Organizational Development and Partnerships

In this discussion hosted by Regenerative Ag Idea Network Weaver Jahia, Anita Adalja shares their work and experience in farmworker rights, the often overlooked plight of labor abuses on small farms, and their QBIPOC-focused work through the Not Our Farm collective and on Ashoka Farm.

Listen to Michelle Gilman (Food Fluency, REGAIN Network Weaver) and Shelby Geitner discuss the highlights of Shelby’s study of farm-based education in the U.S. and France. 

In the Agroforestry Foundations Online Course, we asked you to reflect on the question, “Why are you interested in agroforestry?”

Erica Hall, Board Chair of the Florida Food Policy Council and longtime advocate for climate justice, social equity, and economic resilience, shares the Florida Food Policy Council’s work in community organizing for climate change resilience.

Anchored in practice driving federal policy, the document describes how the agriculture sector can be reimagined to prioritize the environment, science, public health, and social equity. Through five chapters, this document builds from the ground up, beginning with prioritizing soil health and progressing to equitable land acquisition. Read the report here. Learn more about Day One Project …

Through 18+ interviews on the status of agriculture policy, the Policy Working Group examines challenges and opportunities for adopting policies that would support a transition towards regenerative agriculture. However, policy is not the only driver for agriculture reform. As such, policy decisions must be informed by the climate, economics, culture, and racial equity to make meaningful adjustments away from the status quo and towards regenerative agriculture. Read the report here. Learn more about Funders for Regenerative Agriculture …

Ear to the Ground Podcast, hosted by Brian DeVour at the Land Stewardship Project, covers family farming, regenerative agriculture, regional food, and local democracy through conversations with farmers, scientists, land professionals and advocates. In this episode, Dayna Burtness from Nettle Valley Farm talks about their three year incubator program’s “informed sink or swim” approach. Dayna and graduating incubatees talk about how the incubator program can serve the land and beginning farmers. Additionally, lessons learned, like the importance of setting expectations through a written document and having an off farm mediator to help resolve conflict, from the first incubator program are discussed. Listen to the podcast here. Nettle Valley Farm is featured in Ear to the Ground 261 and in a magazine article, Hatching Farms and Community, with Practical Farmers of Iowa Listen to more Ear to the Ground Podcasts here. The podcast is also available on numerous streaming …

Grass Based Meat Marketing is a series of three short Soil Builder Videos featuring three farms experiences with beef and goat direct marketing. Building Relationships and Running a Business at Wholesome Family Farms in Southwest MN Raising and Selling an Exceptionally Good Product at Earth Be Glad Farms, Fostering Connection in a Digital World at Cylon Rolling Acres This series is within Land Stewardship Project’s Soil Builder Videos, short videos that highlight what farmers are doing to build soil. View the full video collection …

Barriers to land access are laden with interconnected challenges of climate change, food sovereignty, structural racism and discrimination, cost of living, and public health. However, resistance to inequitable practices and the opportunity for reform are substantial. The Land Policy Report sheds light on the importance of land access and lays a policy driven path forward governed by 15 principles and numerous key actions. Learn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here. Read the report …

The Racial Equity Toolkit (1) introduces the toolkit and the vast systems of racism in our agriculture system, (2) offers guidance on organizing around and having conversations about racial justice, and (3) exhibit examples of direct action such as allyship, resource sharing, and reparations. Each avenue for transformative action includes valuable resources to help you and your community take action. Notably, the toolkit structures conversations around specific questions related to thirteen informational books, podcasts, and other materials. Learn more about the National Young Farmers Coalition here.  Read the Toolkit …

Why work with a land trust to preserve or access farmland? And, how do we navigate the creativity AND limitations of easements on farmland? Farm Commons talks with Ian McSweeney, Director of Agrarian Trust, to answer these questions with explanations on how land trusts work, what agricultural easements are, and how the Agrarian Trust supports land access for the next generation of farmers. Learn more about Farm Commons and view additional podcasts. Listen to the podcast …

The Farm Commons team discusses inequities in who has access to land, who owns the land, and strategies farmers and farm-advocates pursue to secure land that honors how they want to farm. With a focus on reducing barriers to entry, they dive into the legal mechanics of farm land gifting, crowdfunding, cooperatively purchasing land, and long term leases. Learn more about Farm Commons and view additional podcasts. Listen to the podcast …

