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Can Cover Crops Improve Wine Grape Production Resilience?

Posted on August 5, 2025August 5, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Establishing a vineyard requires significant upfront costs, decades of careful management, and significant risk for the grower. Now, new SARE-funded research is helping growers learn how cover crops may stabilize production systems under varying weather conditions while having a limited impact on yields.

Suzanne Fleishman received a Northeast SARE graduate student grant–while studying at the time at Penn State University–to explore how root interaction between grapevines and cover crops impacts grapevines’ response to variable soil moisture availability. With support from advisor Michela Centinari, Fleishman examined the responses of vines on medium- or low-vigor rootstocks to competition from a fescue cover crop planted under the vines. The study revealed that young vine roots grow deeper in relationship to the grass to avoid competition, resulting in an increase in water filtration and soil carbon.

“Increasing species diversity in agriculture can lead to broad-scale environmental improvements, particularly around soil quality,” says Fleishman. “In vineyards, the cover crop grows alongside the grapevines, which means they compete for space, water, and nutrients. Our work was looking at how to better understand exactly how the grass species and grapevines interact belowground, with the goal that growers can still maintain productivity but also get all the environmental benefits.”

Harvesting grapes growing with under-vine grass (left) and on bare soil (right). Credit: Michela Centinari

While further research is needed, the project contributed to the environmental and economic sustainability of viticulture production in Pennsylvania by helping growers design systems which provide environmental services that can mitigate economic risks over the productive life of a vineyard.

A recent evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016 and 2019 found that a long-term perspective within the context of a multispecies ecosystem is key to realizing the potential impact of the findings.

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-GNE16-119 for more information on this project’s impact.

Do Cover Crops Stabilize Wine Grape Productivity in a Variable Climate? is part of a series produced by Insight for Action as part of a post-project evaluation of SARE's regional grant programs. For more information visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts.

For details on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

New Video: Building Customer Relationships at Brandon Family Farm

Posted on July 30, 2025September 5, 2025 by Sean McGovern

At Brandon Family Farm, Alby and Heather Brandon have learned that when it comes to growing sales, building relationships in the community matters as much as what they grow.

“Developing your markets first is important,” says Alby. Together, the Brandons grow 15 acres of organic vegetables, 4 acres of small fruits, and an acre of high tunnel tomatoes on their farm in West Kingston, R.I. Starting on just half an acre of leased land, they gradually expanded production capacity and eventually purchased their own farm in 2022. Along the way, they’ve sold directly to consumers, joined farmers’ markets, started a community supported agriculture (CSA) program and partnered with local grocery stores.

According to Alby, an early mentor’s words still guide the Brandons today: “It’s about the relationship, not the sale.” That means talking to store buyers, asking what was missing at local farmers’ markets, and reaching out to the community. “People aren’t going to come to you for your product,” says Heather. “Even though we’ve had plenty of ‘no’s,’ there have been enough ‘yes’s’ to get us to where we are today.”

Knowing what customers want has enabled the Brandons to build demand and reduce risk before expanding production and investing in new infrastructure with confidence. In the crowded and competitive market for fresh produce, the Brandons demonstrate that listening, adapting and connecting with customers can help a small business grow.

This video is one in a series produced by SARE titled Practical Tips for Beginning Farmers. Based on their own experiences when starting out, farmers from across the country share advice about common challenges facing beginning farmers in today's agriculture. To view the entire series, visit www.sare.org/resources/practical-tips-for-beginning-farmers/.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Farmer-Led Research Identifies Plants With the Power to Attract Pollinators

Posted on July 14, 2025August 5, 2025 by Sean McGovern

With many native pollinator populations on the decline, many farmers are striving to attract beneficial insects that ensure adequate pollination of key crops. Designing on-farm habitats to feature hardy plants that attract pollinators may be one practical method of boosting pollination and protecting yields.

With support from a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant, Susan Fluegel of Colfax, Wa., set out to explore whether habitats featuring plant species of varying architectures could influence pollinator abundance and diversity. Plants were intentionally selected for traits such as drought tolerance, long blooming periods, and low maintenance, making them particularly suited to challenging conditions. Using time-lapse video surveillance, Fluegel identified plant species attractive to specific pollinators.

