The comprehensive grower's guide to seed production

The Seed Farmer is required reading for any grower who cares about being part of a truly sustainable local food system.

Whether you're interested in growing your own seeds for on-farm use, or scaling up for retail or commercial sales, this comprehensive manual will help you ensure reliable access to quality seed stock adapted to your own climate and bioregion. Coverage includes:

• The journey to self-sufficiency--how to extricate yourself from the modern seed distribution industry and develop varieties adapted to your location and climate
• When to worry about cross-pollination, crop timing, and poor seed genetics and when to ignore these issues on your small farm or market garden
• Detailed profiles and practical, hands-on growing and harvesting techniques for dozens of vegetable and flower crops
• The economics of seed production, and the business case for scaling up and selling seeds into local, retail, or wholesale channels
• Farm planning, sowing schedules, projected crop yields, and other considerations.

With everything you need to help integrate seed production into your small-scale farm or market garden simply, profitably, and successfully, this unique and exciting guide proves that going to seed is easier than you think!

This newly revised book presents the complex subject of farm financial management in a straight forward and readable style, with numerous tips and examples from working farms. The book offers examples from a diversity of farms, from dairy to diversified vegetable, to orchards and pastured poultry. The content is relevant for both small- and large-scale operations. Sample farm data sets highlight how equations, formulas, and analysis are done. Discussions about financial ratios, pricing strategies and ways to assess and improve profitability can help farmers improve the sustainability of their operations.

A project of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, (MOSES), authors include Paul Dietmann, emerging markets specialist at Badgerland Financial, Dr. Craig Chase, farm management specialist for Iowa State University, and project manager and editor, Jody Padgham, finance director of MOSES.

Fully indexed with a glossary, this approximately 250 page 8.25 x 11 inch paper bound book is a valuable resource for both beginning and established farmers.

Book sections include:

• Starting With Financial Management
• Farm Data Collection and Organization
• The Big Picture: Organizing Basic Financial Information
• Analysis and Decision-Making Using Your Numbers
• Analyzing Specific Elements of Your Farm
• Thinking About the Future
• Other Factors that Affect Your Financial Situation

Drawing upon 40 years' experience as an ecological farmer and marketer, Joel Salatin explains with humor and passion why Americans do not have the freedom to choose the food they purchase and eat. From child labor regulations to food inspection, bureaucrats provide themselves sole discretion over what food is available in the local marketplace. Their system favors industrial, global corporate food systems and discourages community-based food commerce, resulting in homogenized selection, mediocre quality, and exposure to non-organic farming practices. Salatin's expert insight explains why local food is expensive and difficult to find and will illuminate for the reader a deeper understanding of the industrial food complex.

Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to farming and reconnect with the wisdom of nature? Dive into the captivating world of Korean Natural Farming (KNF) and unlock the secrets of sustainable and regenerative agriculture. In this groundbreaking book, you'll embark on a journey that merges ancient farming practices with modern innovations, allowing you to cultivate bountiful harvests while preserving the health of our planet. Learn how to harness the power of indigenous microorganisms, fermentation techniques, and natural fertilizers to revitalize your soil, boost plant health, and maximize crop yield. Discover the art of making organic fertilizers, compost teas, and plant extracts using simple yet potent recipes that will transform your farming practices. Say goodbye to harmful pesticides and embrace the natural pest and disease management strategies of KNF. Uncover the secrets of weed control, companion planting, and the cultivation of beneficial insects, allowing you to create a harmonious and thriving ecosystem on your farm. Whether you're a seasoned farmer, a backyard gardener, or simply passionate about sustainable living, this book is your ultimate guide to Korean Natural Farming. Packed with practical techniques and insightful wisdom, it will empower you to nourish the land, cultivate nutrient-rich produce, and embark on a journey of ecological stewardship. Join the global movement towards regenerative agriculture and experience the transformative power of Korean Natural Farming. Embrace the synergy of traditional wisdom and modern science, and witness firsthand how working in harmony with nature can revolutionize your farm and create a brighter future for generations to come.

In Feeding a Divided America, third-generation Montana rancher and international agriculture development specialist Gilles Stockton explores the causes of what he refers to as the rural-urban divide and how this widening chasm between rural America and urban centers threatens our democracy. Indeed, it determines the structure of our society, including the physical and political landscapes in which we live. Stockton shows how big banks, international food conglomerates, urban expectations, and US farm policy have all furthered the demise of small towns across America.

