options and what you might want to grow on your farm. This method is beneficial for the long-term health of your pasture and ensures that the pasture isn't overgrazed.

Livestock 86

Livestock Forage Cattle Orchard 86

ATTRA

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

I picture a pair of dung beetles rolling a ball of manure together, sharing hopes and dreams for their future offspring, or perhaps squabbling about where to bury their dung ball like Mr. and Mrs. Mallard looking for a good place to lay their eggs in the children’s classic, Make Way for Ducklings.

Pasture 75

Pasture Rural Development Manure Food 75

The Lunatic Farmer

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

I’ve visited 10 farms, most of them several hundred sheep on more than 1,000 acres. Nobody puts down carbon for bedding, so all the sheep are on solid manure packs that stink and are filthy. On most farms, lambs go to a nursery and receive artificial milk (formula) immediately after birth. I should be home Monday afternoon.

Grain 52

Grain Manure Pasture Acre 52

CalCAN

MAY 17, 2023

FY 2022-23: $70 million ($15 million reduction (18%) from the original $85 million allocated) FY 2023-24: $10 million allocated State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP): Funds on-farm water efficiency improvements such as electric and solar pumps, improved irrigation equipment and soil moisture monitoring. AB 408 proposes a $3.4

Agriculture 52

Agriculture Agriculture Manure Compost 52

Farmbrite

AUGUST 23, 2023

Soil is the foundation of your farm, the living system that provides nutrition for all the plants and animals that live there. Here are six ways you can improve long-term soil health on your farm: What is soil health? Rotating crops is one of the best ways to improve long-term soil health on your farm. Rotate your crops.

Crop Rotation 52

Crop Rotation Farming Farming Fertilizer 52

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

DECEMBER 8, 2023

Cattle grazing a warm season cover crop on Vilicus Farms (Photo Credit: Vilicus Farms) On August 16, 2022 when the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, it solidified an historic investment in addressing the climate crisis and reflected key priorities lifted up by the farmers and communities that NSAC’s members serve.

Ranching 72

Ranching Greenhouse Crop Pasture 72

UnderstandingAg

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

Single axle grain carts and large combines are the worst offenders, but manure tankers and larger tractors also easily exceed 10 tons/axle. Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) takes advantage of this to mitigate the damage from heavy-axle loads. Tires, tracks, and technology Should you switch to tracks rather than tires?

Grain 96

Grain Yield Manure Pasture 96

UnderstandingAg

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

I confess to being a recovering engineer, but this is a useful way to conceptualize an invisible process that’s happening in crop fields and in pastures. Our family farm in Northeast Iowa with 3% SOM in the top six inches has about 67,000 lbs. The box represents the carbon stored in your soil. Did you spot the missing arrow?

Compost 91

Compost Acre Processing Crop 91

The Lunatic Farmer

JULY 7, 2021

Allan Savory through Holistic Management began taking pictures of remarkable recoveries when animals at high density for a short period of time (one day) heavily impacted a spot with hooves and manure. In more recent years, however, a "take half, leave half" message has come on strong within the grass farming movement.

Plowing 52

Plowing Pruning Logistics Seeding 52

Civil Eats

AUGUST 16, 2023

When you approach the poultry paddocks at Salvatierra Farms outside Northfield, Minnesota, you might not notice how many chickens are hiding among the tall grasses and young hazelnut trees at first. And that’s by design. Photo courtesy of Wil Crombe/Organic Compound.) Regenerative is a complex term with many interpretations.

Poultry 98

Poultry Processing Acre Farming 98

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JANUARY 17, 2024

However, the publication also presents planned solutions to reduce emissions and transform toward increasingly robust farming systems. Despite the challenges ahead, substantial reason for optimism lies both in suggested routes to emissions reductions and adaptation of farming systems. from Chapter 22 of NCA5.

Agriculture 105

Agriculture Agriculture Forage Livestock 105

CalCAN

APRIL 6, 2023

From losing seed crops as wildfires rage for weeks, to losing entire crops as a result of erratic freezes, to losing farms as drought dries up available water, farmers’ risks are rising. Farming is also an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers across the country are experiencing climate impacts as a crisis.

Agriculture 52

Agriculture Agriculture Greenhouse Food 52

Farmbrite

MARCH 16, 2023

They lay eggs on grassy areas like pastures or meadows where the larvae will grow into adult flies within three weeks of hatching. Additionally, horse flies like to lay eggs on manure piles—so if you want to keep them away from your livestock, then it's best to avoid creating these breeding grounds for horse flies as much as possible.

Livestock 52

Livestock Manure Pasture Cattle 52

Sustainable Food Trust

JUNE 5, 2024

Camels have been domesticated for some 4000 years, but they are not a conventional farm animal. In fact, until very recently they were not kept on farms at all. While weeding the fields, the camels also fertilise them with their manure.

Livestock 75

Livestock Food Forage Cattle 75

Modern Farmer

APRIL 15, 2024

At CAFOs, it is common to pool animal waste in one spot, called a manure lagoon. The report Anaerobic digesters are not typically things that you would ever see on a small, pasture-based dairy or farm. Expanding manure biogas production was listed as a key way to reduce methane emissions in the agriculture sector.

Manure 142

Manure Production Farming Farming 142

Modern Farmer

JANUARY 19, 2024

In return, they are paid a yearly rental rate per acre of land enrolled in CRP programs. In 2023, he USDA Farm Service Agency made more than $1.77 Obviously, farming crops and rangelands are not compatible,” she says. The need for fertilizer is lessened as the livestock service the soil through their manure.

Farming 95

Farming Farming Farmland Livestock 95

Daily Yonder

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

On Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped unveil his agency’s Census of Agriculture , a huge quinquennial report that covers 6 million data points and gives the current state-of-the-state of American farms and farmers. In 2017, the year the previous report covered, the country had 2,042,220 farms. In 2022, it had 1,900,487.

Agriculture 96

Agriculture Agriculture Manure Farming 96

Food Environment and Reporting Network

JULY 13, 2023

Department of Agriculture (USDA) program, this amalgam of farming methods aims to keep the American agricultural juggernaut steaming ahead while slashing the sector’s immense greenhouse gas footprint. Robert Bonnie, USDA Unlike with organic farming, climate-smart farming has no list of allowed or prohibited practices.

Agriculture 78

Agriculture Agriculture Greenhouse Manure 78

Civil Eats

JANUARY 31, 2024

Behind them, green pastures stretched into the distance toward looming, sand-colored peaks. Will Harris’ White Oak Pastures in Georgia recently raised $1.2 In the 15 years he spent at Niman Ranch , he increased the network of small family farms raising animals on pasture from 160 to over 850. “We

Ranching 143

Ranching Cattle Production Food 143

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

MAY 10, 2024

On May 1, 2024 – after months of stalled farm bill negotiations on both sides of Capitol Hill – Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a detailed section-by-section summary of her farm bill proposal. Strengthening the Farm and Food System Workforce (Sec. 11205, 12201).

Ruralism 111

Ruralism Food Farming Farming 111

Civil Eats

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

The impact that the drought is having on pasture is forcing the culling of cattle and reducing the cattle herd.” In response, the American Farm Bureau’s president, Zippy Duvall, attributed the shift to U.S. Concentrated feedlot cattle farming and fertilizer production are among the biggest drivers of emissions from agriculture.

Agriculture 139

Agriculture Agriculture Fertilizer Cattle 139