Friday, January 25, 2013

ATTRA Wraps Up a Productive Year


‘Catalog’ lists new publications, webinars, and videos

 

ATTRA celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012 by doing what it does best—being the nation’s leading resource on sustainable-agriculture information.   

ATTRA’s 2012 “catalog” includes more than 50 new and updated sustainable-agriculture publications, including eight Spanish-language publications. That brings the ATTRA publication total to well over 400, nearly all of which are available to be downloaded for free or ordered as a paper publication for a small processing fee at the ATTRA website. 

The publications range from tip sheets for marketing to grocery stores and agricultural aggregators to National Organic Program guides and publications on raising meat rabbits sustainably, beginning accounting for farmers, and investing in solar-powered livestock watering systems.

ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service has been developed and maintained by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) since 1987 through a cooperative agreement with the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

It’s gathered a lot of fans in sustainable agriculture over the years.

Visit: https://attra.ncat.org/publications_2012/ to find a list of ATTRA’s 2012 publications, webinars, and videos as well as direct links to each.

“(All of the ATTRA) web resources dealing with horticultural crops, beginning farmer, and organic farming have been important, but preparing ourselves for the business side of things with marketing, management, and assessing risks has been critical to our success,” said Cheri Ward, who with her husband Robert Sollot owns and operates Blue Pear Farms in McClellanville, South Carolina. 

“ATTRA provides a reliable start to our research in every area, and our nearly two-year-old effort to revitalize a blueberry farm let go for 10 years is paying off.” 

In addition to publications, ATTRA’s other popular offerings include a free sustainable-agriculture telephone helpline and the “Ask an Ag Expert” feature on the home page. ATTRA also maintains numerous popular databases, including sustainable-agriculture internships and apprenticeships and is a source for the day’s agriculture news, among other features. 

In 2012, NCAT also offered 14 webinars through ATTRA, often partnering with other sustainable-agriculture organizations and agencies on topics as diverse as whole-farm insurance, evaluating farm-energy options, organic cover-crop rotations, and becoming a Technical Service Provider for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Videos were a new addition to the ATTRA website in 2012. The home page features a video introduction to ATTRA, as well the keynote speeches at a NCAT and National Network of Public Health Institute conference on the opportunities and obstacles of getting more local, sustainably grown food into health-care institutions in Montana.   

Rremember throughout the year to keep checking ATTRA’s website at www.attra.ncat.org as our sustainable-agriculture resources grow throughout 2013 and into the next 25 years. 

 
Since 1976, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities and protect natural resources. In partnership with businesses, organizations, individuals and agricultural producers, NCAT is working to advance solutions that will ensure the next generation inherits a world that has clean air and water, energy production that is efficient and renewable, and healthy foods grown with sustainable practices. More information about its programs and services is available at www.ncat.org or by calling 1-800-ASK-NCAT.

 

 

 
   

No comments:

Post a Comment