ATTRA - Voices from the Field

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit sare.org.

In it, NCAT Sustainable Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames talks with Weston Lombard, who grows mulberries on his Millfield, Ohio, farm and was a SARE farmer/rancher grant recipient on the topic “Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the Midwest” in 2016.

Guy and Weston talk about the commercial possibilities and challenges mulberries present, along with different cultivars and growing strategies.

Related ATTRA Resources:

Community Orchards

Fruit Trees, Orchards, and Vines for Natural Growing in the Ozarks

Community Forest Gardens: Case Studies Throughout the United States

Related SARE Resources:

Field Testing the Mulberry for Commercial Production in the Midwest

Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Appalachia: Mulberry Agroforestry

Mulberry Production with Weston Lombard

Other Resources: 

Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden

Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture

Contact Guy Ames at [email protected].

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

We have only recently begun to understand the true nature of soil organic matter. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater is joined by Dr. Johannes Lehmann, a Cornell University professor with the School of Integrative Plant Science - Soil and Crop Sciences Section as well as the Department of Global Development. They talk about misconceptions around soil humus and explore new ways to look at the organic components of the soil. They also discuss a number of other issues, including the carbon cycle, the importance of diversity, and the challenges of creating a circular economy.

Related ATTRA Resources: 

·        Managing Soil for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage 

·        Climate Solutions

Other Resources: 

·        Lehmann Lab: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

Contact Nina Prater at [email protected].

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a discussion between Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole. Mickey touches on the value of reading, the role of on-farm experiments, the need for a good veterinarian/client relationship, and learning from people we don't agree with. 

Related ATTRA Resources:

·        Episode 325. She’s Raising Sheep: Mickey Willenbring of Oregon, Part 1

·        Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles

Other Resources:

·        Dot Ranch

·        Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep)

·        Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op

·        Navajo Shepherd

 
Contact Linda Poole at [email protected]. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.  

Raising sheep can be a hobby or a business, a joy or a trial. And with the right intent and actions, it can also be a powerful way to heal ourselves and our relationship with the Earth.  Listen as Mickey Willenbring, a lifelong shepherd who raises Navajo-Churro and Karakul sheep in Western Oregon, shares her shepherding journey and the wisdom she's gleaning along the way. 

In the first of a two-part discussion with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Mickey touches on the shepherding challenges of parasites, predators, and marketing. 

Related ATTRA Resources:
She’s Raising Sheep Series 
Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles 

 Other Resources: 

Dot Ranch 

Navajo Churro: Nikyle Begay on t’aa dibé (The First Sheep) 

Navajo Churro Sheep and Shepherds: Meet the Rainbow Fiber Co-Op 

Navajo Shepherd 

Contact Linda Poole at [email protected]. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.  

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater and her husband, Jeremy Prater – a cattle and meat goat farmer – explore the science and history of potassium. Potassium fertilizer prices have increased 45 percent in the past few years, and finding ways to reduce  off-farm inputs of potassium can improve a farm’s bottom line. Nina and Jeremy discuss potassium in the soil and in plants as well as the human history around this element. They then share  ways to manage soils sustainably and require less off-farm potassium fertilizer.  

 Related ATTRA Resources: 

·        Rising Fertilizer Costs: Look to History for Answers

 ·        Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology 

 ·        Cotton Fields to Pasture: Soil Health Matters with Bill Robertson 

·        Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use 

Other Resources: 

·        The Nature and Properties of Soils

 ·        Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners: Potassium

 ·        Fertilizer Prices 

 ·        Impacts and Repercussions of Price Increases on the Global Fertilizer Market 

·        Do I Really Need Potassium Fertilizer? 

·        Potassium Management: Maps Showing Soil Clay Type Could Help Minnesota Farmers 

 ·        Top 10 Potash Countries by Production 

 ·        Nutrient Removal by Alabama Crops 

 ·        The Cost of Growth: Fertilizer Companies Cash In While Farmers and Communities Struggle 

 ·        Mineral Resource of the Month: Potash 

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Omar Rodriguez talks with his NCAT colleague Local Foods Specialist Molly Kirkham. Molly, who also manages the Dillon Farmers’ Market in Dillon, Montana, gives us a glimpse into the work required to make a farmers market operate smoothly and function as a place where the community can connect. She also discusses several important points for farmers to consider when evaluating whether farmers markets are a good marketing option for them.  

Related ATTRA Resources: 

·        Local Food Systems 

·        Farmers Markets 

Other Resources: 

·        Dillon Farmers’ Market 

Contact Molly Kirkham and Omar Rodriguez at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

In this episode of Voices from the Field, we get to know one of our newest NCAT employees, Tyler Jenkins. Tyler is joining the NCAT team as a Carbon Farm Planner and will be working on our “Building Soil, Building Equity” project, as well as contributing to the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater talks with Tyler about his work before coming to NCAT, what he will be focused on as part of the NCAT team, and to how to make the perfect tomato sandwich.

Related ATTRA Resources: 

·        NCATReceives $30 Million to Expand Climate Beneficial Wool, Cotton Production 

Other Resources: 

·         The Accountant  

 Contact Tyler Jenkins at [email protected] 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. 

You can getin touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. 

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. 

This episode of Voices from the Field continues a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole and Dr. Kathy Soder, who runs 125 Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan. They cover a variety of issues, including predators, parasites, and profits in the discussion, which is part of ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.”

The link to the first part of the discussion is in the notes to this podcast, so be sure to check it out along with the rest of the “She’s Raising Sheep” series.

ATTRA Resources:

Episode 320. She’s Raising Sheep: Dr. Kathy Soder of Pennsylvania, Part 1

She’s Raising Sheep Series

Sheep and Goats

Other Resources: 

Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health Sheep

Contact Linda Poole at [email protected]

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development 

This episode of Voices from the Field continues ATTRA’s ongoing podcast series “She’s Raising Sheep.” In a conversation with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole, Dr. Kathy Soder discusses building a healthy, profitable flock of sheep no matter where you farm. Kathy, an animal scientist and ruminant nutritionist with decades of experience raising sheep in both Montana and Pennsylvania, runs 125 production Dorset ewes on 96 acres in Pennsylvania with her husband Ken and son Nathan.

Be sure to come back next time for the second part of the conversation, when Kathy and Linda turn their attention to parasites, predators, livestock guard dogs, production equipment, and the mistakes Kathy has learned from along the way.

ATTRA Resources:

She’s Raising Sheep Series

Sheep and Goats

Other Resources: 

Dr. Kathy Soder on Raising High Health Sheep

Contact Linda Poole at [email protected] 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist and Montana Farmers Market Network Manager Tammy Howard talks with Erin Austin of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) about its online Abundant Montana platform. Erin is the Director of Community Partners and Sales at AERO and Abundant Montana. She talks with Tammy about how new and existing farmers market vendors can use the platform as a vendor tool — from finding area farmers markets to creating a digital marketing strategy. 

ATTRA Resources: 

·        Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets  

·        Farmers Market Pricing Strategies for Vendors 

·         Farmers Markets

NCAT Resources:  

·        Montana Farmers Market Network 

Other Resources: 

·        Abundant Montana 

Contact Tammy Howard at [email protected]  

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of
this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find
access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications,
webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.