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Conservation


Growing Farmers

September 08, 2016 Spencer Miller, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Fresh. Local. Honest. This motto underscores the guiding philosophy of the Minnesota Food Association (MFA). To achieve its goals of promoting healthy food and regenerative agriculture, the MFA offers workshops for farmers and helps immigrants learn how to farm sustainably in local conditions. The...

Conservation Food and Nutrition Farming

This Isn't Farming Like Grandpa Used to Do

September 06, 2016 Diane Petit, Massachusetts Natural Resources Conservation Service

Samantha Whitter represents the fifth generation at Whittier Farms in Sutton, Massachusetts. Her family’s 500-acre, 100-head dairy farm is one of the largest in this small town 10 miles south of Worcester—the second largest city in New England, after Boston. Samantha’s dad, Wayne Whittier, signed up...

Conservation

With the Right Management, Pennsylvania Landowners Bringing Birds to Forest

August 25, 2016 Justin Fritscher, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Natalie Love wakes up each morning to the sounds of songbirds. “What a good way to start your day,” said Love, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains in central Pennsylvania. Natalie and her husband Donald are working to improve the healthy, structurally diverse forests that provide many benefits...

Conservation

Partners in Conservation: Red Cedar Demonstration Farm Offers Hands-On Education

August 24, 2016 Tivoli Gough, USDA-NRCS Wisconsin Public Affairs Specialist

In Menomonie, Wisconsin, there is a 155-acre, three-parcel farm, whose purpose is to educate and demonstrate natural resources conservation. As part of their curriculum, Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) Agricultural Program students perform farm work there in an outdoor classroom environment...

Conservation Initiatives

Citizen Science is Sound Science Provided by You

August 19, 2016 Stephanie Dromerick, Ecosystem Management Coordination Intern, U.S. Forest Service

Have you ever seen a cool bird in your backyard and wondered if there was some way to share what you saw with others? Better yet, have you thought about sharing your observations and having them used to help study and conserve those birds? These thoughts are an indicator that you might have the...

Conservation Forestry Research and Science

Helping an Urban Farmer Connect People with Food

August 17, 2016 Diane Petit, USDA-NRCS Massachusetts

When Amanda Barker arrived in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2009 to start graduate school at Clark University she knew that she wanted to grow food and build community. “My hope was to figure out a way to connect people with food, get people talking to each other,” said Barker. Seven years later, she...

Conservation

Experimental Farming in the Name of Soil Health: Steve Siverling's Story

August 16, 2016 Tivoli Gough, USDA-NRCS Wisconsin Public Affairs Specialist

NRCS thanks Steve for sharing his firsthand successes with cover crops. Our goal is to share ideas on how to implement soil health principles and cover crops on your farm. Steve Siverling has seen many benefits on his farm through the use of cover crops including increased soil structure and organic...

Conservation

Meet Connecticut Earth Team Volunteer: Misha Rosado

August 10, 2016 Carolyn Miller, Connecticut Natural Resources Conservation Service

At 5’1”, Misha Rosado is a tiny, 16-year-old powerhouse whose least favorite thing is to sit around with nothing to do. So, in addition to school and a part-time job, she donates 60-80 hours each year as an Earth Team Volunteer for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). You may wonder...

Conservation

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week by Supporting Local Producers

August 09, 2016 Amelia Hines Dortch, NRCS Alabama

It’s a simple sign that has a pretty easy request, “Buy Fresh. Buy Local.” It’s one that Gene Thornton hangs at his market stand each week at The Market at Ag Heritage Park on the Auburn University campus in Alabama. During market season, the sixth-generation farmer travels more than 40 miles from...

Conservation Food and Nutrition Farming

Report: Maintaining Sagebrush-Covered Landscapes Keeps Water on the Land for Ranchers and Wildlife

August 04, 2016 Justin Fritscher, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Removing invading conifer trees improves the health of sagebrush ecosystems, providing better habitat for wildlife and better forage for livestock. And now, new science shows these efforts may also help improve late-season water availability, which is crucial for ecosystems in the arid West...

Conservation
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