ATTRA - Voices from the Field

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell is joined by Dr. Ali Rellinger of Mississippi State University. Unpredictable rainfall can impact urban, rural, and agricultural communities alike and together Felicia and Dr. Rellinger discuss strategies for developing flood- and drought-resilient communities. Dr. Rellinger also shares ideas on how producers can improve rainfall capture for their farms by implementing both natural and manmade infrastructure.

RESOURCES:

MSU Coastal Extension

Native Plant Producer Network

MS Sound Estuary Program

MS Water Stewards

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.

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field Podcast, NCAT Senior Manager Tammy Howard visits with Elliot Smith, co-founder of Kitchen Sync Strategies (KSS). KSS started in 2019 to help connect more people to nourishing, impactful food and connect more big buyers with local producers. KSS has been an important partner in NCAT’s Bringing the Farm to School through New Connections project, which Tammy manages. Elliot shares how KSS supports the farm to school and institution supply chain, the role of brokers in the producer/buyer business relationship, and some exciting success stories around the development of food hub networks.

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.

In this episode of ATTRA's Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Rex Dufour leads a lively discussion with Helen Atthowe, a long-time organic farmer who has farmed in Montana, California, and Oregon. Helen and her late husband, Carl Rosato, co-owned and operated a certified organic orchard in California where they pioneered methods for raising tree fruits without the use of pesticides. In this conversation, Helen shares her life-long passion for on-farm research, which includes ecological weed and insect management and managing living mulches for improving and maintaining healthy soil. Helen is the author of "The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture," available through Chelsea Green Publishing.

Resources:

The Ecological Farm

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.

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voice from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Darron Gaus interviews Dr. Dirk Philipp, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas. Dirk’s expertise in agronomy and tropical agriculture shapes his understanding of why restoring native prairies matters to agricultural producers.

Darron and Dirk discuss how producers can seed prairie grasses for successful restoration as well as discuss common issues producers can expect such as weed pressure, seedbed preparation, and weather.

Dirk offers practical advice on what separates successful restorations from unsuccessful ones and what producers should consider before they plant their first acre of native grass species.

Learn More: https://www.ncat.org/?post_type=podcast&p=17371&preview=true

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater talks with Sneha Haridas, a 4th year PhD candidate and Graduate Research Assistant at West Virginia University about her research on dung beetles.

Dung beetles are important for nutrient cycling and improving soil, pasture, and livestock health, but in some regions their populations have declined. Sneha has been researching ways to help livestock producers in West Virginia figure out how to increase the numbers and diversity of dung beetles on their farms – including looking at the best ways to make a dung beetle nursery.

*Correction on a fact stated in the episode: Northeast India is part of two* world biodiversity hotspots, not three, as Sneha accidentally stated.

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

Episode Webpage: https://www.ncat.org/?post_type=podcast&p=17115&preview=true

Additional Resources:

Project Description for “Enhancing Regenerative Agriculture: Implementing Low-Cost Dung Beetle Nurseries for West Virginia Farms”:

Rowen Insect Agroecology Lab

Recent research on the toxicity of different livestock treatments on dung beetles in West Virginia: https://academic.oup.com/ee/article/54/4/865/8198110?guestAccessKey=

Contact Sneha Haridas with questions: sh00087@mix.wvu.edu

Mushrooms are one of the most unique agricultural enterprises available to farmers and entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional crops, mushrooms are fungi that thrive on organic materials such as hardwood pellets, sawdust, straw, and agricultural byproducts, transforming low-value resources into nutritious food and profitable products. In this episode, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Gabriella Soto-Velez sits down with fellow NCAT colleague and mushroom grower Cody Brown to explore the fascinating world of mushroom cultivation.

Whether you're curious about growing your first oyster mushroom bucket or considering mushrooms as a farm business, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experience from two growers passionate about sustainable food production.

