Protecting Crops from Heat Stress: 5 Pro Strategies
Careful timing ensures crops can handle a little heat. But recently, sudden heat waves and long-lasting ones in already warm regions have become more common, with predictions saying there’s more to come. For some crops, these shifts cross the line between stress and a fraction of normal yields. This is why adapting to the climate […]
Growing and Grinding Your Own Wheat: A Beginner’s Guide
When you think of lowering your grocery bill with homegrown food, wheat probably isn’t the first thing that pops into your mind. Tomatoes, lettuce, and perhaps a flock of backyard chickens often make the list, while this staple crop is often left to large-scale growers. The truth is that you can grow enough to make […]
How to Dry Farm Tomatoes for Improved Taste
If you live in an arid climate without easy access to water or just want to skip the work of running drip lines, it’s worth exploring if you can dry farm tomatoes. This type of growing involves producing tomatoes with no supplemental water. Since the top layer of soil dries within a month after planting, […]
How to Attract the 9 Beneficial Predators You Want on Your Land
Integrated pest management methods encourage attracting and hosting beneficial insect predators that keep common pests at bay. Learn how to draw them in and keep them on the farm! While spraying pesticides on your farm initially has the desired effect, it’s not the best long-term option. Instead, using integrated approaches that include cultural, mechanical, and […]
5 Ways Farmers Can Protect Honeybees from Pesticides
Beekeepers have a lot to think about when it comes to the safety of their hives. Everything from climate change to proper nutrition is on the list for consistent checks and monitoring. Not all outside factors can be controlled within the farm, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. Pesticides originate in multiple areas. […]
Integrated Pest Management on the Farm: An Overview
The industrial standard in agriculture involves heavy use of herbicides and pesticides to meet the bottom line of production. However, over time, it is increasingly apparent that these are not the best modes of control, due to their negative effects on plant nutrition, animals, humans, and the local environment. But this doesn’t mean we should […]
3 Ways to Create Value from Agricultural Waste
When we think about agriculture, we often focus on the end product: cotton for a t-shirt, hay destined to feed animals through the winter, or hamburgers for our summer barbecues. However, after we harvest the desired product, we’re left with agricultural waste like manure and plant debris. Producers often see this waste as an unwanted […]
Silvopasture: Why We Need Trees on Grazing Land
In a world facing climate shifts and higher costs, savvy farmers are rediscovering a long-standing practice. Silvopasture – the intentional integration of trees, forage, and livestock – offers a practical solution in semi-forested areas. Unlike conventional pasture systems that rely solely on grasses and other forage plants, silvopasture creates a three-pronged system that includes trees […]
Reduce Soil Erosion and Water Waste with Contour Planting
Contour planting involves tilling, discing, and otherwise preparing the land in line with its natural slope, then planting crops on this same line. When you look at a topographic map, the rows and/or strips of crops will be parallel to the contour lines. This practice isn’t more difficult than other types of planting, but it helps […]
5 Conservation Buffers that will Transform Your Farmland
Conservation buffers are strips of land, often planted with native perennials, strategically placed among and around row crops. They have the potential to improve farm productivity, protect vital resources, and boost biodiversity. These land accents protect the environment while enhancing your farm’s ability to produce. While different communities have used conservation buffers to filter runoff, reduce […]