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Adapting to Flooding and Drought on Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton, Vermont

Posted on May 15, 2025June 13, 2025 by Jamie Storrow

On the banks of the White River, Hurricane Flats Farm is finding new ways to thrive in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather. In a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE, farmers Ashley Loehr and Antoine Guerlain share how they’re navigating both severe drought and catastrophic flooding on their 37-acre certified organic farm in Vermont.

After taking over the farm, Loehr and Guerlain faced intense droughts during their first three seasons and devastating floods in 2023 that destroyed 75% of their projected gross income. “Droughts, floods, extremely heavy rain, extreme wind, all those things are happening all the time, and could happen any minute,” says Loehr.

To manage these challenges, they’ve adopted a range of innovative farming techniques. By planting strip crops and buffer zones, grouping high-value crops away from high-risk flood zones, and choosing a diverse mix of short-cycle and long-season crops, they’ve built flexibility into their growing season. These strategies allow them to reduce losses and recover faster when weather disrupts production.

Hurricane Flats also partners with the White River Partnership to grow 1,000 young trees that will be transplanted onto farms across the region—strengthening riparian areas and supporting long-term soil health and water quality. The farm’s produce is sold directly to the community at farmers’ markets, where the support for their efforts has been strong.

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.

Pennsylvania Producers Drive Research to Expand Switchgrass Markets

Posted on May 8, 2025June 10, 2025 by Sean McGovern

In Pennsylvania, switchgrass has emerged as a promising new crop for family farms. This perennial grass thrives on rocky, untillable land, requires minimal maintenance and reduces soil erosion. But a key challenge to expanding production has been the lack of stable markets and cost-effective methods of processing switchgrass for high-value applications like poultry bedding.

In response, Will Brandau built a robust network of farmers in the state to help producers develop and adapt to evolving switchgrass markets. With support from Northeast SARE, members of the Association of Warm Season Grass Producers developed portable processing equipment to produce high-quality poultry bedding from switchgrass that is less than 1.5 inches in length and virtually dust-free.

This work builds on a series of SARE-funded initiatives to promote warm-season grasses, highlighting their potential as low-input, sustainable crops. The association’s efforts, supported by additional grants, have expanded knowledge of switchgrass’s diverse uses, including erosion-control materials, cattle bedding, and more.

The project has improved the economic and social sustainability of agriculture in Pennsylvania through producer-driven networking, research, and market development. A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016–2019 emphasized the importance of investing in producer leadership to engage farmers to build new markets and processing options for a low maintenance, soil conserving crop.

“We had these guys experimenting with different processes on how to produce poultry bedding. We took all the things that worked and put them together on one device that was portable so it could go from farm to farm,” said Brandau.

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FNE17-865 for more information on this project’s impact.

Single-Producer-Scale Preparation of Warm-Season Grass for Poultry Bedding – Pennsylvania 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 information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

Adapting to Generational Challenges on Western Family Farms in Waterloo, Iowa

Posted on May 2, 2025May 8, 2025 by Jamie Storrow

For the Western family, farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a legacy of perseverance, stewardship, and deep-rooted pride. As one of Iowa’s pioneering Black farm families, the Westerns are featured in a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE, for their commitment to sustainable agriculture and generational resilience.

Brothers Todd, Christopher, and Adam Western honor their father after his unexpected passing in 2008 through the upkeep of Western Family Farms. Alongside their mother and farm CEO, Barbara Western, the Western family is committed to the longevity of their farm. “That’s my job and my family’s job—to make sure we are good stewards of the land,” says Todd Western III, “to make sure we are setting this up for the next 160 years.”

Their commitment to regenerative farming includes no-till practices, cover cropping, and transforming less productive land into grasslands to both support pollinators and enrich the soil. These strategies reduce the need for chemical inputs, improve water retention, and make the farm more resilient during increasingly common periods of heavy rain and drought.

The Westerns have also enrolled in a carbon capture credit plan that incentivizes activities that reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and improve soil health—generating a new revenue stream while they invest in long-term sustainability.

Their roots in Iowa trace back to the late 1800s, when their ancestors—formerly enslaved people—purchased the land and began farming. Through decades of adversity, including the challenges of being Black farmers in a state that is over 98% white, the Western family has found a place for social sustainability. Todd Western III co-founded the Iowa Farmers of Color to create a support network for farmers of color.

