California Conference Looks at Transition to Organic Production

NCAT Agriculture Specialist Rex Dufour organized a short course and tour for the California Small Farm Conference. The course included discussions of the organic products market and the USDA organic certification process, and visited three USDA-certified organic farms in Yolo County. Read more ››

AmeriCorps Planning Grant Launches Energy Corps Project

NCAT recently received a grant to plan for a national partnership with AmeriCorps in developing an Energy Corps project. The Energy Corps would tackle the energy needs of low-income, senior, minority and other disadvantaged groups in Montana, Iowa, Arkansas and Pennsylvania communities. The project would both help people cope with home energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more ››

NCAT Releases New Climate Change Publication

NCAT's new climate change publication Changing climate, Changing future highlights ways Montana consumers can address climate change while reducing energy costs and creating green jobs. The publication details the work of the Montana Climate Change Advisory Committee, offers dozens of resources to help Montanans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and includes success stories of Montanans already acting to reduce their own emissions. Read more ››

NCAT Receives Freedom Team Salute

NCAT received a Freedom Team Salute Commendation from the U.S. Army in January 2009, in recognition of NCAT's "support and sacrifice as an Army Employer." NCAT was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding support of a soldier staff member during recent deployment.

NCAT Helps Develop Content and Hosts Website for Presidential Climate Action Project

NCAT Executive Director Kathy Hadley served on one of the leadership summit groups that contributed ideas to the Presidential Climate Action Project, a comprehensive action plan for presidential leadership, based on climate science and designed to ignite innovation at every level of the American economy. A final copy of the plan was delivered to President-elect Obama’s transition team in late 2008, and the 117-page plan is available in PDF on the PCAP website managed by NCAT. Read more ››

New Information for Producers and Consumers of Oilseed Biofuels

NCAT's Innovation grants final reports are now posted online.  These grants were awarded to Montana farmers and ranchers to test out oilseed production and processing, animal feeding or making and using biodiesel or Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) fuel. The reports offer advice, cautionary tales and promise for those who are interested in advancing oilseed and vegetable oil-based biofuels and other bioproducts in Montana. In addition, a newly updated version of the publication Oilseed Processing for Small-Scale Producers is now accessible online through ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.