From the Field Profiles

New Video: Building Customer Relationships at Brandon Family Farm

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 […]

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

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 […]

New Video: Plan for Stressful Times

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

In Virginia, using chipped wood for mulch can help manage weeds while increasing yield and cutting irrigation costs.

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

On ancestral Blackfeet land in northern Montana, Joe and Kathy Kipp are breathing new life into overgrazed prairies.

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

Pennsylvania Producers Drive Research to Expand Switchgrass Markets

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 […]