New ATTRA Publication Helps Fruit and Nut Farmers Weather Extreme Growing Conditions

Wheat or corn growers can decide from year to year whether to plant a little late or plant a little early or plant a different variety. But fruit growers can be locked in for decades once they’ve made a decision.

And in what seems to be a time of weather extremes – ranging from long-term droughts to “500-year floods” in back-to-back years – planning can be even more difficult.

A new ATTRA publication, “Climate Change and Perennial Fruit and Nut Production: Investing in Resilience in Uncertain Times,” can help farmers develop strategies for building resilience into their operations.

ATTRA Pubs Are Now on Amazon for Ereaders

One of the longest-running sources of research-based information on sustainable agriculture is once again embracing the latest in technology for getting that information to the people who need it.

ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service has begun placing many of its more than 400 publications on Amazon, where they can be downloaded to e-readers.

ATTRA Invites Sustainable-Agriculture Conversations

'Farmer Knows Best' Forum Offers More Than A Dozen Topics

ATTRA, the nation’s premiere source of sustainable-agriculture information, is asking its users to weigh in with ideas and questions of their own.

A new user forum on the ATTRA website, “Farmer Knows Best,” is a way for farmers, researchers, educators, and anyone else interested in sustainable agriculture to start or contribute to a conversation on more than a dozen topics:

•    Beginning Farmer
•    Water Management
•    Soils & Compost
•    Pest Management
•    Organic Farming
•    Marketing, Business & Risk
•    Local Food Systems
•    Livestock & Pasture
•    Horticultural Crops
•    Field Crops
•    Energy Alternatives
•    What Is Sustainable Ag?
•    Education
•    General

“What better way to support research and sustainable-agriculture education than offering the people who are dedicated and passionate about the subject to share their ideas and insights,” said Carl Little, director of the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) sustainable agriculture programs.

To get to Farmers Know Best, click on www.attra.ncat.org

ATTRA sustainable-agriculture specialists also will keep an eye on the site for conversations to join, adding another venue for their expertise.

ATTRA Invites Conversations on Sustainable Agriculture

Farmer Know Best’ Forum Offers More Than A Dozen Topics

ATTRA, the nation’s premiere source of sustainable-agriculture information, is asking its users to weigh in with ideas and questions of their own.

A new user forum on the ATTRA website, “Farmer Knows Best,” is a way for farmers, researchers, educators, and anyone else interested in sustainable agriculture to start or contribute to a conversation on more than a dozen topics:

·         Beginning Farmer

·         Water Management

·         Soils & Compost

·         Pest Management

·         Organic Farming

·         Marketing, Business & Risk

·         Local Food Systems

·         Livestock & Pasture

·         Horticultural Crops

·         Field Crops

·         Energy Alternatives

·         What Is Sustainable Ag?

·         Education

·         General

NCAT Offers Free Webinar on Grafting Fruit Varieties for Organic Production; Developing Regional Crops

Regionally and locally adapted fruit crops aren't just a treat for the palate.  Developing them would fill a number of needs from providing a boon to organic fruit growers to helping detail-oriented farmers and nurserymen make a decent on-farm income.

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames will present a webinar addressing what it takes to develop fruit that's adapted locally and regionally - and he'll get hands-on with a discussion of grafting, budding, cuttings, and other forms of asexual fruit propagation.

ATTRA Wraps Up a Productive Year

‘Catalog’ lists new publications, webinars, and videos

 

ATTRA celebrated its 25^th 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. 

Webinar answers pastured poultry questions Feb 7th

Montana-based presentation of interest to operations around the country

 An upcoming webinar, “Pastured Poultry Production and Profitability,” will cover the basics of pastured poultry production as well as common advantages and pitfalls of getting started in the business and keys to keeping operations profitable.  

Sustainable-ag question? Text an expert

  ATTRA expands its popular phone helpline and email service

 Got a question about sustainable agriculture? Shoot us a text.

The popular “Ask an Ag Expert” feature on ATTRA’s website now includes a texting option. Just text a question to askanag@ncat.org, and you’ll get a reply via your phone from the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) staff of sustainable-agriculture experts.