ATTRA - Voices from the Field

In this episode, Margo Hale, NCAT's Southeast Regional Director and Director of NCAT's Armed to Farm Program, talks with Eric Grandon and Sara Creech. Eric is an Army veteran and owner of Sugar Bottom Farm in Ovapa, West Virginia. Sara is an Air Force veteran and owner of Blue Yonder Organic Farm in North Salem, Indiana. Both are alumni of NCAT's Armed to Farm program, a week-long,...

In today's episode, Justin Duncan, sustainable agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, interviews Helen Smiley, a sustainable agriculture consultant located in Turkey. Helen is formerly of Texas and was invited to Turkey to educate refugees in organic farming. She shares some of the differences in agriculture in Turkey versus Texas — from giant-s...

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Rocky Mountain West office, has a conversation with farm manager John Wallace about the unusual growing season so far at NCAT's SIFT Farm. Both Andrew and John work out of Butte, Montana. SIFT -- or Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program -- aims to help communities increase their food secur...

In this episode, Nina Prater, a soil specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, and NCAT's Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale discuss soil pH. They cover the basics – why it's important, how to measure pH, and how to best remedy soil acidity, which is a common concern in Arkansas where they live. They don't discuss alkaline soils in as much depth because...

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT's Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Communities, has a conversation with Maya and Ed Skopal. Maya and Ed own I-TAL ACRES, a medicinal plant farm and apothecary in Floyd County, Virginia. The Skopals discuss their philosophy of medicinal plants, some of the plants they grow and the methods they use to grow them, how the medicinal plants are proces...

IToday's podcast is part of the occasional series entitled "Starting a Farm" from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This episode is about soil considerations on a new farm. They talk about factors that affect soil, how to have yours tested, and the...

In this episode, NCAT Livestock Specialist Dave Scott has a conversation with Caleb Pirc of Good Shepherd Farm in Meridian, Idaho, about integrated pest-management strategies for their sheep operations. Dave, who, among other duties, works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program out of NCAT headquarters in Butte, Montana, is the co-owner of Montana Highland Lamb near Whitehall, Mont...

Today's episode is about hydroponic systems NCAT has used at its Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training Program (SIFT) demonstration farm. Lilianna Bento, Energy Corps Intern at NCAT, interviews Andrew Coggins, Director of NCAT's Rocky Mountain West regional office in Butte, Montana, about innovations and simplifications made to their hydroponic system since 2016. For more information on th...

In this episode, Margo Hale, Director of NCAT's Southeast Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Linda Coffey, Livestock Specialist with NCAT also located in Fayetteville, discuss ruminant health: how to encourage health, prevent illness, work with a veterinarian, and manage so that your flock or herd is mostly trouble-free. They discuss tools and supplies they like to have on hand. They als...

In this episode, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell interviews Chad Ellis, CEO of the Texas Agriculture Land Trust (TALT) and a board member of the Ecosystem Service Marketplace Consortium (ESMC). Colin works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, and among other projects works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program. Colin and Chad d...

In this episode, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's Western Regional office in Davis, California, speaks with Hope Sippola and Shane Zurilgen of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento. Among other duties, Martin works with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program. Their conversation includes a description of the operation, as well as some of the challenges...

In this episode, NCAT agriculture specialist Felicia Bell talks with Carolyn Jones of the Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance. Felicia works in the NCAT Gulf States Office in Jackson, Mississippi, including work with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program. Felicia and Carolyn talk about engaging young people in agriculture and the importance of involving the entire community in the ef...

In today's episode NCAT staffer Rex Dufour interviews organic walnut farmer and processor, Russ Lester, at Dixon Ridge Farms in Winters, California. Russ shares some very practical thoughts about why he uses cover crops and explains how multi-functional cover crops are to his orchards. Rex Dufour has been a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT/ATTRA since 1994, and opened NCAT's...

In this episode, NCAT Southeast Regional Director and ATTRA Livestock Specialist, Margo Hale, talks with Rebecca Thistlethwaite . Rebecca is the director of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) and works with livestock producers, processors, and marketers all across the country. Their discussion covers some of the opportunities and challenges livestock producers are seeing due to th...

Today's episode is the first in an occasional series from Rockiell Woods, Director of NCAT's Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill Evans, Director of Horticulture at Up in Farms Food Hub in Jackson. This series is all about starting a farm. Today's conversation is focused on how many acres are needed and what crops to choose. For more information on this topi...

In today's episode, we hear from Kara Kroeger, Sustainable Agriculture specialist at NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas. She interviews Mollie Walton, Land and Water Program Director for the Quivira Coalition in New Mexico. The Quivira Coalition works on biodiversity, building soil and resilience on western working landscapes. Mollie has a Texas ranching background an...

The situation has created a significant economic hardship for producers in Montana and elsewhere. The situation has created a significant economic hardship for producers in Montana and elsewhere. Joining Jeff in the discussion are Dr. William E. Dyer, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University; Lilianna Bento, an undergraduate researcher at Mont...

In today's episode, we will learn about Carbon Sponge, an interdisciplinary collaboration in New York City that explores the potential for urban soils to sequester carbon as a means to reduce greenhouse gases and build healthy soil. Justin Duncan, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at NCAT's Southwestern Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, interviews Katharhy G., a plant and soil scie...

In this episode NCAT Southeast Regional Director Margo Hale talks with Linda Coffey, an NCAT livestock specialist, about springtime on their farms.  Both Margo and Linda are specialists with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, among other duties, out of NCAT's office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and they both farm in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Their discussion includes grazing, kid...

Javier Zamora es agricultor orgánico productor de fresas, moras, flores y vegetales en Watsonville, California. Narra su historia personal y cómo desarrolló su negocio en el éxito que es hoy. También habla sobre su educación y experiencia con ALBA la incubadora de agricultores orgánicos en Salinas California, acceso a tierra, establecimiento de mercados, detalles sobre la producción de fresa, exte...

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT director of sustainable agriculture and NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with Dr. Sunjya Schweig about the treatment of Lyme disease. Dr. Schweig works with the California Center for Functional Medicine. This episode is the second of a two-part series on the effect of Lyme Disease on farmers and ranchers. In the first part of the series, D...

In this episode, Devona Bell, NCAT director of sustainable agriculture and NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, talks with two farmers about the impact of Lyme Disease on agriculture. Christine Pressman and her husband, Andy Pressman, own and operate Foggy Hill Farm, a sustainable produce operation near Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Dayna Burtness and her husband, Nick Nguyen, own and oper...

In this episode, Tammy Howard, an agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, talks with Heather Folls of the Folls Flower Farm, which is based in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Tammy also has a flower operation, which is located in Belgrade, Montana. She works out of NCAT's national headquarters in Butte, Montana. Heather and her mother, Thea, h...

In today's episode, we learn about a program in Texas that connects refugees with sustainable agriculture. Colin Mitchell, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at NCAT's Southwestern Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, visits with New Leaf Agriculture's Director, Matt Simon, and a New Leaf Agriculture farm apprentice Doli Wikongo. New Leaf Agriculture is a social enterprise of the...

Today's episode focuses on soil considerations for fruit and nut trees. Rex Dufour, the director of NCAT's Western Regional Office in Davis, California, talks with Guy Ames, Horticulture Specialist at NCAT's Southeastern Regional Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, about the differences between soils in the western United States versus the soils in the East. For more information on th...