Farmer Consultant Program

Massachusetts Farmers: do you need advice from another farmer who is experienced in soil health practices? The Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health Program has launched a Farmer Consultant Program to help make farmer-to-farmer advice more accessible beyond your immediate network. Our Farmer Consultants have a range of experience with soil health management systems for different scales and crops, and our program can support you with up to 6 hours of consulting time at no cost to you. Click through to learn more.

Massachusetts Farmer Consultant Program

Overview of the program

American Farmland Trust- in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), NOFA/Mass, and UMass Amherst, is establishing a soil health program for the state of Massachusetts that serves farmers of the Commonwealth, with an initial focus on produce and dairy farmers, both organic and conventional, in each county of the Commonwealth. Through the implementation of cover crops, no-till, nutrient management, and other management practices, soil health can be improved-- as can resiliency to climate change and farm viability.

Producer Survey

Take our producer survey!

One-Sheet

Check it out to learn more!

Soil Health Advisory Committee

The Soil Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) meets regularly to guide the development of project resources and activities.

Members include: Caro Roszell, Julie Fine and Emeran Irby (AFT facilitators and staff), Emily Cole, Nathan L’Etoile (AFT), Masoud Hashemi (UMass), Ruben Parrilla (NOFA/Mass), Kate Parsons (NRCS), Laura Maul (MDAR), Michael Leff (MACD) Jim Koebke (Walnut Lane Farm), Jen Salinetti (Woven Roots Farm), Mike Davidian (Davidian’s Farm), Apolo Catala (Oasis On Ballou Farm).

There are also two subcommittees dedicated to scale-appropriate program development: a Large Farms Subcommittee and a Small Farms Subcommittee which serves the interests of farms cultivating less than five acres, market gardens, and urban farms. The Subcommittees are comprised of SHAC members and some additional members. Currently our Small Farms Subcommittee includes Jack Loomis (NRCS).

Resources

A selection of videos and other resources around soil health practices.

Farmer Consultant Program

Simple Gifts Farm Transferred Mulch System Demo

Overview of the practice

Tools for Transitioning To No-till Vegetable Production

Presented by NOFA/Mass

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Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health Program

Farmer Consultant Program

Overview of the program

Producer Survey

One-Sheet

Soil Health Advisory Committee

Resources

Farmer Consultant Program

Simple Gifts Farm Transferred Mulch System Demo

Tools for Transitioning To No-till Vegetable Production

Project Partners

Read more about the project

Encouraging Soil Health Adoption in Farmers Across the Commonwealth

Encouraging Soil Health Adoption in Farmers Across the Commonwealth

American Farmland Trust to Partner on Largest Soil Health Project in New England History.