Location: Dairy Forage Research
Project Number: 5090-21500-002-031-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2023
End Date: Mar 1, 2025
Objective:
The ARS PI and the Cooperator will work collaboratively to:
Objective 1: Support asset mapping efforts to aggregate and visualize information about existing regional grain chain infrastructure and opportunities to build additional capacity to expand small grain production, including cover crops, across the Upper Midwest.
Objective 2: Establish new financial pathways to support regenerative grain businesses through training and technical assistance with grain value chain and strengthen the connection with farmers that utilize soil health-supporting practices.
Approach:
The Cooperator will undertake two activities to address the objectives outlined above.
For Objective 1, the Cooperator will establish focus groups and interviews with existing regional grainsheds then aggregate data to inform map development. This effort will also be accomplished through support of consumer market research efforts. This data will then be used to expand the use of small grains, including cover crops, in the region.
For Objective 2, the Cooperator will conduct interviews to gauge knowledge and resource gaps, develop resources to address those gaps, and provide one-on-one technical assistance to business owners that support soil health-building practices.
