SARE partnered with PBS KVIE to produce an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland that highlights how farmers and ranchers across the United States are using sustainable and regenerative practices to adapt to increasingly challenging and unpredictable weather conditions.
Adapting to Flooding and Drought on Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton, Vermont
Ashley Loehr and Antoine Guerlain have been forced to respond to both drought and catastrophic flooding on their diversified vegetable farm in South Royalton, Vt. They run a certified organic farm, cultivating popcorn, wheat and hay, as well as vegetables, on 37 acres. Strip cropping, buffer strips and a diverse mix of short-cycle and long-season crops provide more flexibility to help them reduce income gaps when extreme weather damages their crops.
Adapting to Generational Challenges on Western Family Farms in Waterloo, Iowa
In Waterloo, Iowa, the Westerns carry on their legacy as one of Iowa’s pioneering Black farming families. Facing generations of challenges, the Westerns have adopted no-till farming, cover crops and carbon-capture practices to reduce off-farm inputs, regenerate the soil and better manage their farm in the face of extreme weather.
Adapting to Extreme Rains and Drought at A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minnesota
Luke Peterson shares his family’s regenerative approach to cultivating organic grains and grass-fed beef at A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minn. By minimizing tillage, rotating crops and incorporating deep-rooted plants like Kernza, they’re restoring the soil’s health and boosting their resilience to more extreme droughts and storms.
Adapting to Heatwaves and Hurricanes at Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Norman Park, Georgia
The Hamilton family manages Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Norman Park, Ga., where more extreme heat and intensifying hurricane seasons have forced them to adapt. They adjust harvesting times during the day to protect workers from extreme heat, and grow crops year-round across three strategic locations to maintain a more reliable income stream.
Adapting to Overgrazed Land and Drought on Joe Kipp’s Ranch in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
After inheriting overgrazed land, Joe and Kathy Kipp installed fencing and irrigation to improve pasture quality and better manage scarce water resources on their ranch in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana. Through their work with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Kipps have restored native prairie grasslands and improved drought resilience to sustain their cattle and bison, all while preserving their land for future generations.
Visit https://www.rfdtv.com for more information about America's Heartland and other RFD-TV programming.