These essays provide a clear portrait of national food issues surrounding market competition, US trade policy, wildlife controversies, climate change, supply-chain disruptions, and US farm policy, topics that transcend all geopolitical boundaries. Stockton stands firm with American farmers and ranchers, offering potential remedies to these issues in the face of concerns over livelihood, the future of American food systems, and the future of our planet. Stockton's essays are timely, and they challenge American urbanites and rural folk alike to find ways for all of us to coexist in a changing environment. Whether we eat may depend on it.

In the vein of Mark Kurlansky's bestselling Salt and Cod, a gripping chronicle of the myth, mystery, and uncertain fate of the world's most popular fruit

In this fascinating and surprising exploration of the banana's history, cultural significance, and endangered future, award-winning journalist Dan Koeppel gives readers plenty of food for thought. Fast-paced and highly entertaining, Banana takes us from jungle to supermarket, from corporate boardrooms to kitchen tables around the world. We begin in the Garden of Eden--examining scholars' belief that Eve's apple was actually a banana-- and travel to early-twentieth-century Central America, where aptly named banana republics rose and fell over the crop, while the companies now known as Chiquita and Dole conquered the marketplace. Koeppel then chronicles the banana's path to the present, ultimately--and most alarmingly--taking us to banana plantations across the globe that are being destroyed by a fast-moving blight, with no cure in sight--and to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world's most beloved fruit.

The updated tenth anniversary edition, with a new afterword by Gene A. Giacomelli!

The vertical farm is a world-changing innovation whose time has come. Dickson Despommier's visionary book provides a blueprint for securing the world's food supply and at the same time solving one of the gravest environmental crises facing us today. --Sting

Imagine a world where every town has their own local food source, grown in the safest way possible, where no drop of water or particle of light is wasted, and where a simple elevator ride can transport you to nature's grocery store - imagine the world of the vertical farm.

When Columbia professor Dickson Despommier set out to solve America's food, water, and energy crises, he didn't just think big - he thought up. Despommier's stroke of genius, the vertical farm, has excited scientists, architects, and politicians around the globe. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Despommier explains how the vertical farm will have an incredible impact on changing the face of this planet for future generations.

Despommier takes readers on an incredible journey inside the vertical farm, buildings filled with fruits and vegetables that will provide local food sources for entire cities.

Vertical farms will allow us to:
- Grow food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Protect crops from unpredictable and harmful weather
- Re-use water collected from the indoor environment
- Provide jobs for residents
- Eliminate use of pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides
- Drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels
- Prevent crop loss due to shipping or storage
- Stop agricultural runoff

Vertical farms can be built in abandoned buildings and on deserted lots, transforming our cities into urban landscapes which will provide fresh food grown and harvested just around the corner. Possibly the most important aspect of vertical farms is that they can built by nations with little or no arable land, transforming nations which are currently unable to farm into top food producers.

In the tradition of the bestselling The World Without Us, The Vertical Farm is a completely original landmark work destined to become an instant classic.

With a Foreword by Majora Carter.

- A welcome addition to the Classic Wine Library's roster of books on French wine regions

- The Loire is a popular holiday destination and its wines are as big a draw for many as its châteaux

- Beverley Blanning is an award-winning Master of Wine and adept wine communicator and author

Wines of the Loire Valley provides an up-to-date guide to the wines of this historic region. The hallmark of Loire wines is their balance between succulent fruit and refreshing acidity but the Loire Valley encompasses a vast array of wines, not only the well-known and trusted names but many more little known, overlooked and undervalued. The complex patchwork of vineyards that extends more than 500 kilometers along France's longest river is a haven of discovery for wine lovers. The Loire's winemakers are at the forefront of the move towards a more natural approach to winegrowing, making it a preferred choice for anyone looking for organic, biodynamic and 'natural' wines. While higher-profile regions are struggling with rising temperatures and excessive alcohol levels, the cooler vineyards of the Loire are benefiting from warmer vintages. The first part of the book covers the Loire Valley's history and presents an overview of the region, the grape varieties used, the wine styles produced, and the viticulture and vinification of the Loire Valley. The second part profiles the main regions and the individuals shaping the vinous landscape of the Loire Valley today, from Muscadet on the Atlantic coast, through Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre in Centre Loire, to Côtes d'Auvergne in the Upper Loire. A final chapter gives an overview of Loire vintages.

