www.sare.org publications cover-crops-ecosystem-services cover-crops-improve-soil-conditions-and-prevent-pollution Cover Crops Improve Soil Conditions and Prevent Pollution An overview of cover crop impacts on erosion, infiltration, nutrient losses and soil organic matter on U.S. cropland.1 Download this fact sheet (PDF). This fact sheet is part of the Ecosystem Services from Cover Crops fact sheet series. Why Plant Cover Crops? The scientific literature is ripe with data about the benefits of planting cover crops. Cover crops […]
www.sare.org publications cover-crops-ecosystem-services 10-ways-cover-crops-enhance-soil-health 10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has identified four basic principles or approaches for maintaining and improving soil health: Farmers can support these principles by using cover crops, which are conservation plantings of fast-growing annuals such as rye, clovers, vetches and radishes. Cover crops protect and improve the soil when a cash crop is not growing. […]
www.sare.org publications twelve-aprils-dairying putting-it-all-together-4 Putting it all Together Manure is scraped daily from the cement holding, feeding and free stall areas and placed in a picket-dam, which allows the waste water to drain into the lagoon while holding back the solids. Solids are spread once or twice a week with a side-opening spreader calibrated to control the amount per acre. "Unlike the old […]
www.sare.org publications twelve-aprils-dairying grazing-system Grazing System Paddocks Forages Supplemental Feeding Control Cow Comfort Cost Effectiveness Paddocks A trip to Ireland with a SARE PDP project headed by Steve Washburn changed Tom's opinion about paddock sizes. His 70 acres of grazing used to be divided into 8 paddocks, but now he has 25 paddocks ranging from 2.5 to 3.2 acres that are […]
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches climate-risk-management-resources Climate Risk Management Resources for Farmers and Educators General Resources Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). A multi-state network of Extension professionals that offers research-based education resources on disaster preparedness and response. Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate. Explores agricultural climate risk and resilience through the adaptation stories of 25 award-winning sustainable farmers and ranchers producing vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and livestock products across America. Climate Exposures—Regional […]
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 potential to sequester from 4 percent to 12 percent of total annual global greenhouse gas emissions, and a recent study by the Rodale Institute estimated […]
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches managing-for-climate-resilience managing-natural-resources Managing Natural Resources for Climate Resilience Practices that Brendon Rockey uses on his Colorado farm to build soil health include intercropping fava beans and other cover crop species with potatoes. Photo by Laura Lengnick. A healthy natural resource base contributes to the climate resilience of your operation by buffering the effects of greater weather variability and extremes. Healthy soils, an adequate […]
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches understanding-climate-resilience cover-crop-cocktails Cover Crop Cocktails: A Tool for Climate Resilience Colorado potato grower Brendon Rockey rotates fields to highly diverse cover crop mixtures to enhance the soil and his management of water. Photo by Laura Lengnick. Cover crops are planted to provide many important benefits, such as supplying crop nutrients; suppressing weeds, insects or diseases; building soil health; protecting soil nutrients from loss; providing forages; and improving farm income. Sustainable farmers are increasingly turning to […]
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches understanding-climate-risk soil-water-and-other-sensitivities Soil, Water and Other Sensitivities to Climate Change Soil and Water Resources Many producers are turning to efficient systems like subsurface drip irrigation as they adapt to having less available water. Courtesy USDA. Soil health and the quantity and quality of water resources are extremely sensitive to climatic changes, particularly given more frequent and intense weather extremes. Wind and water erosion degrade soil health. As more […]
www.sare.org publications climate-risk-management-and-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches understanding-climate-risk changing-patterns-for-weeds-insects-and-diseases Changing Patterns for Weeds, Insects and Diseases Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, coupled with increased levels of atmospheric CO2, also change the incidence, population levels and competitive ability of weeds, insect pests and diseases. Changes that favor pests and diseases can increase production risks and often require modifications to management practices to maintain crop and livestock yields and quality. Complicating matters […]