Adapting to Heatwaves and Hurricanes at Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Norman Park, Georgia

Posted on April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 by Jamie Storrow

At Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Farm, Kent Hamilton and his daughter Courtney Hamilton Griffin are doing more than growing produce—they’re creating a legacy of sustainability and innovation. In a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE, the Hamilton family shares how their Georgia farm is evolving to meet the growing challenges of heatwaves and intensifying storms.

Located in Norman Park, Ga., Southern Valley operates year-round, cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables across three strategic locations to ensure stability in an increasingly unpredictable growing season. The family’s approach includes meticulous crop planning, rapid postharvest cooling, and flexibility in the face of extreme weather events.

“We’re doing the basics of human life,” says Courtney Hamilton Griffin, whose family has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture in the Southeast. “We’re doing something that’s been done for generations.” She acknowledges that it has become increasingly challenging for agriculture producers in recent years, due to the variability of weather events across the nation.

As extreme heat becomes more frequent, the farm has adjusted harvesting schedules to prioritize worker safety. “Mother Nature drives everything we do,” says Kent Hamilton. “During extreme heat, we start harvesting early in the morning or shift to later in the evening. The biggest concern is keeping our people safe.”

The Hamiltons also brace for hurricanes, whose growing intensity and frequency pose a major threat to crops in the region. By operating across multiple sites and staying nimble in their crop timelines, Southern Valley is building resilience while maintaining high-quality standards.

“Treat people with kindness and love and respect,” Courtney Hamilton Griffin says. “They’re going to give that in return.” For the Hamiltons, agriculture isn’t just about food—it’s about community, responsibility, and legacy.

New Survey of Farm Advisors Shows Growing Interest in Cover Crops

Posted on April 21, 2025April 24, 2025 by Sean McGovern

CTIC, SARE and ASTA release the 2025 National Cover Crop Survey, which focuses on consultants and other trusted advisors.

More than 650 farm advisors from across the United States participated in a survey on cover crops, shining light on how—and how frequently—they advise growers on cover crops. A report on the survey was released today by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), SARE, and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). This is the eighth national cover crop survey conducted by those groups since 2012 and the first to focus on advisors. The American Soybean Association also contributed to this report.

Download the Report

"Advisors play a key role in informing farmers about cover crops and providing technical assistance to help them succeed with covers," pointed out Rob Myers, director of the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative and regional director of extension programs for North Central Region SARE. "Understanding their attitudes toward cover crops, how they get their information, and how they perceive cover crop benefits will help guide efforts to support those advisors."

Ryan Heiniger, executive director of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), added, "This survey opened a window into how cover crops fit into crop consulting businesses and other advisory services. We also observed that seeing is believing, which is borne out by the fact that approximately 70% of the respondents who farm themselves use cover crops on their own operations, and those cover crop users are more inclined to advise their clients on the practice."

ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne emphasized the importance of the perspectives gained from these surveys in empowering the seed industry to respond to the needs of U.S. farmers. “As part of the agriculture and food sector based on innovation, better understanding trends and motivations for planting cover crops enables the seed industry to improve cover crop varieties and use new technologies in the areas most impactful to American agriculture," he said. "Recognizing and adapting to the needs and desires of farmers allows the seed industry to adequately prepare, and ultimately provide, the right seed for the right farm at the right time."

The survey was conducted online in October 2024. The combination of private and public sector advisors represented 46 states. Of the 654 advisors who participated in the survey, 77% were certified crop advisors (CCAs), a certification conferred by the American Society of Agronomy.

Among the highlights of the survey findings:

The advisors who used cover crops on their own farms were five times more likely to recommend cover crops to farmers not yet using them, compared to advisors who did not farm with cover crops themselves.
Advisors using cover crops on their own farms tended to have a much higher percentage of clients using cover crops—22.3% of the advisors who use cover crops themselves reported 25-50% of their clients are using covers, compared to 9.1% at the same level of adoption among clients of advisors who did not personally use cover crops.
The farm advisors surveyed used a wide range of information sources to learn about cover crops. Advisors who reported that they learned about cover crops on the job rather than through formal academic or training channels preferred training sessions (63.9%) and webinars (57.4%) for learning new cover crop insights, but also liked learning from farmers one-on-one (58.3%) and by visiting field trials (30.6%).
Looking ahead, a majority of the farm advisors (56.9%) expected to see cover crop acreage continue to increase. They also expected farmers to continue increasing use of cover crop mixes (46.7%) and trying ways of combining other soil health practices with cover crops (52.9%). The advisors expected a moderate amount of interest in newer cover crop topics like planting green (29.2%), grazing cover crops (32.2%), and others.

