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ROBYN METZGER
robynm@ncat.org

Pile of biochar being sprayed with water
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House Farm Bill Proposal Omits Biochar Research Bill

The House Agriculture Committee is developing its version of the Farm Bill, including provisions on biochar. The working Farm Bill draft prepared by Committee Chair Glen “GT” Thompson includes some positive biochar provisions but also has…
Mike and Ray, owners of the oyster farm, in sunglasses, standing on a boat smiling into the camera.
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Small Steps, Big Vision: Oyster Farming on Long Island’s Great South Bay

By Lee Rinehart, NCAT Agriculture Specialist  Mike Miezianka and Ray Smith have found a way to beat the average Long Island commute time by almost seventy-five percent. They take a boat. After a fifteen-minute crossing of Great South Bay,…
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Wool Quality: Preparing for Shearing Time

By Danielle Duni, NCAT Agriculture Specialist  Whether you have ten sheep or one thousand, proper preparation, handling, and storage of wool can significantly improve the value of your wool clip. When you take steps to produce clean wool, you…
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Get Organized for a Smooth Lambing, Kidding, and Calving Season

By Danielle Duni, NCAT Agriculture Specialist The birth of baby lambs, kids, and calves—what a special time of year! It’s what producers prepare for all year long. Beyond the fall paycheck, the real reward of ranching comes from watching…
A reddish-brown pig stands with face to the sun, almost seeming to be smiling.
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Working the Woods with Pigs — Practical Tips for Silvopasture Success

By Mike Lewis, NCAT Agriculture Specialist  The forest is not merely a backdrop for raising pigs in silvopasture. The forest is a living partner in the cycle of growth and renewal. When pigs are raised thoughtfully among the trees, they become…
Two people in bee suits on either side of an open Langstroth beehive, one of them adding smoke to the hive.
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Mastering Smoke and Serenity: Tips for Beginning Beekeepers

By Eric Fuchs-Stengel, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Back in the olden times, hardscrabble beekeepers worked their hives in the hot sun with no suits or gloves. They would puff on cigars, blowing smoke up around their faces, filling the air underneath…
Light and dark pink cosmos in the field.
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Sales Bloom for Local Cut Flowers

By Audrey Kolde, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Growing up, the only cut flowers I ever saw were the ones handed out at dance recitals: a rose from a proud parent or a carnation from the teacher. These classic blossoms—roses, carnations, and…
Photo of a pile of black biochar.

Congress Members Reintroduce Biochar Research Network Act

The Biochar Research Network Act has been reintroduced in the US House as HR 4764  and in the US Senate as S2450. The legislation has a long list of bipartisan sponsors including Senators Chuck Grassley (IA-R) and Martin Heinrich (NM-D), as…
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The Weight of Water in Every Melon

By Darron Gaus, NCAT Agriculture Specialist  A Taste of July  When I was farming in San Antonio, Texas, one of my favorite crops to grow was watermelon. I would often stop during harvest to sit on the sun-warmed soil, cut open a 10-pound source…