Showing 1-20 of 90 results
western.sare.org news the-quest-create-low-emission-cattle The Quest: Create Low-Emission Cattle
As cows digest grasses and other cellulose-rich plants, microbes in their large first stomach – the rumen –break down the feed, releasing the potent greenhouse gas methane as a natural fermentation byproduct. Research is ongoing into seaweed and other additives to traditional forages to reduce methane production, creating low-emission feeds. But what if you created […]
New SARE Video: Ecological Weed Management at the Martens Farm
Farmers nationwide are tackling the challenge of using ecological principles to manage weeds using fewer herbicides. Understanding the biology of weeds is key to helping producers adopt innovative strategies that achieve strong yields while adapting to changing consumer preferences. Three new videos from SARE illustrate how Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens manage weeds without chemicals on […]
www.sare.org news sare-welcomes-new-fellows SARE Welcomes New Fellows
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program announces the addition of four new members to the SARE Fellows program. Each member represents a different region of the United States. SARE Fellows is a two year professional development experience that helps agricultural educators enhance their understanding of sustainable agriculture and build relationships with farmers and […]
Administrative Council Welcomes Alumni
Just because an Administrative Council Member’s term has ended, that doesn’t mean that they are no longer invested in the future of Western SARE and of agriculture in our region. For that reason, Western SARE has developed an “alumni” program and is reinvigorating it this year. The first step toward a re-energized alumni program took […]
www.sare.org news planting-seeds-of-help Planting Seeds of Help
Despite years of experience, fifth-generation flower farmer Leroy Hardy was facing foreclosure on his farm near Sedley, Virginia. To navigate the financial crisis, Hardy reached out to Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) for mediation assistance, and he emerged with his assets intact. So when RAFI, the Land Loss Prevention Project (LLPP) and the National Center […]
www.sare.org news new-cover-crop-survey-data-challenges-assumptions-on-role-of-incentive-payments New Cover Crop Survey Data Challenges Assumptions on Role of Incentive Payments
Adapted from the Conservation Technology Information Center: A new national survey report has found that the vast majority of farmers who use cover crops don't need incentive payments to continue with the practice because of how much they appreciate its value to their land and business. According to the National Cover Crop Survey, incentives play a key […]
www.sare.org news virginia-hosts-national-sare-fellows-tour-and-training Virginia Hosts National SARE Fellows Tour and Training
The sustainability of farms and food-related businesses can be affected by many agricultural, social, ecological, financial, and cultural factors and issues that can vary from state to state and from region to region. These issues range from market access and development needs to production challenges, lack of food system infrastructure such as aggregation and processing, […]
www.sare.org news new-sare-bulletin-what-is-sustainable-agriculture New SARE Bulletin: What is Sustainable Agriculture?
SARE’s newly revised What is Sustainable Agriculture? publication provides a primer to practices that can help farmers and ranchers improve the sustainability of any complex, integrated production and marketing system.
