The Nature Conservancy (TNC) provides technical support for the Soil Health Partnership (SHP), and it’s something that fits in well with the organization’s mission “to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.” “The Nature Conservancy has been working in agriculture for several decades,” says Larry Clemens, TNC North American Agriculture Program Director. “We’ve been wanted to scale …
Soil Health From the Ground Up #SHPsummit16
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is not even two years old yet, but already the group has made some great strides in learning more about soil health to share with farmers. Hans Kok is a field manager for SHP in Indiana, where the second Soil Health Summit is being held this week. “We’re setting up a network of demonstration farms …
Planting Predictions for 2016?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think of new dietary guidelines?” Referring to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many of those who took our recent poll feel nothing has really changed from past dietary guidelines and even more simply don’t care. Here are the poll results: Fair – 0% Nothing new – 37% Good news – …
Soil Health Summit Starts Today
My current home is the Alexander in Indianapolis where the Soil Health Partnership is about to kick off the 2016 Soil Health Summit. Cindy attended the first one last year. It’s my turn this year. I’ll be sharing interviews with staff, supporters and farmer who are participating in the organization’s work. Here’s what the SHP 5 year initiative says: Over …
New Sustainability Initiative by @GROWMARK
One of the definitions of sustainable is “able to endure or continue for a long time” and that is the main characteristic that GROWMARK has chosen to focus on with a new system sustainability initiative. GROWMARK Executive Director of Agronomy Marketing Ron Milby says the initiative fits in with the cooperative’s overall goals. “Our mission statement is ‘To improve the …
#SpudNation Food Truck Chefs
Bettie the Spud Nation Food Truck was unveiled in dramatic fashion last week at the 2016 Potato Expo, but while Bettie is pretty and shiny, what makes her really special is the unique potato recipes that she will be offering for spud lovers. That’s where United States Potato Board (USPB) Executive Chef Travis Howard and Chef Derek Johnson come in. …
Bipartisan Child Nutrition Reauthorization Passes Senate
There’s not a lot that Republicans and Democrats can agree upon, especially in this election year, but a bipartisan bill that reauthorizes vital child nutrition programs brought them together. Senate Agriculture Committee officials say the “Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016,” reforms and reauthorizes child nutrition programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and …
What Now for WOTUS?
As expected, President Obama yesterday vetoed a disapproval resolution passed by Congress that would have nullified the controversial clean water rule by EPA, better known as Waters of the U.S. or WOTUS. “Because this resolution seeks to block the progress represented by this rule and deny businesses and communities the regulatory certainty and clarity needed to invest in projects that …
Bio-Oil Produced Right on the Farm
Soon farmers will be able to produce bio-oil right on their farm. The renewable fuel can be produced from agricultural and food waste using a new mobile unit. The goal of USDA project is to be able to distill this bio-oil in existing petroleum refineries. The research team, headed by Agricultural Research Services (ARS) chemical engineer Akwasi Boateng with the …
Straight from the Nufarm Zebra’s Mouth
We’ve been telling you about Chip, the Nufarm zebra, who was at the 2016 Potato Expo last week – and if you check out the Potato Expo photo album you’ll see quite a few of Chip – but we wanted to get the story straight from the zebra’s mouth. So, I had a little chat with the striped star to …