Her research demonstrated that while variety in plant architecture did not seem to make a difference in pollinator abundance, the variety of plant species did significantly influence both the diversity of visiting pollinators and their numbers. Just a few carefully chosen plants could sustain hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pollinator visits in a single 30-minute observation session. These findings reveal an opportunity to inform farmers about selecting plants that can improve both the economic and environmental sustainability of production in areas lacking adequate pollination.

“It’s been eye-opening that these different plants attract such a variety of insects, and that by combining different plants together we can tailor which insects we are attracting and feeding,” says Fluegel. “If I’m in an area where the leaf cutter bee is in danger of going extinct, I can look for plants that will help this particular native bee.”

Fluegel shared her findings in a short booklet, Increase Crop Yields by Managing Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Fluegel also presented her work at pollinator summits, inspiring local farmers to adopt similar practices. Despite barriers such as the COVID-19 pandemic limiting in-person outreach, her efforts have motivated growers to plant native species that support pollinators and, in turn, their crops.

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016–2019 found that the farmer-friendly approach of SARE grants was key to conducting the project.

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FW18-030 for more information on this project's impact.

Does More Diverse Plant Architecture in Pollinator Habitats Influence Native Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Abundance and Diversity? is part of a series of 23 case studies produced by Insight for Action as part of a post-project evaluation of SARE's regional grant programs. Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts for further details.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

New Video: Plan for Stressful Times

Posted on July 2, 2025September 5, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Starting or taking over a family farming operation is an inherently stressful enterprise. And failing to plan for the impact stress can have on mental health poses real risk for any small business. At Flat Rock Dairy in Paulding, Ohio, dairy farmer Gretl Schlatter and Ohio State University Extension educator Sarah Noggle are working to normalize conversations with farmers about stress, and offer support to those who need it.

Noggle, who focuses on farm stress in her Extension role, knows how hard it can be for farmers who value self-reliance and grit to ask for help. “By the time someone asks for help, it’s already serious,” she says.

“Sometimes you feel isolated and alone. Maybe your farm is going through a stressor that your neighbors are not,” says Schlatter. “When you're looking for resources and you're drawing a blank, Extension is a great place to turn. It connects you to your local community, mentor groups, peer groups, and other people who have either been there or are going through these stressors at the same time.”

In Ohio, OSU Extension launched Farm Stress Certified, a training series designed to help mental health professionals understand and assist rural communities. “We go out and interview farmers and then those counselors can make those connections,” says Noggle, who also serves as a state coordinator for the SARE program in Ohio.

Nationwide, programs like this are helping farmers reflect, plan ahead and find strength in connection. To learn more about successful SARE-funded projects that used innovative strategies to help farmers and ranchers manage stress, see Managing Stress. Find a cooperative extension office near you at https://landgrantimpacts.org/extension/.

“We have to address some of these issues,” says Noggle. “These stresses will come again...so how are we going to handle this better next time?”

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Farmer-Friendly SARE Grant Finds Poultry Production Efficiencies and Processing Barriers In Hawaii

Posted on June 23, 2025June 23, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Dependent on imports for more than 80% of their food, Hawaii’s people are perpetually at risk of supply chain interruptions due to natural disasters or other disruptions. Improving the capacity of local food production is one way farmers can generate income opportunities while reducing the remote islands’ risky reliance on imports.

Nicole Correa of O‘ahu’s Double D Farm and Ranch secured a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to find cost-effective methods to raise broiler chickens and increase food security for Hawaii. Correa examined the influence that different forms of poultry housing had on broilers and determined that birds raised in larger cages had increased weight gain and predator protection, as well as reduced animal stress and commercial feed costs.

These results revealed an opportunity to improve the efficiency and economic sustainability of local poultry production by providing a more efficient production model.

