Continuing on the 2024 SCI Farm Tour
By Taylor Herren, Farm Program Specialist
Excerpt from ‘The Dirt’: SCI’s Monthly Farmer Newsletter
Hoping things are going well in life and on the farm.
I know many of you have been experiencing the unforgiving side of Mother Nature this year. Between the sweltering heat and drought in the South and Southwest, and the fierce rainstorms from Texas to the Midwest and from the Southeast to Vermont, it’s been a hard go.
Even knowing that in farming there are good years and bad years, it’s still so tough when it’s the latter. For those of you in that boat this year, know that you’re not alone and this community supports you..
Below are more pictures below from the last leg of my 2024 farm tour. Huge THANK YOU to all the farmers who hosted me and the SCI team, and I hope we get to see the rest of you in person before too long. Keep up the great work!
Reminder to all SCI farmers: Our monthly Farm Office Hours will take place every last Thursday of the month at 4pm ET.
(Left) John Strohfus bringing life back to his soil with cover crops and no-till.
(Right) At Ladd Wahlen's regenerative potato farm in Aberdeen, ID.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Systems Change Conference
September 9-10, 2024 | Statesville, NC
The Systems Change Conference convenes key stakeholders from philanthropic, corporate, government and environmental organizations to create intentional roadmaps on how Regenerative Farming, Corporate and Government Sustainability, Food as Health initiatives, and our Supply Chains can create system-wide and scalable impact.
The first day will be a farm visit to Russell Hedrick's farm and the second day is at the Statesville Civic Center.
Meet members of the SCI team there in person! Julie Davenson, SCI Finance Specialist will be speaking, and Alisa Gravitz, SCI Executive Committee, will be there, along with our partners from Soil Regen’s, Co-owners, Liz Haney and Russell Hedrick.
SCA Virtual Mini-Meeting
September 10, 2024, 1-4pm ET | Virtual
Save the Date! Our sister program’s end-of-Summer Soil & Climate Alliance virtual mini-meeting is coming this September.
As an SCI Farmer, you are welcome at all the meetings – absolutely free. Meet fellow SCI Farmers, regen ag leaders from food companies, processors and investors interested in regen ag. These quick connects give the Network opportunities to bond, learn, and take action together.
Mark your calendar now, and stay tuned for registration this August.
The Big Soil Health Event
December 9-11, 2024 | Cedar Fall, IA
The Big Soil Health Event provides producers, landowners, and ag industry members with a ground-up educational experience. While many conferences inspire and teach, this event encourages and illuminates soil health practice adoption.
This conference is brought to you by our partners, Soil Regen. SCI’s Taylor Herron will be the event’s co-MC, and many SCI farmers will be there – enjoy all the connections!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Rocky Mountain Rangelands Program
Apply by August 5, 2024
NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects that voluntarily conserve, restore, and improve habitat in the Intermountain West. The objective of this program is to work in focal landscapes in the region to restore and conserve wildlife species associated with sagebrush, irrigated meadows and aquatic systems while conserving the phenomenon of large mammal migration. Approximately $5 million in grant funding is available.
Livestock Conservancy Microgrants
Apply by August 15, 2024
This program provides support from $500 to $2,000 for farm-related improvements by residents and organizations in the United States who are actively working with livestock and poultry breeds listed on the Conservation Priority List.