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

Episode Webpage: Episode 392: Growing Mushrooms for Profit and Purpose: A Conversation with Cody Brown – NCAT

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Rex Dufour, Audrey Kolde, and Nina Prater talk about the principles of farmscaping - a practice of integrating native and diverse plants into agricultural spaces. Rex has been championing farmscaping for decades as a way to enhance biological control of pests. Audrey and Nina convene with Rex to learn from the master.

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

Learn more and find additional resources: Episode 391: Farmscaping to Enhance Biodiversity and Ecological Pest Management – NCAT

Resources:

Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees

Conservation Hedgerows for the Southwest

Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control

Wild Farm Alliance

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell is joined by Alsie Parks, C0-Executive Director of SAAFON and Lindsey Richards, Texas Gulf Coast Outreach and Education Specialist with American Farmland Trust. Alsie and Lindsey share their different yet complimentary perspectives of the importance of planning for farmland succession through estate planning or land trusts, tips for starting hard conversations, and stories of successful farmland hand-offs to the next generation of farmers.

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

References:

American Farmland Trust

SAAFON

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell begins a new series highlighting successful women in agriculture. Felicia kicks of the series by interviewing Marguerite Green, Statewide Director of the Louisiana Food Policy Council. Marguerite shares what inspired her to begin farming and what led her to a career in agriculture advocacy and education.

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

References:

Louisiana Food Policy Council

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell continues her series on successful women in Agriculture. Felicia talks with Gwen Cannon of Cannon Family Farm, located just outside of Brandon, Mississippi. Gwen shares about what led her to living a life of farming with her spouse, and how the lessons she has learned along the way have helped her serve her community. Cannon Farm provides hands-on education through agritourism in addition to growing food for their region.

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

References:

The Cannon Farm

In this episode of ATTRA's Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde hosts Garver Akers of Green Akers Consulting. Garver shares the soil health improvements he has seen from using vermicompost tea in medium- to large-scale agriculture production. Drawing from his experience as regenerative farmer, ecological horticulturist, and organic farm and garden consultant, Garver provides an in-depth exploration of the benefits of using vermicompost soil amendments.

NCAT Resources

How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use Toolkit

Vermicomposting: The Basics

Vermicomposting 101 Webinar

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde continues her investigation into sustainable and organic farming practices by learning more about the Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) project. Audrey speaks with STAR project director, Jake Deutmeyer, to learn how this national, non-profit organization established and expanded the STAR framework for conservation practice, evaluation, implementation, and valuation. Designed and led by producers, the STAR tool utilizes science and experience to target local solutions for local natural resource concerns, and to support farmers and ranchers on their conservation journey – wherever they are.

NCAT Resources:

Soil Health Indicators and Tests – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Episode 382: Organic Certification: One Step at a Time – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Ask an Ag Expert Connect – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Find Organic Resource Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources:

Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources

This work is supported by NCAT’s Preparing a Resilient Future: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training for Organic Field Crop and Livestock Producers in the Northern Great Plains.’ Project, award no. 2021-70033-35698. from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Tammy Howard speaks with participants from her USDA‑funded project, Bringing the Farm to School. The project is designed to help agricultural producers build the skills and capacity needed to sell their products directly to schools. Alongside this training, NCAT and the National Farm to School Network have also hosted facilitated networking events to connect producers with school food buyers.

Tammy talks with her NCAT colleague and Growtopia Farms owner Cody Brown, as well as Matt Hanson from the Central Texas Food Hub, a social enterprise of the Central Texas Food Bank. Both Matt and Cody attended one of these networking events in Central Texas. Their conversation highlights their personal experiences and offers practical advice for developing strong producer-buyer relationships that support successful school food sales.

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

NCAT Resources

Bringing the Farm to School Through New Connections Blog

Scaling up for Regional Markets Tutorial

Scaling up your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets

Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making It Work

Food Hubs: A Producer Guide

Episode 358. Abundant Montana “Meet Up” Meets with Success

Other Resources

Bringing the Farm to School Project

National Farm to School Network

Central Texas Food Bank

Growtopia Farms

In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Danielle Duni and Darron Gaus speak with Jeremiah Eubank, a rancher in Canyon Lake, Texas.

