SARE Outreach

30 Years of SARE: Our Farms, Our Future

30 Years of SARE: Our Farms, Our Future tells the story of thousands of men and women who have led SARE and received SARE grants. They have one objective in common: making American agriculture stronger, more sustainable and better equipped to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health

Soil health is a hot topic these days, one that is justifiably receiving considerable attention from farmers and their farm advisors. This short fact sheet highlights some of the key ways that cover crops improve soil health by influencing the biological and physical characteristics of the soil.

Improving Soil Health Through Cover Crops

Farmers around the country are discovering the power of cover crops to curb erosion and improve soil health. This video is from Pennsylvania, where a Penn State researcher and a grain farmer are partnering to spread the word.

Bringing Independent Farmers into the Marketplace

Small- and mid-sized farms are increasingly turning to supermarkets as a means to earn more for their products and to participate in local economies. In this video, Diana Endicott discusses how she decided to take this route 15 years ago when it was less typical, and how her efforts have resulted in a 100-member co-op today that sells to 30 stores in the Kansas City area.

Building a Local Food Movement

Over the last few decades, agriculture in western North Carolina has transformed from a reliance on tobacco to a diversified, self-sustaining industry intertwined with local communities and economies. In this video, learn how one organization has worked alongside local farmers and communities to support this transformation.

The Power of Data: Improving the Management of Rangeland Ecosystems

California's rangelands face a wide range of challenges, from invasive species and pests to flooding and drought. Much of the knowledge of how to manage rangelands effectively resides in the personal experience of land managers. To capitalize on this collective wisdom, University of California Davis researchers partnered with ranchers around the region to compile a database of site-specific management information that can help everybody take better care of the land.

Investing in the Future of Agriculture: How SARE Supports Farmer-Driven Sustainability

The most pressing challenges that face U.S. agriculture today require science-based solutions developed by partnerships of farmers, ranchers, researchers and educators. Discover how the SARE program enables such partnerships to flourish and meet the needs of agricultural communities across the country.

Our Farms, Our Future Podcast Series

The Our Farms, Our Future podcast series brings together the sustainable agriculture community for thought-provoking conversations about the state of agriculture, how we got here, and where we're headed.

How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch

This 32-page bulletin outlines how to conduct research at the farm level, offering practical tips for both crop and livestock producers, as well as a comprehensive list of more in-depth resources.

Organic Production

Capitalize on the booming organic industry. This topic room has resources on organic systems, pest management, animal production, marketing, certification, conservation and much more.

SARE Brochure

A free-to-order catalog/brochure that includes information about SARE, our grant programs, and our printed and online resources.

Sustainable Production and Use of On-Farm Energy

Using solar or wind energy or producing biofuels from crop feedstocks and anaerobic digestion helps farmers achieve energy independence while improving profitability and reducing fossil fuel emissions.

2017 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health

Session recordings are available from the second National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. The event served as an opportunity to learn recent developments in how cover crops are being used by innovative farmers across the country and gain important insights on improving soil health from producers, conservation leaders and scientists. It was held December 7-8, 2017 in Indianapolis. 

Recordings of General Sessions

• Opening remarks by Jane Hardisty (USDA-NRCS Indiana) with video message Bill Northey (Iowa Secretary of Agriculture)
• Keynote: Growing a Revolution - Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, by David Montgomery (University of Washington)
• Farmer panel: Experiences with Cover Crops and Soil Health, with Dan DeSutter (Ind.), Trey Hill (Md.) and Jimmy Emmons (Okla.)
• Top 10 Ways Cover Crops Build Soil Health, by Rob Myers (North Central SARE)
• Plenary session: Carbonomics, by Keith Berns (Neb. farmer and Green Cover Seed)

Basics of Cover Cropping

• Introduction to Cover Crops
• Selecting and Establishing Cover Crops
• Terminating Cover Crops Plus Strategies for Planting a Cash Crop Following Cover Crops

Advanced Cover Cropping Insights from Farmer Experts

• Great Plains Perspective
• Central Corn Belt Perspective
• Eastern Perspective

Digging into Soil Health

• Soil Health Principles
• Soil Health Testing and Practices
• Soil Biology and Organic Matter

Cover Crop Role in the Cropping System

• Cover Crops and Nutrient Management
• Cover Crop Impacts on Diseases and Insects
• Cover Crops, Herbicides and Dealing with Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

Economic and Environmental Aspects of Cover Crops

• Economics of Cover Crops
• Business Opportunities with Cover Crops and Soil Health
• Environmental Impacts of Cover Crop Systems

Special Topics with Cover Crops and Soil Health

• Organic and Specialty Crops
• Grazing Cover Crops
• Soil Health Policy Issues