Sustainable Agriculture Update (with a peek at No-Work Gardens)

Frank J. Kutka and Brad Brummond

What is SARE?

Why do we have agriculture?

What is Sustainable Agriculture? An integrated system of plant and animal production An integrated system of plant and animal production

practices having a practices having a site-specific application site-specific application that will over that will over the the long termlong term::

a) a) SatisfySatisfy human food and fiber needs. human food and fiber needs.b) Enhance b) Enhance environmental quality environmental quality and the natural resource and the natural resource

base upon which the agriculture economy depends.base upon which the agriculture economy depends.c) Make the most c) Make the most efficient use efficient use of non-renewable resources of non-renewable resources

and and on-farm resources on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles natural biological cycles and controls.and controls.

d) Sustain the d) Sustain the economic viability economic viability of farm operations.of farm operations.e) Enhance the e) Enhance the quality of life quality of life for farmers and society as a for farmers and society as a

whole.whole.-From Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of -From Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of

19961996

Certified organic production may Certified organic production may be the best choice sometimes, and be the best choice sometimes, and

sometimes not. Sustainable sometimes not. Sustainable agriculture is not just about agriculture is not just about

organic or alternative practices. It organic or alternative practices. It is about is about meeting goalsmeeting goals..

Organic soy in the Red River ValleyOrganic soy in the Red River Valley

SARE has info to help make use of practices that could help reach sustainability goals.

Certified organic wheat, Stark Co.

SARE also has many grant programs to

promote sustainable agriculture

Farmer Rancher Grants

Up to $6,000 for individuals and up to $18,000 for groups of three or more.

Farmers and Ranchers identify a problem and a possible solution so their farms can be more sustainable.

Extension Agents can assist as consultants.Proposals are due December 3rd!

Youth GrantsYouth Grants

–Up to $400 per projectUp to $400 per project Youth Educator GrantsYouth Educator Grants

–Up to $2000 per projectUp to $2000 per project

–Both are due in SeptemberBoth are due in September!!

For more information:

http://www.sare.orghttp://www.DakotaSARE.infofrank.kutka@ndsu.edubradley.brummond@ndsu.eduhans.kandel@ndsu.edu

SARE and NACAA

NACAA AM/PICGo to SARE workshops and ToursApply for SARE ND Travel ScholarshipMust have a plan on how the information will

be sharedCombine with jackpot or Chapman moneySARE advisory council decides

NACAA

Search for Excellence in Sustainable Ag$500 cash award for regional winnersPresentation at the Am/PIC if win

SARE FellowsBecome a fellow and tour the 4 regions of the

Country in 2 yearsOne fellow per year from each regionGreat trip and opportunity

Organic Advisory Council

Advises the Commissioner of AgricultureRepresents all facets of organic AgBrad Brummond president and university

repGrow the next generation of organic

farmers

ManDak Zero Tillage Farming Association Workshop

Minot NDJan 11-13Will have researchers and farmers from

around the world to explain the biology and application of advanced no-till practices

Burleigh County Soil Health Workshop

Bismarck NDJan 20Come and see how integrating crop

rotations, crop land grazing, cover crops and direct seeding can increase profits by increasing soil health

NPSAS Annual Meeting

Watertown SDFeb 9-11Speakers on organic farming, no-till

techniques, soil biology, and moreThinking of an educator track for future

meetingsWe just need the numbers to justify itGreat training opportunity and chance to meet

other agents doing it

Sustainable Nation?

Push is nationally and world wide to have a small foot print on the world

Current president has been friendly to it, Congress has been for 20 years

Sustainability is the new new thingDon’t see this changing in the future

There will most likely be opportunities in the future

Update Summary

We see in the future the strong need for agents with sustainable ag trainings

We think it will be expectedThis is not your father’s no-till or organicResearch will take this to new levels in the

future– No-till organics?– No-till 2.0?– More IPM, IWM, and INM?

No-Work Gardens

Is this for real?How?Why might this approach help sustain

agricultural production and rural communities (profitable, quality of life, environment)?

The Podoll Family began this garden in 1974 after reading a book by Ruth Stout

The thick mulch of grass hay covers the soil and prevents most weeds

This feeds the soil microbes, making the soil dark, soft and fertile

It also protects the soil from pounding rain and summer heat and maintains moisture

To plant, the mulch is pulled back to the width of a spading fork to warm the soil

New mulch is added to cover the soil after the plants come up. Most crops respond wonderfully to

this no-till, mulch management

Roger and Pat Ashley manage this no-till garden This scene is in May, right after spraying

As perennial and annual weeds die,seeds are planted

All the disturbance needed to plant squash

June brings transplants and more emergence

Beans coming up slowly through dead

sod…

…but by mid summer all warm season crops

look pretty good!

In fall plant debris will be augmentedwith a rye planting

Here is how many weeds I was faced with in my garden

corn patch this summer

No-Work Gardens

I lied, there really is some work to doPlant residue and no-tilling are the key Residue can be grown in place and sprayed

or brought in as clean mulchThese gardens appear to use moisture

efficiently, to build soil, to build fertility, to reduce labor, to reduce costs, to be productive, and maybe to be lots more fun! They could be sustainable for families and market growers