Building Resilience on the Farm
By Taylor Herren, Farm Program Specialist
Excerpt from ‘The Dirt’: SCI’s Monthly Farmer Newsletter
Hope the weather is treating you nicely wherever you are! This winter has surely presented unique challenges - between the freezing cold in the south and the spring temps up north it’s been surreal in farm country.
It’s also a perfect reminder of why we do this work – which is to help build resilience into your farm to weather (pun intended) these sorts of changes and challenges. As we head into spring, we would love to chat about your farm plan.
What are you continuing, considering, or struggling with on your soil health journey? As always, SCI sends our very best and is thankful to you for being a part of this incredible community of farmers.
Reminder to all SCI farmers: Our monthly Farm Office Hours will take place every last Thursday of the month at 4pm ET.
Farmer Resources
Farm Standard Updates
SCI has published the Soil Testing Guideline & Methodology, an accompaniment guidance document to the Farm Commitment & Verification Standard and provides an overview of the soil sampling methodology and soil testing directions needed to comply with the Farm Standard.
Upcoming Events
Soil Matters 2024 | March 11-12, 2024
Dodge City, KS
Soil Regen will be hosting this event featuring farmer to farmer/rancher to rancher knowledge-sharing focused on equipping producers with the research-backed soil health practices to boost production and profitability.
Soil & Climate Alliance (SCA) On-Farm Network Meeting | June 11-13, 2024
SCA is the team that created SCI, and this Annual Meeting is an excellent opportunity to network with other farmers along with brands and other organizations that can support what you're trying to accomplish on your farm.
Registration is FREE for SCI Farmers! Reach out to us for details.
Funding Opportunities
USDA: The Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program | Deadline: April 4, 2024
Are you involved with an organization that provides guidance and mentoring to beginning farmers? This grant may be able to provide funding.
USDA: Value-Added Producer Grants | April 11, 2024
USDA is accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers maximize the value of their products and venture into new and better markets.
Grants are available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help farmers and ranchers generate new products, create marketing opportunities, and increase their incomes through value-added activities.
Featured Farmer
Flat Acre Farms | Jill and Tyler Streit
Under expansive blue skies and rolling grass plains in Chester, Montana, a certain farm is modeling healthy relationships among the producers, distributors, and land. Tyler Streit is a fifth-generation farmer, who used to monocrop wheat across his family’s 20,000 acres, about the size of Manhattan. Today, with his wife Jill Streit, they grow 19 different crop varieties, follow regenerative agriculture practices, and model communicative relationships throughout the agricultural supply chain.
Additional Resources
PODCAST EPISODE: Regen Circle
Esp 08: The Dangers of Defining Regeneration
This Regen Circle episode delves into the intricate world of defining regenerative agriculture, examining its historical roots and the evolving modern landscape. Joining the podcast is Jesse Smith, the Director of Land Stewardship at White Buffalo Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to advancing regenerative agriculture.
PODCAST SERIES | The Soil Sense
The hosts, Tim Hammerich and Abbey Wick, Ph.D., “believe that building healthier soils is not just a prescription, but rather a pursuit.” This series interviews farmers, agricultural researchers, agronomists, consultants and other experts to tell their stories and why they’re working together to make sense of what’s happening in the soil.
WEBINAR SERIES | Farmers for Soil Health
Topic: Equipment Considerations in Cover Crop Systems Webinar Series
This series focuses on cash crop planting and equipment considerations in cover crop systems. The first webinar will kick off with a moderated discussion among leading experts. In each webinar, a farmer with cover crop experience will be featured and engage in discussion with webinar participants.
WEBINAR | Recording
Topic: USDA Investments in Conservation and Climate-Resilience in New England
The webinar explored the trajectory and impact of USDA investments in Conservation and Climate-Smart programs on climate resilience and farm viability in New England. Moderated by SCI’s Julie Davenson, Farm Finance Specialist.