western.sare.org news recently-funded-projects Recently Funded Projects
Western SARE has funded 77 projects for 2023. These 77 projects totaled $7,363,082 in funding for six programs: Research and Education, Farmer-Rancher, Professional + Producer, Professional Development Program, Graduate Student Research & Education, and Research to Grassroots. Projects were funded in 14 states and protectorates. Example topic areas include: Overall, To review summaries of all […]
New SARE Video: Ecological Weed Management at Terra Preta Farm
Understanding the biology of weeds is key to managing these troublesome pests using ecological principles. Cultural practices such as crop rotations and cover crops paired with smart cultivation have helped many farmers successfully manage weeds while reducing or eliminating herbicide use. In three new videos from SARE, Shakera and Juan Raygoza share their experience controlling […]
www.sare.org news new-book-farming-with-soil-life-a-handbook-for-supporting-soil-invertebrates-and-soil-health-on-farms New Book: Farming With Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms
Smart farmers know that healthy soil hosts a flourishing and diverse ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates. But the complex relationships between soil life, productivity and resilience are not well understood. Now available from the Xerces Society and SARE, Farming with Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms is […]
www.sare.org news sare-seeks-projects-for-sustainable-agriculture-outreach SARE Seeks Projects for Sustainable Agriculture Outreach
Do you have an idea for an educational product or outreach initiative that could help farmers or ranchers improve their profitability, environmental stewardship and/or quality of life? Maybe a suggestion for filling an information gap that is hindering the adoption of sustainable practices? SARE Outreach wants to hear from you today! SARE Outreach is seeking recommendations for information products […]
www.sare.org news resilient-farmers-ranchers-and-communities-social-sustainability-in-agriculture New SARE Bulletin: Resilient Farmers, Ranchers and Communities
Sustainable farming emphasizes the need to consider the environmental, economic and social impacts of agriculture. For decades, sustainable agriculture research has focused more on environmental stewardship and profitability than on personal and social issues. SARE’s newest bulletin, Resilient Farmers, Ranchers and Communities: Social Sustainability in Agriculture, describes how an increasing number of farmers and ranchers […]
www.sare.org news usda-invests-over-46m-in-sustainable-agriculture-research-and-education USDA Invests Over $46M in Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
The University of Maryland has been selected to serve as the National Reporting, Coordinating, and Communications Office (NRCCO) for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. This 10-year investment is being made as part of the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) selection of four regional host institutions to manage SARE's regional […]
www.sare.org news americas-heartland-leaders-in-sustainable-agriculture-now-available-on-youtube America's Heartland "Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture" Now Available on YouTube
SARE recently partnered with PBS KVIE to produce an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland featuring four farmers describing their commitment to sustainability, how they plan to overcome modern farming challenges, and how SARE has impacted their farming and ranching practices. The full 24-minute episode titled Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture is now available at https://www.sare.org/resources/leaders-in-sustainable-agriculture/. Watch: Videos featuring each […]
www.sare.org news rfd-tv-episode-to-highlight-sustainable-innovations RFD-TV Episode to Highlight Sustainable Innovations
Tune in to RFD-TV on March 29 at 5:30pm EDT for the premiere of a new “America’s Heartland” episode showcasing farmers and ranchers from across the country who are leaders in sustainability. SARE partnered with PBS KVIE to produce this episode, which features farmers describing their commitment to sustainability, how they plan to meet farming […]
www.sare.org news sare-fellows-program-now-accepting-applications SARE Fellows Program Now Accepting Applications
SARE Fellows is a unique professional development opportunity for agricultural professionals working with farmers and ranchers. Submit your application by May 8, 2023.
New SARE Video: Managing Weeds in an Organic Almond Orchard
Many organic and conventional farmers are seeking ways to eliminate or reduce their use of synthetic herbicides. Understanding weeds is the first step towards managing them efficiently and ecologically. Now, two new videos in SARE’s Manage Weeds on Your Farm series explore organic almond grove weed control on Burroughs Family Farm’s 1,200-acre orchard in Denair, […]
www.sare.org news farmers-share-your-thoughts-on-cover-crops-in-the-national-cover-crop-survey Farmers: Share Your Thoughts on Cover Crops in the National Cover Crop Survey!
Farmers are invited to share their thoughts on cover crops in an online survey at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. Why do you plant cover crops...or why don't you? What do you want to know? Your insight will help guide research, communications, seed development, and more. This National Cover Crop Survey is the seventh since 2012 conducted by the USDA-NIFA […]
www.sare.org news the-biggest-asset-is-you The Biggest Asset Is You
Utah State University (USU) Extension professor Josh Dallin had just wrapped up a presentation about livestock before an audience of farmers and ranchers, and he asked if there was any other information his listeners needed. The response was surprisingly out of the ordinary. “One of our largest cattle producers raised his hand and said, ‘I’m […]