Browsing by Author "Sackett, Jill"

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    2008 Farm Bill Update: Conservation and Energy Programs
    (2009-01) Anderson, Greg; Flynn, Paul; Noty, Lisa; Current, Dean; Hachfeld, Gary; Nichols, Luke; Sackett, Jill; Wilsey, Dave; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy
    The 2008 Farm Bill contains updated and new conservation programs to protect soil, water, air and wildlife resources while offering economic incentives for landowners and farmers. It also provides for additional energy programs which encourage landowner production and community development of bio-energy feedstocks and bio-industrial systems.
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    Farmer Field School Approach to Increasing Cover Crop Adoption in Iowa and Minnesota: Minnesota Happenings
    (St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2010) Sackett, Jill; Carlson, Sarah; Meschke, Linda
    North Central Region – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education [NCR-SARE] grant partners Practical Farmers of Iowa [PFI] and Rural Advantage feel that one tool to increase the sustainability of annual cropping systems is the utilization of cover crops. The benefits of cover crops are numerous and varied, from decreasing soil erosion to increasing soil tilth, but still there is a lack of adoption in both Iowa and Minnesota. The goals of this project include: 1) education and outreach through farmer-led field days, workshops, listening sessions, surveys, evaluations, and media stories; 2) increased number of cover crop acres through cost-share funds and improved cover crop education; and 3) assist in the development of a cover crop decision tool via information collected from surveys, evaluations, and cost-share demonstration acres. The effectiveness of the project will be evaluated through survey results; number of attendees at events; number of inquiries about cover crops; and increased number of cover crop acres.
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    An NCR-SARE Cover Crop Project: Farmer-Cooperator Motivation and Agronomic Practices
    (2013-10) Sackett, Jill
    The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of what motivates farmers to participate in cover crop projects, specifically Rural Advantage’s NCR-SARE cover crop project, and to identify the major cover crop agronomic practices used. The study concluded that the primary motivator was assisting in cover crop research and the cover crop agronomic practices used for establishment and termination could be considered mainstream farming practices. Interest in alternative methods was expressed. Implications of the study include: cover crop education and outreach is needed, encourage use of cover crops after early harvested cash crops, and encourage use of alternative establishment methods.