National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JULY 8, 2024

On June 11, 2024, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee advanced the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025 on a party-line vote. Cover crop experiment at Rogers Farm Forage and Crop Research Facility in Orono, Maine. Photo credit: Reana Kovalcik.

Agriculture 119

Agriculture Agriculture Ruralism Food 119

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

ATTRA

JANUARY 8, 2025

NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey recently lost one of her farming mentors and took the opportunity to document how significantly this friend influenced her life. havent mentioned her humor, her colorful expressions, her vast knowledge of history, medicine, livestock, fiber arts, food preservation, indigenous knowledge, and more.

Livestock 52

Livestock Rural Development Farming Farming 52

Agwired

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) , a program that has seen record demand in response to historic funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. At Texas A&M, she has focused her coursework on agriculture policy and the impacts of the industry in marketing and trade.

Agriculture 45

Agriculture Agriculture Rural Development Ruralism 45

ATTRA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Just like us, livestock and plants need extra care during these longer periods of higher temperatures. Livestock performance goes down. Incorporating silvopasture into your operation is a great way to provide livestock with critical shade and shelter while also bringing more carbon into the agroecosystem. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Livestock 98

Livestock Rural Development Agriculture Agriculture 98

ATTRA

OCTOBER 24, 2023

The result of not meeting the needs of soil life brings about the invisible killer of pasture productivity, livestock health, and profitability through soil compaction. This affects everything soil life needs to survive because it needs air, water, food, and somewhere to live. How do healthy and unhealthy soils differ physically? Stay tuned.

Soil Compaction 104

Soil Compaction Pasture Livestock Water Rights 104

NASDA

MAY 7, 2024

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) commends the subcommittee for its work in support of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. FSIS cooperates with state agencies in developing and administering the State MPI and Cooperative Interstate Shipment programs for small and very small establishments.

Agriculture 130

Agriculture Agriculture Food Ruralism 130

ATTRA

AUGUST 6, 2024

Farmers deal with a complex web of processes in diverse areas that may be under their purvue, including crops, livestock, finance, recordkeeping, harvesting, marketing, etc. As farmers, we probably ask ourselves this question often, when we are confronted with the many challenges that arise within our agribusiness operations.

Crop Yield 98

Crop Yield Yield Processing Harvester 98

ATTRA

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development.

Rural Development 79

Rural Development Acre Ruralism Technology 79

NASDA

JULY 25, 2024

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau New Mexico Wine & Grape Growers Association New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association New York Farm Bureau New York Pork Producers Coop Inc New York State Division, IWLA Normex, Inc.

Farming 130

Farming Farming Seeding Ruralism 130

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

MAY 20, 2024

NSAC hopes that Congress can ultimately see the wisdom of funding state and tribal soil health programs through RCPP, as proposed in the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act in the Senate. 5102, 5103, 5019, 5110, 5202, 5503, 5402, 112205 ) Title 6 – Rural Development Includes the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program.

Agriculture 102

Agriculture Agriculture Farming Farming 102

ATTRA

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Related ATTRA Resources: Soil Topic Area Livestock Topic Area Grazing Topic Area This blog is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Soil Compaction 105

Soil Compaction Pasture Rural Development Livestock 105

ATTRA

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Winter is underway, and people, land, and livestock are still struggling to recover, but I am impressed with the outpouring of assistance and volunteers who are still trying to get lives back to normal. Photo of Gene in his barn damaged by Hurricane Helene. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farming 97

Farming Farming Acre Rural Development 97

Civil Eats

OCTOBER 2, 2024

The goats are part of a growing trend of using livestock to mitigate wildfire risks across the West. Beyond general grazing permits, which the Forest Service has issued since its inception, Thibideau says that last year his region used livestock to graze 4,544 acres specifically to mitigate wildfire.

Acre 145

Acre Farming Farming Compost 145

ATTRA

MARCH 26, 2024

Related ATTRA Resources: Sheep and Goats: Frequently Asked Questions Getting Started with Livestock Dairy Goats for the Farm An Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production Small-Scale Livestock Production Episode 179. Getting Started in Livestock, Part 1 Episode 228. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Livestock 74

Livestock Rural Development Construction Pasture 74

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

On July 11, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved their FY2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill with unanimous, bipartisan agreement.

Farming 132

Farming Farming Agriculture Agriculture 132

ATTRA

APRIL 30, 2024

We traveled to Dickenson College Organic Farm in Carlisle, PA to visit Matt Steiman, Farm Energy and Livestock Manager at the farm. In addition, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is a grant program administered through USDA’s Rural Development office. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Manure Ruralism 52

ATTRA

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Planting, harvesting, breeding, raising livestock all require a period of waiting, but there are forms of waiting that can be minimized in farming operations, such as equipment repair, delayed harvest times due to unavailable labor, and delays of shipments of agricultural inputs. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farming 75

Farming Farming Processing Livestock 75

ATTRA

OCTOBER 31, 2023

ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Rural Development 85

Rural Development Manure Compost Pasture 85

The Equation

AUGUST 27, 2024

Preference was given to prospective borrowers who were married and with dependents, already owned livestock or farm equipment, and could afford to make a down payment on the loan. These were generally affluent White landowners who were likely biased in favor of the status quo and had the power to exclude Black farmers from federal assistance.