For more information on the CTIC/SARE/ASTA National Cover Crop Survey Report 2024-2025, visit CTIC’s website.

About the Conservation Technology Information Center
Founded in 1982, CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources, and are productive and profitable. It is one of the oldest nonprofit membership organizations solely dedicated to the advancement of conservation agriculture research, policies and program delivery for producers.

On-Farm Research Advances Cost-Effective Weed Management Practice on Guam

Posted on April 11, 2025April 17, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Guam’s farmers often rely on hand weeding or gas trimmers to control fast-growing weeds in citrus, papaya and pepper crops. These methods can be expensive and time consuming, so one innovative farmer is instead trying sheet mulching as a cost-effective method to control weeds. Sheet mulching involves layering various sources of organic waste materials on top of the ground to smother weeds. This practice also has the potential to divert paper waste from the landfill and to build soil.

Two people, one in a mask, examine mulched pepper plants in Guam. — *Extension agent Joe Tuquero showing mulched guafi peppers to an elder farmer Luis Flores. **Credit**: Marcela A. Takai*

Glenn Takai of Takai Farm used a Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to research the efficacy of using waste cardboard and chipped branches as sheet mulch and found the practice significantly reduced weed propagation and growth. The approach also nearly doubled pepper yields on their test plots, prevented weeds from competing with crops for nutrients, and improved soil organic matter and quality.

Takai’s research improved the environmental and economic sustainability of his and others’ farms by demonstrating a more cost-effective model for weed control and soil improvement. After seeing Takai’s success, neighboring farmers on Guam began adopting the mulching method. A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016–2019 found that on-farm research demonstrations encourage other producers to adapt innovative new production practices.

“Mulching, hands down, is going to be the way to go compared to not mulching. I wouldn’t do without it,” said Takai, who credits the SARE grant for enabling his research.

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FW19-348 for more information on this project’s impact.

Sheet Mulch Using Cardboard and Nitrogen Fixing Trees 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 information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.

RFD-TV to Feature Sustainable Innovations on "America’s Heartland"

Posted on April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Tune in to RFD-TV on Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30 EDT for a new episode of "America’s Heartland" highlighting farmers and ranchers who are using sustainable strategies to adapt to increasingly challenging and unpredictable weather conditions.

Produced in collaboration with SARE and PBS KVIE, the episode showcases a range of innovative farming techniques, rural community resilience and creative approaches to preserving land for future generations.

See how Ashley Loehr and Antoine Guerlain responded to both drought and catastrophic flooding on their diversified vegetable farm in South Royalton, Vermont. They run a certified-organic farm cultivating popcorn, wheat and hay on 37 acres. Strip cropping, buffer strips and a diverse mix of short-cycle and long-season crops provide more flexibility to help reduce income gaps caused by crop loss.
The Hamilton family manages Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Norman Park, Georgia, where extreme heat and intensifying hurricane seasons have forced them and other producers to adapt. Adjusting harvesting times protects workers from extreme heat, while growing crops year round across three strategic locations maintains a more reliable income stream.
Luke Peterson shares his family’s regenerative approach to cultivating organic grains and grass-fed beef at A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minnesota. By minimizing tillage, rotating crops and incorporating deep-rooted plants like Kernza, they’re restoring the soil’s health and boosting resilience to droughts and heavy storms.
In Waterloo, Iowa, the Westerns carry on their family’s legacy as one of Iowa’s pioneering Black farming families. Facing generations of challenges, the Westerns adopted no-till farming, cover crops and carbon-capture practices to reduce off-farm inputs, regenerate the soil and better manage extreme weather.
After inheriting overgrazed land, Joe and Kathy Kipp installed fencing and irrigation to better manage scarce water resources on their ranch on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. Through their work with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Kipps have restored native prairie grasslands and improved drought resilience to sustain their cattle and bison, all while preserving their land for future generations.

Watch the episode on RFD-TV on Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30 EDT. RFD-TV is carried nationwide on DISH, DIRECTV (satellite) and many cable systems: https://www.rfdtv.com/find-us-on-tv.

If you miss the broadcast, stay tuned! SARE Outreach will share a link to the episode online in the near future.

Farmer Leadership Key to Adoption of Sustainable Grazing Practices in Wisconsin

Posted on April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Farmers are often reluctant to risk investments of time or money to adopt research-based conservation practices on their farms. In southern Wisconsin, a creative approach to fostering informal, farmer-led learning opportunities has been key to encouraging farmers to adopt cost-cutting grazing and cover cropping practices that successfully decrease soil erosion and waterway contamination.