In 1979, Dan Morgan, a journalist with the Washington Post, wrote Merchants of Grain, a definitive history of the international grain trade. In the 40 years since Dan's book was published the grain markets have changed almost beyond recognition. So too have the merchants of grain. Once shadowy figures, grain merchants have now come out of the shadows. Almost everything that you eat or drink today will contain something bought, stored, transported, processed, shipped, distributed or sold by one of the seven giants of the agricultural supply chain. The media often refers to them as the ABCD group of international grain-trading companies, with ABCD standing for ADM, Bunge, Cargill and Dreyfus. The acronym, though, ignores the other three giants of the food supply: Glencore, COFCO International and Wilmar. Together, they handle 50 percent of the international trade in grain and oilseeds. In this book's series of exclusive and unprecedented interviews, CEOs and senior traders from these seven giants describe in their own words how the agricultural markets are changing, and how they are adapting to those changes. Accompanying text explains how grain trading works, what grain traders do, and the journey that your food takes before arriving on your plate.This is the inside story of the grain market and of the seven companies at the centre of the world's food supply.

In the Complete Guide to Quail Farming: A Step-by-Step Process Of Raising Quails for Eggs, Meat, and Pets, you'll embark on an exciting journey into the world of quail farming. This comprehensive guide is a treasure trove of knowledge, offering everything you need to know about raising quails for various purposes, from eggs and meat production to keeping them as pets. With its unique and detailed content, this book is a must-have for aspiring quail farmers, enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a rewarding and sustainable agricultural venture.

From the very beginning, the book lays a strong foundation by introducing the basics of quail farming. It covers the benefits and opportunities in the quail farming industry, providing a compelling case for why this venture holds great potential. As you delve into the chapters, you'll discover a wealth of information about different quail species, enabling you to make informed decisions based on your specific goals and requirements.

Practicality is at the heart of this guide, as it takes you through the step-by-step process of setting up your quail farm. You'll learn how to design the infrastructure, create suitable housing, and establish an environment conducive to the health and well-being of your quails. Attention is given to factors such as temperature, humidity, and lighting, ensuring that every aspect of their care is considered.

Feeding and nutrition are crucial components of successful quail farming, and this guide leaves no stone unturned in this regard. It explains the nutritional requirements of quails at different stages and provides insights into formulating balanced diets that promote optimal growth and productivity. You'll also learn about feeding techniques and systems, allowing you to implement efficient practices that maximize the health and performance of your quails.

But this book goes beyond the practical aspects of quail farming; it delves into the intricacies of breeding, reproduction, and the fascinating world of quail chicks. With detailed explanations on the reproductive cycle, managing breeding stock, and incubation techniques, you'll be equipped to ensure a thriving population of quails on your farm. The chapter on brooding and rearing quail chicks offers invaluable insights into creating a nurturing environment, managing temperature and humidity, and providing essential care during the early stages of their lives.

As you progress through the guide, you'll encounter chapters dedicated to vital aspects such as quail health and disease management, egg production, meat production and processing, marketing and selling quail products, farm management and record-keeping, and even exploring quail farming as a business. Each chapter is filled with unique, detailed, and interesting content that covers essential topics and equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for success.

The Complete Guide to Quail Farming isn't just a book; it's a comprehensive resource that empowers you to embark on a fulfilling and profitable journey in quail farming. Whether you're a novice or an experienced farmer, this guide is an essential companion that will inspire and guide you every step of the way. Its unique blend of practical advice, in-depth information, and a passion for the subject make it a must-have for anyone interested in quail farming. Get ready to transform your passion for quails into a thriving and rewarding venture with this invaluable guide by your side.

Quail Farming For Beginners: The Ultimate Comprehensive Guide is a must-have for anyone interested in starting or expanding a quail farming operation. The guide covers everything from choosing the right quail breed to setting up the infrastructure and equipment, and from quail nutrition and breeding to incubating and hatching eggs and raising chicks.

It also covers quail health and disease prevention, as well as egg and meat production and processing. Additionally, it provides tips on quail waste management, marketing and building a brand for your quail products. The guide is written in an easy-to-understand format and provides a wealth of information and strategies to help you succeed in the quail farming business.