Jeremiah and his wife Maggie operate Pure Pastures, a family-owned multi-species grazing operation. The Eubanks have been ranching since 2015, using trial and error to perfect their rotational grazing practices. They strive to provide the most flavorful and nutrient dense meat to their community, while rebuilding topsoil and the native prairie landscape that once dominated the Hill Country.

This conversation covers some of the practical ways listeners can “tune their eye” and make better decisions while monitoring rangeland, resulting in better, more usable data.

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

ATTRA Resources:

Monitoring Checklist

Rangeland App: Modern Tool for Graziers – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Test Driving the New LandPKS Land Monitoring App – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Assessing Soil Health on Grazing Lands Using a Shovel and a Knife – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Safe to Fail Trials with Graeme Hand – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Resources – Soil for Water

Additional Resources:

Pure Pastures

Grassland Production Forecast (Grass-Cast) | Drought.gov

CoCoRaHS – Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network

Grazing Monitoring Stick

How to Use a Grazing Monitoring Stick

Tags: Grazing, Soil Health, Sustainable Agriculture

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Darron Gaus, and Lee Rinehart continue their exploration of plant nutrients. In previous episodes, they covered nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, and in this episode they dive into the pungent world of sulfur. They discuss the history of sulfur, how sulfur is related to air quality, how sulfur works in the soil, why it is so important in plants, and how to manage sulfur in sustainable and organic ways.

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

ATTRA Resources:

Nitrogen: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-260-rising-fertilizer-costs-look-to-history-for-answers/

Phosphorus: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-304-phosphorus-and-the-beauty-of-biology/

Potassium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-323-potassium-from-past-to-present/

Calcium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-365-calcium-the-premier-soil-nutrient/

Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/overview-of-cover-crops-and-green-manures-2/

Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/manage-soil-for-water/

References:

Britannica Science: https://www.britannica.com/science/sulfur

Decades After Clean Air Act, Most Smokestacks Still Lack Scrubbers: https://publicintegrity.org/environment/decades-after-clear-air-act-most-smokestacks-still-lack-scrubbers/

Air Pollution Legislation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leblanc_process

Hell on Earth: The Sulfur Mines of Sicily: https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/history-culture/10307-hell-on-earth-the-sulfur-mines-of-sicily

Revisiting the role of sulfur in crop production: A narrative review:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324000504

Sulfur Deficiency: https://www.sulphurinstitute.org/sulphur-in-agriculture/sulphur-deficiency-sources-and-symptoms/

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde sits down with colleagues Ann Baier and Andrew Coggins to discuss the initial steps in obtaining organic certification in farming. Before coming to NCAT, Audrey worked as a manager of vegetable production on a certified organic farm, and she brings that experience to this conversation.

In addition to her role as an NCAT Agriculture Specialist, Ann is also certified organic inspector. Ann has inspected numerous organic farms, livestock operations, and handling (processing) facilities to ensure compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) and international organic standards.

NCAT Agriculture Specialist Andrew Coggins facilitated ten Organic Academy Roadshow workshops in five states between 2022 and 2024, providing training to farmers and ranchers on organic production practices for both crops and livestock.