Black cattle grazing a cover crop. — *Cattle grazing a cover crop. **Credit:** Marie Raboin*

Dane County Conservation Specialist Marie Raboin recognized that farmers who feel inspired and informed by other farmers are more likely to adopt new practices. With support from a North Central SARE Partnership grant, Raboin organized and compensated conservation-minded farmers to share their experiences with other producers. Mentor farmers led field days and one-on-one consultations to help their peers explore grazing cover crops to reduce livestock feed costs.

This farmer-led method significantly enhanced local livestock production sustainability—environmentally, economically and socially—by fostering a culture of innovation. As a result, farmers increased the use of cover cropping practices which reduced feed costs, soil erosion and waterway pollution.

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016 and 2019 found that fostering innovation through farmer-to-farmer learning boosted the project’s outcomes.

“Science matters in promoting sustainable agriculture, but it is just one small piece of the process,” said Raboin. “Community [support] affects more change on the landscape than research out of the best land grant university.”

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-ONC19-063 for more information on this project’s impact.

Building Sustainable Relationships Around the Use of Grazing Cover Crops 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.

Farmer-Led Innovation Improves Aquaculture Production and Ecosystems in New England

Posted on March 24, 2025April 15, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Southern New England’s climate offers ideal conditions for producing bay scallops—a sustainable seafood option that also diversifies aquaculture enterprises. However, an important challenge in bay scallop farming is access to nursery systems that can efficiently raise scallops to maturity before transferring them to grow-out environments.

Floating downweller in the water with doors open. Credit: Dan Ward

With support from a Northeast SARE Farmer grant, Dr. Daniel Ward, owner of Ward Aquafarms, helped to bridge this gap by developing a floating downweller nursery system designed to optimize growth and survival rates for juvenile bay scallops.

Dr. Ward’s innovative system uses stacked trays that increase water flow and surface area, thereby supporting higher production densities without compromising scallop growth or survival. The system allows scallops to grow from fertilized eggs to market-ready sizes more efficiently, improving Ward Aquafarms’ production of high-quality scallops for both market and propagation in overfished or degraded ecosystems.

The project has improved the economic sustainability and environmental quality of New England aquaculture production by enabling producers to sell scallops while simultaneously reviving their production ecosystems.

A recent post-project evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016 and 2019 found that fostering innovation through affordable, farmer-driven research grants was key to the project’s success.

“The entire SARE program has been great, and I really believe in their mission to enable farmers to drive the process and partner with academics, instead of the other way around,” Dr. Ward said. ”The amount of money for each project is relatively small, and risk-reward wise, it has led to an amazing return for our industry.”

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-fne16-861 for more information on this project’s impact.

Expanding Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture: Optimizing Growth and Survival in a Bay Scallop Nursery System 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. For more information visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts.

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

Partnership Helps Ohio Farmers Increase Revenue and Production Efficiency

Posted on March 17, 2025March 17, 2025 by Sean McGovern

Without access to processing facilities, Midwestern specialty crop farmers often miss out on the opportunity to transform their surplus harvests into shelf-stable, value-added products that bring in revenue year round.

Jeanine Seabrook, founder and owner of Glass Rooster Cannery in central Ohio, received two North Central SARE Farmer Rancher grants to partner with local farmers to generate income by processing excess produce that was otherwise going to waste. The grants allowed her to purchase the equipment needed to process over 40,000 pounds of excess produce into sauces, relishes and other canned goods, creating a revenue stream for farmers during the off season.

Three jars from the Glass Rooster Cannery lined up in a row. — *Farmers are provided with Glass Rooster Cannery labels and can provide their own farm label as well. **Credit:** Jeanine Seabrook*

Seabrook’s second grant expanded the cannery’s capacity to partner with local farmers. Working with Glass Rooster Cannery improved the economic sustainability and production efficiency of those farms: they have since reduced on-farm waste and begun to sell shelf-stable goods year round.

A recent evaluation of SARE projects awarded between 2016 and 2019 found that building the leadership skills, marketing knowledge and processing capacity of participating farmers was key to the project’s success.

“Each year this farmer brings me their apples. We make apple butter, and they sell it for a 50% profit. That has allowed a single-parent family to have additional income through the winter,” says Seabrook. “It's not going to make or break (either of) our businesses, but it pads us enough to feel free to extend ourselves. That's important in order to grow.”

Visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FNC16-1056 for more information on this project’s impact.

Formalizing Partnerships to Scale-Up Value-Added Local Food in Rural Ohio 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. For more information visit https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts.

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