This collection of current programs and policies breaks down who is eligible, success stories, application information, resources, and history. Originally released in 2014, the guide is continuously updated to ensure farmers, advocates, entrepreneurs, researchers, and rural and urban community groups have the resources they need to build a more sustainable ag system. The Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs seeks to support farmers in navigating federal programs around the following topic areas: Beginning & Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Conservation & Environment Credit & Crop Insurance Food Safety Healthy Food Access Local & Regional Food Systems Organic Production Renewable Energy Rural Development Sustainable & Organic Research The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition also features a reference sheet of programs discussed, glossary and acronyms, and additional resources. Access the guide here. Learn more about the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition …

Developed by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance with assistance from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and University of Illinois Extension, this guide informs farmers and producers on the federal, state, and local government regulations that apply to direct farm marketing. The guide includes (1) general overview, (2) key regulatory points, (3) specific food regulations, (4) a checklist for farmers and growers to consider before selling farm products directly, and (5) a state and federal resource section. Download the guide here. Learn more about the Illinois Stewardship Alliance …

Antonio Alba Merez is the Program Director for the Community Land Share, Community Connector, and Neighborhood Garden initiatives. In this call, Antonio and his colleague Lina Nyaronge share how these programs work to address food insecurity and land access in Northfield, MN.

The Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe Webinar Series is a collection of monthly webinars talking all things soil health. Each webinar consists of a main presentation and a short Q&A session after. Researchers from Michigan State University, University of Nebraska, Kansas State University, and more discuss soil in terms of health, carbon storage, digital agriculture, regenerative beef production, and policy. View the webinar catalog here. Learn more about Soil Health Nexus …

Doing your due diligence is a common practice when purchasing property, but as Rachel Armstrong explains, it is just as important when signing a lease for farm land. Rachel Armstrong is the founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons, a nonprofit specializing in farm business law that offers support to farmers and ranchers in building legal resilience. Learn more about Farm Commons here. Learn more about the Quivira Coalition here. Watch the webinar recording …

Rachel Armstrong, founder and Executive Director at Farm Commons, discusses the importance of establishing the right business structure and writing the proper organizing document for your farming or ranching operation. The webinar features the nuances between a LLC and corporation, advice on how to build legal resiliency, and bonus content about anti-corporate farming laws, when to consult a separate business structure, and trusts vs business entities. Learn more about Farm Commons here. Learn more about the Quivira Coalition here. Watch the webinar recording …

The Key Perennial Crops infographic acts as a guidebook for top tree crops in the Midwest. The Savanna Institute characterizes 12 tree crops, each equipped with an introduction, management, livestock integration & food safety, harvest, markets, and an economics case study. Tree crops described include: Cider Apples Aronia Black Currant Black Walnut Chinese Chestnuts Hazelnut Saskatoon, Serviceberry, Juneberry Asian Pear Elderberry Honeyberry, Haskap Northern Pecan Pawpaw Access the guidebook here. Learn more about the Savanna Institute …

Teresa Opheim, Project Director of Climate Land Leaders with Sharing Our Roots, shares her work to bring landowners together to help tackle the climate crisis by establishing conservation goals for their land.

This sixteen part “how-to” video series facilitated by Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color farmers and land stewards details soil carbon, ways to honor the land, seed keeping, and more. Read more on the Soul Fire Farm website.  Follow the playlist on …

The policy brief discusses how systemic racism within the agricultural sector excludes Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) and strategies for addressing longstanding …

Bob Micheel, Monroe County Land Conservation Department Director, shares his work on the Climate Change Task Force with Monroe County in Wisconsin.

Jared Luhman discusses SFA’s new Technical Assistance for Grazing Program. The program will provide one-on-one training for a cohort of 30 farmers in Minnesota to help them begin, improve upon, or expand their grazing enterprise

Green Lands Blue Waters, along with co-hosts RuralAdvantage and Savanna Institute, discuss examples of leveraging NRCS funds to implement and support Continuous Living Cover (CLC) practices like perennial forage and alley cropping.

A guide to facilitating conversations about topics related to racial equity.

Meghan Filbert, Livestock Program Manager at Practical Farmers of Iowa, shares best practices for hosting virtual field days!