www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts advancing-walnut-syrup-production-for-increased-profitability-and-farm-income-diversification Advancing Walnut Syrup Production for Increased Profitability and Farm Income Diversification – West Virginia Researchers advance black walnut tapping for commercial syrup production, diversifying the industry and furthering niche market opportunities. Walnut syrup is truly a novel product commercially. We knew of people making it on the home scale and, scientifically, that it could be done. There’d been some small- scale research into the process of making it similarly […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts sheet-mulch-using-cardboard-and-nitrogen-fixing-trees Sheet Mulch Using Cardboard and Nitrogen Fixing Trees – Guam Cardboard sheet mulching diverts paper products from the landfill and inspires rural family farmers to incorporate innovation into traditional practices. The reason I wanted to experiment with cardboard was because I work at the school and see all the cardboard loaded in the bins every week. ... Our local grocery stores, the mom-and-pop stores always […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts formalizing-partnerships-to-scale-up-value-added-local-food-in-rural-ohio Formalizing Partnerships to Scale-Up Value-added Local Food in Rural Ohio The year before we applied for the first SARE grant, a farmer approached us with a whole bunch of hot peppers he didn’t know what to do with. As a licensed cannery, we had a sauce recipe to process these peppers that was approved already. That got us thinking about the amount of waste that […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts improving-silvopasture-systems-in-the-south-identifying-suitable-forage-crops-and-enhancing-environmental-quality-in-upland-forests Improving Silvopasture Systems in the South: Identifying Suitable Forage Crops and Enhancing Environmental Quality in Upland Forests – Alabama Engaging with farmers as equal partners positions a small liberal arts university as a trustworthy partner and resource. We were able to establish longer-term relationships that we might not have been able to otherwise because of the grant. SARE gave us legitimacy in the community, that we were doing equivalent work to the local land […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts staying-ahead-in-the-packshed-improving-postharvest-equipment-and-building-guidance-for-fruit-and-vegetable-farms Staying Ahead in the Packshed: Improving Postharvest Equipment and Building Guidance for Fruit and Vegetable Farms – Vermont Coupling on-farm technical assistance with case study methods to enhance postharvest infrastructure and build a peer-to-peer training network. Produce that has been harvested is a living organism, but it is dying. The best we can do is develop systems and practices that maintain and sustain quality and safety as long as possible. All of this […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts research-and-education-grants-impacts Cover Crop Management Options to Improve Weed Control, Crop Yield and Soil Health – Kansas Longest-running experiment in the Mid-Western U.S. demonstrates the economic and soil-health benefits of cover crops as cattle forage. Whether you graze cover crops with livestock or you hay it, you get an economic benefit even if it impacts your next crop yield.” —Dr. Augustine Obour, Research and Education Grantee Crop-Livestock Integrated Systems are Economically Viable […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts promoting-crop-diversification-and-soil-health-for-cut-flower-production Promoting Crop Diversification and Soil Health for Cut Flower Production – Utah Early career researcher develops an innovative line of cut flower research benefitting women and small-scale farmers. The goal of this project was very simple—work with farmers to figure out nitrogen fertilizer rates for dahlia, but it turned into an amazingly complex case.” —Dr. Melanie Stock, Partnership Grantee Mosaic Virus Discovered to be Rampant in Dahlia […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts building-sustainable-relationships-around-the-use-of-grazing-cover-crops-on-dairy-and-livestock-in-southern-wisconsin Building Sustainable Relationships Around the Use of Grazing Cover Crops on Dairy and Livestock – Wisconsin Peer and community catalysts lead farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture practices and innovation; farmer-led, economically viable conservation efforts work. As an agency employee over the past 20 years, I have come to realize that science matters in promoting sustainable agriculture, but it is just one small piece of the process. What has a larger, more […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts different-poultry-housing-options-for-chickens-to-determine-fastest-growing-rate Different Poultry Housing Options for Chickens to Determine Fastest Growing Rate – Hawai'i Volunteer-engaged, on-farm research builds food system resilience and small farmer's grant-seeking capacity. SARE is very helpful. Trying to manage a federal grant is so daunting. The paperwork that goes into it and the amount of recording, it gets to the point where you don't have time to be a farmer because you're too busy doing […]
www.sare.org publications case-studies-of-sare-grant-impacts evaluating-the-effectiveness-of-locally-available-woodchips-for-weed-control Evaluating the Effectiveness of Locally Available Woodchips for Weed Control – Virginia Using chipped wood mulch as a permaculture practice is an economically viable strategy for small fruit and vegetable farmers to manage weeds, increase yield, improve soil health, and reduce irrigation. Water doesn’t evaporate as fast when the ground is covered with something like mulch; that’s what the wood chips did. Moisture was steady throughout the […]