Usda Nrcs Cig No-till Omg
Daniel Mays, Founder of Frith Farm and Author of The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm: How to Start and Run a Profitable Market Garden That Builds Health in Soil, Crops, and Communities.
About No-Till OMG!
Tillage and synthetic chemical applications destroy soil health. Further, the loss of soil resilience, biodiversity, and naturally functioning ecosystems resulting from decreased soil health makes farming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability makes crop and ecosystem loss a true threat and reduces the ability of future generations to feed themselves.
The objectives of No-Till OMG are to:
Increase the implementation of No-Till OMG production practices.
Create a model for No-Till OMGs which improves soil health that is replicable, scalable, and supported by data from soil analysis.
Build stronger local economies resulting from new food sector businesses, new food sector jobs, and food purchase dollars remaining in the communities with project participants.
No-Till OMG will combine virtual training, a market garden fertility toolkit, financial incentives, and peer-to-peer mentoring with performance-based results over three years to shift the mindset of participants, creating viable organic agricultural producers that do not till. Through a combination of proven soil conservation practices; deep mulch, compost, vermicompost, compost tea, biochar, cover crops and micro-irrigation, participants will learn to grow food without tillage. This will improve soil health, crop yield, the farm business, and the local community.
Project deliverables include 20 viable agricultural producers; 3 years’ worth of soil health data from no-till farms; 30 case studies, 30 videos on building soil health with No-Till OMG, and a sustainability report of a model that is replicable and scalable.
According to NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, “Innovation is key to addressing the climate crisis and conserving the natural resources we all depend on.” If implemented at scale this could be the first step in decentralizing the food system and increasing climate resilience.
Interested in participating in this research project, apply here.
Here are some important things you need to do before completing this form:
- Do you meet any (one or more) of the criteria for Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher as defined by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, (found here). If you do not meet at least one of the criteria, you will not be eligible for the No-Till OMG scholarship. However, please consider participating in the upcoming Sustainable Agriculture Farmer Education class or other programming offered by Campti Field of Dreams in partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- If you have not already done so, you will need to watch “Kiss the Ground” ( found here). It will cost you $1 for a 24-Hour rental. This movie will share a brief history of agriculture in the United States, the principles of regenerative agriculture and how improving soil health also improves human health and the health and well-being of our communities.
- Now that you have watched Kiss the Ground, if you want to be a part of the solution AND are willing to dedicate the next 3 years to honing your skills as a No-Till Organic Market Gardener, AND you have 1/4 acre of land with which to implement the practice then apply for a Farm Serial Number at the USDA Service Center near you. Here is a form with the information you will need to take with you.
- Take a portrait picture of yourself and have it on hand in JPEG format for this form. Take a picture of the 1/4 acre plot that you want to farm and have it on hand in JPEG format for this form. Take a picture of the letter/document with your farm number on it and have it on hand in JPEG format for this form.
Job Openings
Do you want to share your expertise with us? Join the team. Must reside in North Louisiana between Monroe and Shreveport as positions will require weekly travel to 4 demonstration farms.
Funds from the grant also support two-new part time positions: Please check out the job descriptions below.