Sharecropping 115

Sharecropping Farming Farming Acre 115

ATTRA

MAY 14, 2024

By Linda Coffey, NCAT Livestock Specialist Here in Arkansas, the grass is growing, hens are at full lay, baby lambs are everywhere, and calves are arriving. But in my day job as an NCAT livestock specialist, I’ve been working on improving the curriculum for our Women, Livestock, and the Land course. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Livestock 45

Livestock Marketing Rural Development Farming 45

ATTRA

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development.

Crop 40

Crop Rural Development Ruralism Agriculture 40

ATTRA

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

Dr. Lemus has been crucial in assisting the livestock producers across Mississippi understand the needs of each individual pasture toward better soil health. Leyla Rios, both of MSU Extension, strives to better understand forage present and soil health results from the implementation of conservation practices through an HMI framework.

Livestock 40

Livestock Rural Development Forage Agriculture 40

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Recent Actions In recent years, and most noticeably during the supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, several agencies within the USDA – including Rural Development and the Agricultural Marketing Service – have helped direct critical funding specifically to small and very small meat processing plants.

Processing 110

Processing Poultry Farming Farming 110

ATTRA

JULY 25, 2023

Attracting and Protecting Pollinators Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees Topic Area: Pollinators This blog is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Rural Development 75

Rural Development Ruralism Technology Agriculture 75

ATTRA

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Pasture fertility, healthy livestock, reduced nutrient runoff, all thanks to dung beetles. Even if you’re not a romantic, there are still plenty of other reasons to love dung beetles: it’s estimated that they provide millions of dollars’ worth of nutrient retention and pest fly reduction per year. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Pasture 75

Pasture Rural Development Manure Food 75

ATTRA

OCTOBER 3, 2023

Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees into cropping and/or livestock systems, inspired by Indigenous wisdom, and it can be applied in many ways and in many different places – even in cities! Botanic Garden.

Food 111

Food Distribution Rural Development Forestry 111

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JUNE 30, 2023

Larsen/Diadem Images On June 22, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill in what has become a rare occurrence – unanimous, bipartisan approval. Credit: Jonathan P.

Agriculture 98

Agriculture Agriculture Marketing Food 98

Agwired

JULY 28, 2023

The amendment was introduced to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 , the legislation that funds the U.S. Announcing the Livestock Publication Council ‘s 2023 Gifts and Giving Online Auction! Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Farmland 52

Farmland Rural Development Science Marketing 52

Food Tank

DECEMBER 9, 2023

Víctor Manuel Villalobos Arámbula , Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mexico 10:00AM–10:30AM @ The Food Systems Pavilion: Fireside chat discussion about methane. As multiple crises converge — from climate change to pandemics to conflict — rural people need us to invest in them more than ever before.

Food 59

Food Rural Development Agriculture Agriculture 59

ATTRA

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Installing one or more of these climate-smart practices can be costly at first but they should pay for themselves over time through decreased inputs needed, e.g., fertilizer, livestock hay and feed, reseeding, and increased plant yield due to better soil function. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farming 40

Farming Farming Greenhouse Crop Rotation 40

ATTRA

APRIL 23, 2024

Related ATTRA Resources Building Healthy Pasture Soils Other Resources Pasture Cropping—The Innovative No-kill, No-till System Developed by Australian Farmers This blog is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development.

Pasture 52

Pasture Crop Seeding Crop Rotation 52

ATTRA

MARCH 5, 2024

Among the topics discussed are evasive grazing to control parasites; the question of nutritional wisdom of sheep; and how raising grassfed livestock is Maryrose’s answer to creating a beautiful life while helping heal the land. Danielle shares her winding career path working with livestock across the Western U.S., Listen here.

Livestock 40

Livestock Ranching Food Cattle 40

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JUNE 14, 2023

Photo credit: USDA Editor’s Note: This guest post by Michael Happ, Program Associate for Climate and Rural Communities at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, (IATP), discusses how popular conservation programs should focus on small-scale and sustainable farms, not industrial-scale farms. Accessed May 3, 2023. NRCS Protracts.

Manure 52

Manure Agriculture Agriculture Ruralism 52

The Equation

AUGUST 27, 2024

Preference was given to prospective borrowers who were married and with dependents, already owned livestock or farm equipment, and could afford to make a down payment on the loan. These were generally affluent White landowners who were likely biased in favor of the status quo and had the power to exclude Black farmers from federal assistance.

Sharecropping 52

Sharecropping Farming Farming Acre 52

ATTRA

JANUARY 23, 2024

A farm, as a sophisticated business entity, thrives not only on the cultivation of crops and livestock, but also on the cultivation of collaborative relationships and strategic investments that fortify its foundation for long-lasting success. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

Farming 40

Farming Farming Processing Technology 40

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

MARCH 27, 2024

The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) , which supports the development and implementation of research, education, and extension programs to improve the competitiveness of organic and transitioning-to-organic livestock and crop producers, received level funding of $7.5 Now, the CAA contains cuts to these impactful rural programs.

Agriculture 59

Agriculture Agriculture Ruralism Rural Development 59