Cultivating Success - Sustainable Small Acreage Farming

Sustainable Agriculture Web links

General Sustainable Agriculture Organizations:
(Some of these sites have information on all of the topics below. The link may not be included in the subject area, but check with these sites also for information in all areas)

Sustainable Agriculture Network
http://www.sare.org
This website has many publications that can be downloaded and some that can be purchased from SARE.

ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas)
http://attra.org
Check out the master publications page for publications to download and order for delivery.

UC Sustainable Agriculture research and Education Program
www.sarep.ucdavis.edu
Provides information on a broad range of sustainable farming topics.

WSU Small Farms Team
http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/
Provides information on sustainable farming topics, especially those specific to Washington

WSU Extension Publications. Click on the Agriculture folder to get into some narrower topics http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/index.html

The New Farm
www.newfarm.org
A website from The Rodale Institute which reads more like a magazine.

Growing for Market
http://www.growingformarket.com/
A publication that you might be interested in subscribing to which gives information to small market growers.

Center for Rural Affairs
www.cfra.org

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
www.sustainableagriculture.net

Land Stewardship Project
www.landstewardshipproject.org

Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
www.misa.umn.edu

Missouri Alternatives Center
http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/

Links to specific sustainability sites:

Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction. R. Earles and P Williams, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), 2005.
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/sustagintro.pdf

Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture. Sustainable Agriculture Network Publication, USDA, 2003 http://sare.org/publications/explore/explore.pdf

What can I do with my Small Farm? C. Bubl & G. Stephenson, Oregon State University Extension Service, 2001 http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1529/

Agroecology: Principles and Strategies for designing sustainable farming systems, Miguel Alterei, University of California, Berkley, Agroecology in Action, 2000.
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~agroeco3/principles_and_strategies.html

Small Ruminant Sustainability Checksheet: Quick Start, L. Coffey, J. Reynolds, and M. Hale. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2004.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/ruminantcheck.pdf

The New American Farmer. Ed. V. Berton, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) Program, USDA, 2001
http://www.sare.org/publications/naf.htm

Diversify Crops to Boost Profits and Stewardship. Produced with the Jefferson Institute, Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2004
http://www.sare.org/publications/diversify/index.htm

Book Resource:

Rebirth of the Small Family Farm, - A handbook for starting a successful organic farm based on the community supported agriculture concept. Bob and Bonnie Gregson, Island Meadow Farm Associates, 1996

Whole Farm Planning links:

Whole Farm Planning for Economic and Environmental Sustainability, Rhonda Janke, Kansas State University, 2000, pgs.1-7
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/MF2403.pdf

Holistic Management: A Whole Farm Decision Making Framework, ATTRA Publication.
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/holistic.pdf

Whole Farm Planning at Work: Successful Stories of Ten Farms, The Minnesota Project, 1998, http://www.mnproject.org/publications/studies.PDF

Farming Alternatives, N.G. Schuck et al, Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES), Cornell University Cooperative Extension, 1988
http://www.nraes.org

How to Establish Goals, J. Lamb & The Minnesota Project, The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, 1998
http://www.mnproject.org/pub-sustainableag.html

Exploring the Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right for You? E. Toensmeier, M. Wiggins & J. Gillan, New England Small Farm Institute, 2003
http://www.smallfarm.org/

Evaluation of Resources Links:

Evaluating a Rural Enterprise. P. Sullivan & L. Greer, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2002
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/evalrural.html

Specialty Farming in Idaho: Selecting a Site, Barney, D., T. Finnerty, and C. Mancuso, University of Idaho, Alternative Agricultural Enterprise Series, EXT.744, 1992.
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/EXT/EXT0744.pdf

Enterprise Assessment links:

Penn State Ag Alternatives Series
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/Default.asp

Texas A&M Alternative Ag Enterprises
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/alternatives/alternativelinks.html

Missouri Alternatives Center
http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/

Marketing Strategies:

Marketing on the Edge: A Marketing Guide for Progressive Farmers. B. Warner & C. Touchette,
North American Farmer’s Direct Marketing Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2002
http://www.nafdma.com/Publications/Edge/

How to Direct-Market Farm Products on the Internet. J.V. Klotz, USDA Agricultural Marketing
Service, 2002
(http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing/publications.htm)

Marketing Alternatives for Specialty Produce, PNW 241. Oregon State University Extension Service, 2000 (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw241/)

Fruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-time Growers. J. Dunn, J. Harper and G. Greaser, The University of Pennsylvania College of Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension, 2000 (http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/farmmanagement/fruit_veggie/MarketingFruitAndVeggie.pdf)

Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook, R. Tronstad & J. Leones, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Arizona, 1995
(http://ag.arizona.edu/AREC/pubs/dmkt/dmkt.html)

Marketing New Crops to the American Consumer. F. Caplan, Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University, 1996
(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-122.html)

“Green” Markets for Farm Products. A. Kurki & N. Matheson, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2001
(http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/greenmarkets.pdf)

Local Harvest: shows locations and descriptions of farmer’s markets and local farm products and farm stands.
http://www.localharvest.org/

Sustainable Crop Production:

The New American Farmer. Ed. V. Berton, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) Program, USDA, 2001
(http://www.sare.org/publications/naf.htm)

Diversify Crops to Boost Profits and Stewardship. Produced with the Jefferson Institute, Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2004
(http://www.sare.org/publications/diversify/index.htm)

An Overview of Organic Crop Production. Kuepper, G. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2004
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/organiccrop.pdf

Extending the Production Season for Vegetables and Small Fruit. Fact Sheet 760, Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland
(http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/PDFs\FS760.pdf)

Managing Cover Crops Profitably. C. Shirley, G. Bowman and C. Cramer et al, SARE Program, USDA, 2001 (http://www.sare.org/publications/covercrops.htm)

Penn State offers several Agricultural Alternatives Publications at: http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/Default.asp?offset=0

An extensive list of small farm enterprise topics is found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/links/topic.asp

North Central Initiative for Small Farm Profitability has several useful publications at: http://www.practicalfarmers.org/programs_foodsystems_projects.asp

Book Resource:

The New Organic Grower. Eliot Coleman, Chelsea Green Publishing Co., White River Junction,
Vermont, 1995

Ecological Soil Management links:

Soil Management for Small Farms, C. Cogger, Bulletin EB1895, Washington State University.
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1895/eb1895.pdf

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Quality Information Sheets:Soil Quality Resource Concerns: Soil Biodiversity. 1998
(http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/references/public/CO/COATN_91_biodivers.pdf)

Soil Sampling. R.L. Mahler & T.A. Tindall, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Bulletin 704 (revised), 1997.
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/resources/PDFs/EXT0704.pdf

Additional Resources on Topic:

Composting at Home. R. Rynk & M. Colt, University of Idaho Extension Publications, 1997. (http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Resources/PDFs/CIS1066.pdf)

Building Soils for Better Crops. F. Magdoff & H. van Es, SARE Program, USDA, 2000
(http://www.sare.org/publications/soils.htm)

Soil Quality in Organic Agricultural Systems, Delate, K. Iowa State University, 2003
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/pubs.html Click on Soil Quality PM 1882

Compost and Manure:

Making and Using Compost on Rodale Farm ( If you only read one – read this)
http://www.newfarm.org/features/0804/compost/index.shtml

Penn State – On Farm Composting
Talks about the advantages and disadvantages of on-farm composting.
http://server.age.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/c/

The Compost Guide - slightly slanted to home gardeners but feasible for small scale farming operations that may not have the equipment for larger scale operation
http://www.compostguide.com/

Very unique method – using pigs to make the compost – Joel Salatin style
http://www.newfarm.org/depts/pig_page/new_farm_archives/chris_shirley/index.shtml

PNW publication – Fertilizing with Manure
http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/PNW0533.html?id=Hh6n3NCf

Integrated Pest Management:

Integrated Pest Management: Effective Options for Farmers. Menzies, G., MacConnell, C. & Havens, D. Washington State University Publication. 1995
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1786/eb1786.html

Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Croplands. Sullivan, P. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2003
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/weed.pdf

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA - USDA), Plant Production Publications: Pest Management:
http://attra.ncat.org/pest.html

WSU Whatcom County Extension Integrated Pest Management website:
http://www.whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/IPM/

Pest Management Strategic Plans from WSU
http://wsprs.wsu.edu/CropProfiles.html

A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests. M. Fritz & V. Berton, Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2000
(http://www.sare.org/publications/farmpest/index.htm)

Livestock Production links:

Livestock for Small Acreage Landowners. B-609, R.V. Machen & R.K. Lyons, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2000
(http://williamson-tx.tamu.edu/AG/B6091.pdf)

Profitable Poultry: Raising Birds on Pasture. V. Berton & D. Mudd, Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2001
(http://www.sare.org/bulletin/poultry)

Profitable Pork: Strategies for Hog Producers. Minnesota Cooperative Extension, USDA & Sustainable Agriculture Network, 2001
(http://www.sare.org/bulletin/hogs/index.htm)