Unfortunately, Correa also found that the lack of local poultry processing capacity in Hawaii was problematic. Though increased efficiencies were achieved while raising birds, producing the maximum number of birds allowed to be processed on-farm would have merely enabled producers to financially break even. Despite that disappointment, the innovative Hubbell Bubble Chicken Coop tested during the project has been adopted by some non-commercial producers to improve predator control in South Carolina, where Correa now works as a livestock and forages agent with Clemson University Extension.

Participants examine the “Hubbell Bubble” caging option designed by Micheal DuPonte. Credit: Nicole Correa

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016–2019 found that the farmer-friendly approach of SARE grants was essential to getting the project off the ground.“SARE is very helpful. Trying to manage a federal grant is so daunting,” says Correa. “... It gets to the point where you don’t have time to be a farmer because you’re too busy doing the paperwork. Having smaller grants available helps.”

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FW19-344 for more information on this project's impact.

Different Poultry Housing Options for Chickens to Determine Fastest Growing Rate is part of a series of 23 case studies produced by Insight for Action as part of a post-project evaluation of SARE's regional grant programs. Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts for further details.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

SARE Seeks Outreach Products to Advance Sustainable Agriculture

Posted on June 23, 2025June 23, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Do you have an idea for an outreach product or project 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 agriculture practices? If so, we want to hear from you!

SARE Outreach is seeking recommendations for information products or outreach initiatives that extend research-based innovations to improve the sustainability of American agriculture. Please submit your ideas using the link below by June 30th.

Submit your ideas by June 30!

Previous SARE Outreach projects have included:

Books, bulletins and factsheets exploring the principles of sustainable agriculture
Videos or multimedia projects demonstrating sustainable practices at work
Outreach initiatives that extend SARE funded research results to a broader audience

Submissions should address the following criteria:

Serves the information needs of farmers, ranchers and/or agricultural educators
Advances sustainable innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and/or quality of life in agriculture
Extends SARE-funded research that addresses a critical information gap
Illustrates principles of sustainable management that can be adapted for widespread practice

Submit your ideas by June 30!

Non-English Language Publishing Projects: We welcome submissions for projects that seek to develop educational materials in a language other than English. The target audience must be U.S. farmers. Due to our limited linguistic and cultural capacities, we recommend that any submission includes a bilingual partner (individual or organization) who is prepared to collaborate on developing and distributing the proposed materials. Submissions must be in English to be considered.

This survey is intended to assess information needs and opportunities only. Submission does not constitute a request for or guarantee of funding. Competitive grant opportunities are offered regularly by the four SARE regional programs. Information regarding regional SARE grants can be found at www.sare.org/grants. Please contact SARE Outreach at sare@sare.org if you have questions or comments.

Producer-Driven Research Finds Wood Chip Mulch Conserves Moisture and Improves Production Efficiency

Posted on June 13, 2025June 13, 2025 by Sean McGovern

For many small fruit and vegetable farmers, finding cost-effective strategies to control weeds is a never-ending struggle. In Virginia, one producer found that using locally available chipped wood for mulch helps manage weeds while increasing yield, improving soil health and cutting irrigation costs.

To help farmers better manage weed pests, Patrick Johnson of Neighborly Affiliations for Naturally Idealized Health (NANIH) Farm received a Southern SARE Producer grant to study the efficacy of using wood chip mulch as a weed suppressant in a market-vegetable production system. Johnson’s research demonstrated that covering soil with wood chip mulch effectively controlled weeds. As an added benefit, the mulch also reduced moisture evaporation and contributed to steady soil hydration, which ultimately improved Johnson’s yields. Bolstered by the support of the SARE grant, Johnson presented his results at conferences and farmers markets to hundreds of other farmers and agricultural professionals.

“Water doesn’t evaporate as fast when the ground is covered,” says Johnson. “Moisture was steady throughout the entire experiment, and we did see an increase in overall production resulting from the use of wood chips.”

By documenting that a variety of additional benefits can be realized by using wood chip mulch to reduce weed pressure, the project improved the operation's environmental, economic and production sustainability, while boosting production.

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016–2019 found that SARE’s integrated approach to research and education was crucial to the project’s success.

