Author Archives: Eric Bendfeldt

Videos of Soil Health Principles and Farmer Testimonials

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Soil Health Principles:

Healthy Soil for a Healthy World by Dr. Jill Clapperton of Rhizoterra at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. February, 2014.

Science and Biology of Soil Health by Dr. Kristine Nichols, Soil Scientist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service as a keynote presentation at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. February, 2014.

Soil Health and NPK by Dr. Rick Haney of USDA-Agricultural Research Service as a presentation at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. February, 2014.

The Road to Soil Health: Principles for Farming and Ranching in the 21st Century by Ray Archuleta, Soil Health Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. February, 2014.

Farmer Testimonials:

Gabe Brown of Brown’s Ranch in North Dakota talks about cover cropping and the regeneration of his farm’s soils for long-term profitability.

Ray Gaesser of Gaesser Farming is a soybean farmer from Iowa and is a cover crop innovator.

Steve Groff of Cedar Meadow Farm in Pennsylvania. Cedar Meadow Farm is a diversified vegetable farm that utilizes no-till production and multi-species cover cropping systems.

Under Cover Farmers  by Dr. Robin “Buz” Kloot of the University of South Carolina in collaboration with USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service East National Technology Support Center in Greensboro, NC.

Harvesting a multi-species cover crop.

Harvesting a multi-species cover crop.

Good Food: Sustainably and Intensively

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As we think about the production of good food and how to do that more sustainably and intensively, maintaining good soil cover to prevent erosion and promote soil health will be critical! Here are a few pictures of vegetable and fruit production with cover crops in the Shenandoah Valley!

Tomatoes under plastic and with cover crops.

Tomatoes under plastic and with cover crops.

Intensively managed tomatoes and cover cropping to prevent erosion

Intensively managed tomatoes and cover cropping to prevent erosion

Good cover crop residue to keep the vegetables clean.

Good cover crop residue to keep the vegetables clean.

Good residue management is key!

Good residue management is key!

Let’s Not Keep the Importance of Soil Health a Secret!

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Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and Virginia Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education are partnering with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and other organizations and agencies (e.g., Chesapeake Bay Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Society, Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others) as part of a Virginia Soil Health Coalition to promote and educate farmers, growers, landowners and the general public on the foundational principles of soil management in an overarching effort to unlock the secrets in the soil.

Virginia’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has boiled down the core principles of soil health management to four easy to remember phrases!

Keep the soil covered

Minimize soil disturbance

Maximize living roots

Energize with diversity

Soil was definitely meant to be covered.

Soil was definitely meant to be covered.

For more information about soil health and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, contact your nearest USDA Service Center or local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

Soil is a foundational resource to farming, conservation and health in the 21st century so let’s not keep the importance of soil health a secret!

Farm to University: Expanding Virginia’s Educational and Economic Footprint

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Guest post by Karen Kappert

Many of us are familiar with the concept of “farm to school,” a practice becoming more and more popular with school districts trying to increase healthy eating, stabilize their local economies, and promote more sustainable food to table practices. While most of us associate this idea with elementary schools, some universities in Virginia have been working hard to initiate their own Farm to University programs.

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Encouraging Better Nutrition for Individuals and Families: SNAP Resources

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Guest post by Karen Kappert

SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is a government-funded initiative aimed at preventing hunger and encouraging better nutrition. SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low income individuals and families. SNAP can be used like a debit card to buy eligible food items from authorized retailers – once accepted, you will be given an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card which looks exactly like a debit card!

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Making Sense: Strengthening Local Communities and Economies

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Guest post by Karen Kappert

At the Virginia 2012 Farm to Table Conference, ideas on how to create sustainable and profitable local businesses were discussed and imagined. The following summarizes some of that information and provides an overview of how to encourage local investment, plus information on resources that are available in Virginia for small businesses.

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The Grass, and Possibly Garden, is Always Greener… on the Roof?

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Guest post by Karen Kappert

Urban agriculture – a topic that appears to be gaining much attention because of its potential to ensure food security and increase the consumption of local food. But what is urban agriculture… and does it mean everyone will have cows in their backyard? Can the grass and garden be greener on the roof?

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Healthier Communities through Good Food Policy

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Do we really need more laws and regulations or can we promote healthier communities through sound effective food policy?

As different projects, programs and initiatives are developed around Virginia and the country to address obstacles, challenges and needed change in the food system, communities and states are evaluating policies that can affect and inform change.

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Planning a Community Food System?

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What community personnel and resources are you overlooking?

The recent emergence and increased demand for local food provides an opportunity for urban and rural communities to discuss and connect around issues of health, food access and security, local economies, and ways to integrate good food from farm –or urban homestead– to table more effectively and efficiently.

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