western.sare.org resources conservation-buffers-in-organic-systems Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems: Western States Implementation Guide This is a collaborative project to build the capacity of conservation professionals to assist organic and transitional farmers in planning and implementing conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program...
western.sare.org resources sustainable-ranch-management-assessment-guidebook Sustainable Ranch Management Assessment Guidebook The purpose of the guidebook is to assist the rancher and/or land manager use business planning and ecological monitoring to ensure the ranch or land is managed in a sustainable...
western.sare.org resources biological-soil-crusts Biological Soil Crusts Cheryl McIntyre investigates the influence of biocrusts on the establishment of native perennial grasses and cheatgrass and the conditions under which biocrusts might make rangelands more resistant to exotic grass...
www.sare.org resources a-whole-farm-approach-to-managing-pests A Whole Farm Approach to Managing Pests This 16-page bulletin helps producers—and the educators who work with them—use ecological principles to design farm-wide approaches to control pests. It lays out basic ecological principles for managing pests and suggests...
western.sare.org resources fresh-growth-podcast Fresh Growth Podcast Fresh Growth: Approaches to a More Sustainable Future from Western Ag Practitioners introduces you to farmers and ranchers from around the western United States who are finding innovative sustainable practices...
western.sare.org resources using-beneficial-insects-to-combat-pests-and-engage-growers Using Beneficial Insects to Combat Pests and Engage Growers Sustainable Agriculture Fact Sheet July 2020 State: California Commodity: Wine grapes Need: An economical way to control leafroll virus, which is spread by vine mealybugs Summary: Leafroll virus is infecting...
western.sare.org resources farmer-and-rancher-research Farmer and Rancher Research in the West Making changes on the farm or ranch involves taking risks. One or two years spent experimenting can lead to a financial hit too difficult to recover from. That’s where Western SARE’s...
www.sare.org publications cover-crop-economics the-off-farm-impacts-of-cover-crops The Off-Farm Impacts of Cover Crops Researchers have found that cover crops are very effective at protecting water quality. Here, cover crops are growing in fields along the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Researchers have...
www.sare.org resources what-is-soil-health What is Soil Health? Why is soil health so important? More and more, producers are understanding that healthy soils are more productive and lead to healthier crops. Dig into this interactive infographic to learn...
northcentral.sare.org resources pioneer-agroforestry-farm-tour-video-series Pioneer Agroforestry Farm Tour Video Series A new video series on Midwest agroforestry has just been released by the Savanna Institute and North Central SARE. The six-part Pioneer Agroforestry Farm Tour Video Series features brief, detailed...
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches managing-for-climate-resilience mitigating-climate-change Agriculture as a Means to Mitigate Climate Change There is mounting evidence that agriculture can play an important role in the effort to slow climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that agricultural soils have the...
www.sare.org resources improving-the-management-of-rangeland-ecosystems The Power of Data: Improving the Management of Rangeland Ecosystems Farmers and ranchers have always been respected for their unique knowledge of the land they work. Now, University of California Davis researchers are partnering with land managers to mine that...
www.sare.org resources improving-soil-health-through-cover-crops Improving Soil Health Through Cover Crops Grain farmer Jeff Frey has used no-till on his 700-acre farm in Willow Street, Penn., since the 1980s. Despite these efforts, Frey knew he needed to do more to protect...
www.sare.org resources how-sare-supports-farmer-driven-sustainability Investing in the Future of Agriculture: How SARE Supports Farmer-Driven Sustainability "One of the precepts of sustainability is that farmers learn from other farmers. Growers are the ones that can tweak and understand a practice and say, 'This really works this...
western.sare.org resources tools-and-approaches-for-measuring-ecosystem-services-in-californias-grasslands-and-oak-woodlands Tools and Approaches for Measuring Ecosystem Services in California's Grasslands and Oak Woodlands Ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from our natural ecosystems and working landscapes. These services include: forage production, erosion control, soil fertility, water storage, flood control, carbon storage, fire...
western.sare.org resources oregons-outback Oregon's Outback Oregon’s Outback is a Sustainable Rangeland-Based Beef Production Video Library that highlights best management practices for cow-calf producers and agricultural professionals. Videos within this library will fall within the three...
western.sare.org resources bioearth-webinar-series BioEarth Webinar Series A series of four free webinars with Washington State University researchers affiliated with the BioEarth research initiative sharing findings related to climate change impacts on Northwest U.S. water resources, nutrient cycling,...
western.sare.org resources how-well-does-biodegradable-plastic-mulch-degrade-in-compost-and-soil How Well Does Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Degrade in Compost and Soil? Biodegradable plastic mulches are now commercially available, and they are designed so that they can be tilled directly into the soil to degrade. Their adoption could alleviate the disposal problem...
www.sare.org resources economic-and-environmental-aspects-of-cover-crops Economic and Environmental Aspects of Cover Crops Session recordings on this page include: Economics of Cover Crops Business Opportunities with Cover Crops and Soil Health Environmental Impacts of Cover Crop Systems Economics of Cover Crops Speakers will...
www.sare.org resources organic-production Organic Production In 1992, there were 3,587 organic operations in the United States. Almost 25 years later, that number has more than quintupled to 24,650 certified organic operations as of 2016. What...