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FS18-308 for more information on this project.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Locally Available Woodchips for Weed Control is part of a series of 23 case studies produced by Insight for Action as part of a post-project evaluation of SARE's regional grant programs. Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts for further details.

For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Adapting to Overgrazed Land and Drought on Joe Kipp’s Ranch in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana

Posted on June 4, 2025June 13, 2025 by Jamie Storrow

On ancestral Blackfeet land in northern Montana, Joe and Kathy Kipp are breathing new life into overgrazed prairies. Their ranch—passed down through generations—is now a model for how thoughtful land stewardship and strategic conservation can restore ecosystems, support livestock, and prepare the land for water shortages that are the new normal.

Their journey is featured in a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE. The segment shares how the Kipps transformed a once-depleted ranch into a thriving pasture for both cattle and native bison.

Watch Now on Youtube

“This is where my people have been since the beginning of creation… . This is who I am,” says Joe Kipp, a member of the Blackfeet Nation. He works as a steward of the land to protect its natural promise for generations to come.

When Kipp inherited the land from his late father-in-law, it was overgrazed, lacked fencing, and had no reliable water resources. With help from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Kipps installed cross-fencing to allow for rotational grazing, along with water systems that have helped protect and manage their pastures during dry years. Springs that once flowed on top of the grassland now filter into the ground more quickly. With improved water management and native grass restoration, their ranch is better prepared to weather dry seasons.

Years of patient restoration have brought back native prairie grasses and wildlife. These healthy ecosystems now feed their livestock and bison, creating increased revenue and contributing to the ranch’s renewed success.

This video is part of an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland produced by PBS KVIE highlighting farmers and ranchers who are using sustainable strategies to adapt to challenging weather conditions. View the entire episode at Farming Strategies for Adapting to Extreme Weather.

New SARE Bulletin: The Basics of Farm Business Planning

Posted on June 2, 2025June 12, 2025 by Sean McGovern

New and beginning farmers face a wide range of barriers when launching or growing their operations, from uncertain markets and extreme weather to land access and financing challenges. A clear, practical business plan can make all the difference.

SARE Outreach’s newest bulletin, The Basics of Farm Business Planning, offers a framework to help farmers clarify their goals, evaluate their resources, and build financially and ecologically sound enterprises. Developed with input from experienced farmers and educators, the guide introduces users to five essential planning steps:

The Basics of Farm Business Planning summarizes concepts from SARE’s Building a Sustainable Business workbook, which provides real-life examples of how farmers have used business planning to launch new enterprises, expand sustainably and achieve personal and financial goals.

Download or order your free print copy of The Basics of Farm Business Planning at https://www.sare.org/business-planning-basics or by calling (301) 779-1007. The Basics of Farm Business Planning is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.

Adapting to Extreme Rains and Drought at A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minnesota

Posted on May 22, 2025June 13, 2025 by Jamie Storrow

At A-Frame Farm, resilience begins below the surface. In a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE, farmer Luke Peterson shares how his family is adapting to increasingly erratic weather through regenerative practices that focus on restoring the soil.

Located on 500 acres in Madison, Minn., A-Frame Farm produces organic grains and grass-fed beef using techniques that prioritize long-term soil health. “I’m growing food for humans that is healthy,” says Peterson. “It brings me a lot of joy.”

Watch Now on Youtube

Peterson’s journey into sustainable farming was inspired by his wife’s work as a nurse practitioner, where he saw the direct connection between soil, food, and human health. That connection now guides every decision on the farm: minimizing tillage, rotating diverse crops, and using compost from their cows to revitalize the land.

The farm’s use of deep-rooted perennials like Kernza plays a critical role in soil health. Kernza roots help retain moisture during drought and stabilize the soil during heavy rains, while also drawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “We work on Mother Nature’s terms,” Peterson explains.

By building a more diverse and regenerative system, the Peterson family is reducing their reliance on off-farm inputs and preparing their land for long-term success. Their efforts also extend beyond the farm, through partnerships with companies like Simple Mills, which source ingredients directly from A-Frame for their organic food products.