Farmer Voices

First-Hand Stories from the Fields
Farmer VoicesKris Swartz

To the editor: Inflation Reduction Act supports voluntary conservation

Kris Swartz, past president of the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, shared how important the roughly $19.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds allocated to USDA climate smart agriculture and conservation programs are to farmers. This article is part of an ongoing series on climate-smart funding, organized by the Climate Action Campaign and Solutions from the Land.

Read the full story on The Toledo Blade

Climate Smart AgricultureConservationFarmer VoicesSustainable DevelopmentAgriculture Dive

Will Harris: From Tradition to Transformation at White Oak Pastures

Will Harris, a fourth-generation cattleman, transformed an old farming model into a sustainable and lasting one. He writes about how expanding federal programs can help others like him. This article is part of an ongoing series on climate-smart funding, organized by the Climate Action Campaign and Solutions from the Land.

Read the full story on Agriculture Dive

Climate Smart AgricultureFarmer VoicesSustainable DevelopmentAgri-Pulse

Brad Hunter Advocate for Protecting Climate-Smart Funding

Brad Hunter started farming full-time 19 years ago when he returned home to the family farm in Porter County Indiana. He has since become an advocate for climate-smart practices after seeing the impact they have first-hand. This article is part of an ongoing series on climate-smart funding, organized by the Climate Action Campaign and Solutions from the Land.

Read the full story on Agri Pulse

Climate Smart AgricultureConservationFarmer VoicesSolutions from the Land

R.C. Hunt: A Legacy of Sustainable Farming in North Carolina

R.C. Hunt grew up on a tobacco farm and ventured into the livestock business after graduating with an animal science degree from North Carolina State University in 1977. Along with a business partner, he purchased a farm in Wilson County, North Carolina. In 1992, they established a 2,000-sow farrow-to-wean swine facility on a 400-acre tract of land, and the swine operation has been in continuous operation ever since.

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Climate Smart AgricultureConservationFarmer VoicesSustainable DevelopmentThe Chronicle

Maynard Mallonee: Climate-smart agriculture is the future

Maynard Mallonee, a third-generation dairy farmer and member of the Organic Valley Co-Op, had his op-ed referenced by Rep. Perez during the House Ag Committee markup of the Farm Bill. This article is part of an ongoing series on climate-smart funding, organized by the Climate Action Campaign and Solutions from the Land.

Read the full story on The Chronicle

Climate Smart AgricultureConservationFarmer VoicesFood SystemsSolutions from the Land

Hillery Goodgame’s Journey in Climate-Smart Farming

Hillery Goodgame, a first-generation farmer, made a life-changing decision in 2020 when she left her IT project management job in New York and purchased her first farm in Georgia. Driven by the challenges COVID-19 posed to the food system, she embarked on a mission to grow fruits and vegetables sustainably. Over the years, she’s expanded her operation to 86 acres, using climate-smart practices like planting longleaf pine for carbon sequestration, installing irrigation systems, and supporting wildlife habitats – including the Great Georgia Blue Heron.

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