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

NCAT Resources

Ask an Ag Expert Connect – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Find Organic Resource Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Organic Regulations | Agricultural Marketing Service

Organic Integrity Database https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/farms-operations

If you are a producer who wants to get certified by a USDA-accredited certification agency, find the current list of those: https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/organic-certifying-agents

Organic Trade Association’s study finds that the USDA Organic label is among the most trusted by consumers. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/organic-stands-out-in-a-growing-sea-of-labelsutm_rid=CPG02000008489713&utm_campaign=97156&utm_medium=email&elq2=9b2f8ae1c10944179ff6cf3d4e18209c&sp_eh=54253693183eb833a6e39ca4dab2768d807401229a0c2ea146804e542447f37c

This work is supported by NCAT’s Preparing a Resilient Future: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training for Organic Field Crop and Livestock Producers in the Northern Great Plains.' Project, award no. 2021-70033-35698. from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Lee Rinehart is joined by Mike Miezianka, co-founder of Toasted Oysters, a 3 1/2-acre aquaculture farm on Great South Bay off of Long Island. Mike and his business partner Ray Smith cultivate authentic Blue Point Oysters which they sell to distributors and restaurants on Long Island and beyond.

In this conversation, Lee and Mike discuss the promising future of aquaculture, including regulations on food safety and environmental stewardship which is paving the way for more farms to be established in waters around highly populated areas. There is a steady demand for these products, perhaps due in part to an increasing awareness of the ecological benefits of oysters, such as their ability to filter water an enhance marine habitats. Mike also shares advice for beginning farmers interested in getting started in aquaculture as well as some of the tools he and Mike have utilized to increase efficiency and reduce labor on their farm.

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

NCAT Resources

Aquaculture – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Small Steps, Big Vision: Oyster Farming on Long Island’s Great South Bay – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Case Study: Solar Oysters LLC – AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Armed to Farm – Sustainable Agriculture Training For Military Veterans

Other Resources

Toasted Oysters - Authentic Blue Point Oysters

Ocean Farming: a Conversation with Bren Smith

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at https://attra.ncat.org/.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Eric Fuchs-Stengel sits with Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson, the couple behind Many Hands Organic Farm and co-authors of the book Many Hands Make A Farm. The farm has been selling to the public since 1985, and specializes in certified organic produce, meat and eggs in Barre, Massachusetts.

In this conversation, Jack and Julie share how they started their farm by cultivating a community of volunteers, many of whom have become shareholders and paid staff over the years. They also offer tips on how best to communicate with volunteer workers and discuss the importance of celebrating milestones and sharing meals as way to foster cooperation and productivity on the farm.

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

NCAT Resources

Organic Farming – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Organic Certification – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Many Hands Organic Farm

Many Hands Make a Farm Book

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at https://attra.ncat.org/.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialist Audrey Kolde dives into irrigation with Dr. Stacia Congers, an associate professor and statewide irrigation specialist and engineer at the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center. Audrey and Dr. Congers talk about all things water: floods, droughts, as well as interesting research projects that may yield promising advancements in agriculture irrigation.

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

NCAT Resources

The Texas Irrigator’s Pocket Guide – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Tutorial: Sustainable Irrigation, a Beginner’s Guide – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Measuring and Conserving Irrigation Water – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Other Resources

Stacia Conger

Drought Irrigation Response Tool (DIRT): A Manual

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at https://attra.ncat.org/.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT agriculture specialists Lee Rhinehart and Eric Fuchs-Stengel have a lively discussion on the topic of beekeeping. Lee and Eric talk about the best and worst conditions for keeping bees, common mistakes for beginners, bee anatomy, and honey production. Eric also shares his own experiences in raising bees and provides many practical suggestions who to seek guidance from when first starting out and for cultivating healthy hives.

ATTRA Resources:

Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees

Free Bees, Part One: Finding Them

Free Bees, Part Two: Keeping Them

Beekeeping Basics: Making Splits

Beekeeping: Overwintering Bees in Warm Places

Episode 214. Attracting and Protecting Pollinators

Additional Resources:

Heroes to Hives

Hives for Heroes

Xerces Society

Master Beekeeping Program at Cornell University

Natural Beekeeping - Ross Conrad

Raising Resilient Bees: Heritage Techniques to Mitigate Mites, etc. - Eric McEwen

Dadant Beekeeping Supplies

Scientificbeekeeping.com

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 https://attra.ncat.org/.