Sustainable Beef Production – Livestock Production Guide, A. Fanatico, R. Morrow & A. Wells, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 1999
(http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/beefprod.html)

Manure Management in Small Farm Livestock Operations. EM 8649, D. Goodwin & J.A. Moore, Oregon State University Extension Service, 1997
(http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/em/em8649/)

Sustainable Sheep Production. A. Wells, L. Gegner & R. Earles, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2000
(http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/sheep.html)

Poultry for the Small Producer. J. Berry, Department of Animal Science, University of Oklahoma Extension Service, 1989
(http://osuextra.okstate.edu/pdfs/F-8202web.pdf)

Profitable Dairy Options Resources:
http://sare.org/publications/dairyresource.htm

Penn State offers several Agricultural Alternatives Publications on livestock production at:
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/Default.asp?offset=0

Rotational Grazing. Beetz, A. E. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2002 http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/rotgraze.pdf

Paddock Design, Fencing and Water Systems for Controlled Grazing, Morrow, R. and A. Beetz, NCAT 2005, http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/paddock.html

Eat Wild: This site gives information on grass fed livestock and links consumers to producers
http://eatwild.com/

Book Resource:

Small-Scale Livestock Farming, Carol Ekarius, Storey Books, Massachusetts, 1999.

Equipment and Facilities links:

Agricultural Building Equipment Plan List, University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service PB 1590, http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/pb1590.pdf

The Thought Process in Selecting Equipment for the Small Farm. Macher, R.E. Small Farm Digest Volume 6, No.1. Fall/Winter 2002/2003
http://www.umext.maine.edu/piscataquis/farming/Vol1Iss3/selectequip.htm

Smart Water Use on Your Farm. Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2006 http://www.sare.org/publications/water.htm

Basics of Vegetable Crop Irrigation, Kemble, J.K. and D.C. Sanders, ANR-1169, Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1169/

Three drip irrigation sites, 2 with tutorials:

1) Review the Drip Irrigation Information and resource links on the WSU Small Farms Connection web site. http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/crops/dripIrrigation.html

2) Drip Irrigation for a Market Garden, How to Tutorials about Drip Irrigation, Drip Irrigation.ca, http://www.dripirrigation.ca

3) Jess Stryker has a great tutorial site on drip irrigation, pumps, and more. Jess is a landscape architect with years of experience in landscape design and irrigation installation. http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/index.html

If you are raising crops on a larger scale and want information on other methods of irrigation (center pivot, flood, furrow, sprinkler, etc) check out these 2 publications:

1) Crop irrigation Publications, Colorado State University:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/pubcrop.html#irr

2) Irrigation Systems for Idaho Agriculture, Neibling, H., University of Idaho, CIS 1055, 1997. http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/resources/PDFs/CIS1055.pdf

Efficient Agricultural Buildings: An Overview, Mumma, T., ATTRA publication, 2002.
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/agbuildings.html

Fencing Materials for Livestock Systems, Gay, S. ,and R. Heidel, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2003. http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/bse/442-131/442-131.html#L2

Range Poultry Housing
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/FeaturedArticle/FATopic.asp?AREA=Housing&Display=111

Sheep 201: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep – Housing, Schoenian, S. Maryland Cooperative Extension, Revised, 2005.
http://www.sheep101.info/201/housing.html

Part 2(Construction details): http://www.newfarm.org/features/2005/0305/gh2/index.shtml
Portable Field Hoophouse, C. Miles, P. Labine, Washington State University Cooperative Extension. EB1825, 1997 http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1825/eb1825.pdf

Enterprise Budget links:

Farm Business Records: An Introduction (a “Farming West of the Cascades” publication)
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1904/eb1904.pdf

Production and budget examples from Penn State for Livestock
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/livestock/Livestock.html

Production and budget examples from Penn State for Crops
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/crops/Crops.html

Enterprise worksheets for crop business planning from British Columbia
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/busmgmt/bus_tools/excel_pfp.htm

Sample enterprise budgets for specific crop and livestock enterprises
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/busmgmt/budgets/index.htm

Using Enterprise Budgets to Make Decisions about Your Farm. R. Carkner, A Pacific Northwest Extensions Publication, Washington State University, 2000 (http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0535/pnw0535.pdf)

Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production, Born, Holly, ATTRA Publication #RL041, May 2004.
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/enterprisebudgets.html#trans

Business Plans Are More Important Than Ever. J. Jeras, Ag. & Resource Economics, University of Arizona, 1995
(http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/dmkt/BusinessPlans.pdf)