Sustainable Agriculture |
Buy Fresh Buy LocalInformation on this program is coming soon. |
Farming with Computer TechnologyFarmers, ranchers and agribusiness people are not exempt from using 21st Century technologies. However, using computers to manage farm operations and the Web for marketing farm products is not yet a common practice among small or large-scale farmers. Use of computers for decision-making and information analysis can be strengthened. Information technologies provide the basis for precision farming practices allowing site-specific crop management. Knowing how to gather field data, computers to analyze it, the Web to compare information and doing business online, producers can add profitability to their operations. |
Nebraska Cooperative Development CenterNCDC offers three types of assistance to agricultural producers as well as others interested in establishing "new generation cooperatives," marketing alliances and other types of multi-owner businesses: (1) "first responders" serve in a facilitating role as groups explore their collective idea or need; (2) groups are linked to specialized resources such as legal assistance, feasibility analysis and financial assistance; (3) small amounts of seed money are provided to groups in their organizational development stage to help them explore long-term feasibility of their project. |
North Central Initiative for Small Farm ProfitabilitySeven organizations in four states are involved in this farm-to-fork initiative that deals with agricultural production practices, value-added processing, marketing and distribution. A major component is community-based clusters consisting of producers and academicians that identify and apply innovative strategies to enhance the success of small and mid-size farms. Case studies are used to explore innovative, successful small farm operations. This three-year effort began in Fall 2000 and is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the USDA. |
Agricultural DiversityAgroecology, Organic Agriculture Symposium, Organic Farming and Gardening |