• NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

    Working for a sustainable future since 1976

  • NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

    Working for a sustainable future since 1976

  • NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

    Working for a sustainable future since 1976

  • NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

    Working for a sustainable future since 1976

  • NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

    Working for a sustainable future since 1976

TRUSTED

Since 1976 NCAT has provided relevant information, individualized technical assistance and in-depth resources to support sustainable agriculture and accessible energy solutions.

PRACTICAL

NCAT’s trusted knowledgebase provides scalable solutions to strengthen self-reliance, reduce poverty, and protect natural resources. NCAT is all solutions, not sensation.

CONNECTOR

NCAT facilitates meaningful connections among sustainable agriculture producers, renewable energy experts, innovators, researchers, and industry professionals. Our role as a connector results in valuable networks and lasting change.

Farmer Portrait: Wayne Riley, London, KY

Wayne Riley, founder of the nonprofit Laurel County African American Heritage Center, in London, KY, grows food for his community on the land his grandfather farmed. The Laurel Country African American Heritage Center operates an educational farm that provides agricultural training so community members can grow, process, and preserve their own food, and it houses an emergency food pantry that serves community members who are regularly faced with the choice between paying their bills and putting food on the table. Wayne’s is the fifth portrait in our series celebrating the farmers and ranchers NCAT supports.

New Film Series: Farmer Portraits

In this new video series, we spotlight some of the farmers and ranchers NCAT supports. They raise fruit, vegetables, flowers, and animals on farms and urban gardens from New Hampshire to Kentucky, on operations that range in size from less than an acre to more than 40 acres. But these differences mean very little. They share a commitment to stewarding the land and serving their communities, and we are proud to partner with them.

Armed to Farm blew me away. Two years into my own agricultural business and I still reflect on the immersive experience as a highlight. The combination of in-field and in-class activities kept me engaged and paved the way. I would highly recommend the program to any veteran who is looking to turn their passion into a successful business.

“NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program influenced a whole livestock industry in the U.S. to rethink how they were managing their livestock in a way that regenerates the soil.” 

“When it comes to energy professionals, NCAT is on speed dial. NCAT helped us every
step of the way in creating an energy efficiency grant program in Montana.”

“NCAT’s Soil for Water program offers a chance to learn new things and to apply it to your land and to improve.” 

“The Armed to Farm program is THE reason I was able to get started in farming. The opportunity to connect with other veterans and support each other’s dreams was life changing. The education and support from NCAT/ATTRA guided me through starting a profitable farm that fuels my newfound passion for farming.” 

“The thing that really makes Armed to Farm better than the rest is that it’s the complete package. They do a really good job of presenting a lot of information and resources in a short amount of time while also creating interface time with local veteran farmers. Being able to go for free and learn as a veteran getting into agriculture – that’s just absolutely invaluable.” 

Two women working in rows of vegetables with a high tunnel and house in background.
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The Legacy and Future of Small Farms

By Mike Lewis, NCAT Senior Manager, Southeast and Appalachia Region In the past century, the number of farmers in the U.S. has declined dramatically. Small farms, once the heart and soul of rural America, have been squeezed out by a system that…
Linda and Janice taking a selfie, smiling into the camera.
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Farmer Appreciation: A Tribute to Janice Neighbor 

January is Farmer Appreciation Month at NCAT, and some of the farmers and ranchers we especially value are those who make the effort to pass along their hard-won knowledge to beginners. NCAT Livestock Specialist Linda Coffey recently lost one…

Ag solutions company sparks biomass innovation and remarkable success

The fertile farm country of eastern Washington’s Palouse prairie region hosts millions of acres of grains, fruits, vegetables, forage, and forests that support its economy. And one Cheney-based company is increasing the economic value of these…

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