www.sare.org resources what-is-sustainable-agriculture What is Sustainable Agriculture? A simple way to think about sustainable agriculture is that it involves producing enough food and fiber to satisfy today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. Farmers and ranchers who value sustainability embrace three common goals while running productive operations: To achieve these sustainability goals, a farmer typically views […]
www.sare.org resources building-soils-for-better-crops Building Soils for Better Crops The 4th edition of Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. It will show you how different physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil interconnect, and how […]
www.sare.org resources smart-water-use-on-your-farm-or-ranch Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch As producers throughout the nation grow increasingly concerned about water scarcity, farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators are beginning to explore new, conservation-oriented approaches to water use. They are managing soil to improve infiltration, selecting drought-tolerant crops and native forages, and designing innovative runoff collection systems. Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research […]
www.sare.org resources conservation-tillage-systems-in-the-southeast Conservation Tillage Systems in the Southeast Conservation Tillage Systems in the Southeast: Production, Profitability and Stewardship is a comprehensive guide on conservation tillage systems for farms in the southeastern United States, providing information on the core components of conservation tillage systems as well as addressing regional considerations. The geographic coverage of the book examines these systems from southern Virginia to the panhandle of Florida and from the Atlantic Coast […]
www.sare.org publications cover-crop-economics an-in-depth-look-at-management-situations-where-cover-crops-pay-off-faster when-fertilizer-costs-are-high-or-manure-nutrients-need-to-be-sequestered When Fertilizer Costs are High or Manure Nutrients Need to be Sequestered Cover crops are often an essential part of an organic farmer’s strategy to supply nutrients to their crops, particularly through nitrogen-fixing legumes. Some legumes, such as hairy vetch and Austrian winter peas, can supply over 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre if allowed to grow until they flower. However, for conventional farmers, it has normally been cheaper to obtain nitrogen from synthetic fertilizer than […]
www.sare.org publications cover-crops-ecosystem-services cover-crops-at-work-keeping-nutrients-out-of-waterways Cover Crops at Work: Keeping Nutrients Out of Waterways An overview of cover crop impacts on nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural systems.1 Download this fact sheet (PDF). This fact sheet is part of the Ecosystem Services from Cover Crops fact sheet series. Cover Crops Reduce Nitrogen Losses to the Environment Nitrogen can be lost from agricultural fields in runoff water and groundwater. This displaced nitrogen […]
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 more about sustainable production practices that can help build healthy soil. Explore the on-farm benefits of using cover crops, crop rotation, manure amendments, composting and […]
www.sare.org resources cover-crop-economics Cover Crop Economics Farmers around the country are planting cover crops on millions of acres to protect and improve the soil, and the more that farmers use cover crops, the more they value this conservation practice. Cover Crop Economics: Opportunities to Improve Your Bottom Line in Row Crops looks at the economics of cover crops in corn and […]
www.sare.org resources cultivating-climate-resilience-on-farms-and-ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches outlines the new challenges that changing weather patterns pose in agriculture throughout the United States, and what you can do to make your farm more resilient. By understanding the climate risks to your production system and practices that can reduce those risks, you can identify some management steps […]
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 provide a commercial family farm perspective, using real research data to quantify the economic impact of a never-till and cover crop production system. Highlights include: […]