This guide is perfect for those who want to learn about quail farming. It is also an invaluable resource for both new and experienced quail farmers.

WHEN THE VET IS AWAY: A Comprehensive Goat Farming Health Handbook is a must-have resource for every goat farmer, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your goat-keeping journey. This comprehensive guide is your trusted companion when it comes to goat health and wellness. With an emphasis on preventive care, the book equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to keep your goats thriving even when the vet is not around.

In these pages, you'll find a treasure trove of information on essential goat care, from vaccinations and deworming schedules to recognizing signs of illness and managing common health issues. The book takes you on a journey through the intricate world of goat anatomy, helping you identify potential health problems early. It's a roadmap to creating a balanced diet that promotes optimal health and guides you on maintaining healthy hooves, a crucial aspect of goat mobility.

With expert advice and real-world insights, this handbook covers it all, from routine veterinary care to emergency situations. It's a goat farming guide, a veterinary care manual, and a preventive health resource, all rolled into one. Whether you're striving for a top-performing herd or simply want happy, healthy goats, WHEN THE VET IS AWAY is your trusted partner in achieving your goat farming dreams.

In How To Make A Million Dollars With Cattle: The Ultimate Guide To Profitable Cattle Farming, readers embark on an exciting journey through the world of cattle farming, discovering a treasure trove of knowledge and strategies to turn their dreams of a million-dollar cattle empire into a reality. This comprehensive guide covers everything from selecting the perfect cattle breeds and mastering nutrition to implementing sustainable practices and navigating the complex legal landscape.

With the guidance of this book, you'll learn how to harness technology and innovation to modernize your farm, reduce costs, and increase efficiency, all while keeping a watchful eye on the financial bottom line. The pages are brimming with insights into market strategies, risk management, and the importance of community engagement in building a successful cattle farming venture.

Whether you're a seasoned cattle farmer looking to optimize your operations or someone starting fresh in the industry, this book is your indispensable companion on the path to profitability. Its engaging and informative content makes it a must-read for anyone looking to thrive in the world of profitable cattle farming.

The world is more interested in issues surrounding agricultural and food issues than ever before. Are pesticides safe? Should we choose locally grown food? Why do some people embrace new agricultural technologies while others steadfastly defend traditional farming methods? In the debates about organic food, genetically modified organisms, and farm animal welfare, it's not always clear what the scientific studies are actually telling us.

To understand these controversies and more, the authors of Agricultural and Food Controversies: What Everyone Needs to Know begin by encouraging readers to develop an understanding of how two well-educated people can form radically different opinions about food. Sometimes the disputes are scientific in nature, and sometimes they arise from conflicting ethical views. This book confronts the most controversial issues in agriculture by first explaining the principles of each side of the debate, guiding readers through the scientific literature so that they can form their own educated opinions.

Questions asked:
- Are organic foods truly better for your health?
- Are chemical fertilizers sustainable, or are we producing cheap food at the expense of future generations?
- What foods should we eat to have a smaller carbon footprint?
- Does buying local food stimulate the local economy?
- Why are so many farm animals raised indoors?
- Should antibiotics be given to livestock?
- Is genetically-modified food the key to global food security, and does it give corporations too much market power?
- Is the prevalence of corn throughout the food system the result of farm subsidies?

Providing a combination of research and popular opinions on both sides of the issue, Agricultural and Food Controversies: What Everyone Needs to Know allows readers to decide for themselves what they personally value and believe to be important when it comes to their food.

An investigative journalist takes you inside the corporate meat industry--a shocking, in-depth report every American should read.

How much do you know about the meat on your dinner plate? Journalist Christopher Leonard spent more than a decade covering the country's biggest meat companies, including four years as the national agribusiness reporter for the Associated Press. Now he delivers the first comprehensive look inside the industrial meat system, exposing how a handful of companies executed an audacious corporate takeover of the nation's meat supply.

Leonard's revealing account shines a light on the inner workings of Tyson Foods, a pioneer of the industrial system that dominates the market. You'll learn how the food industry got to where it is today, and how companies like Tyson have escaped the scrutiny they deserve. You'll discover how these companies are able to raise meat prices for consumers while pushing down the price they pay to farmers. And you'll even see how big business and politics have derailed efforts to change the system, from a years-long legal fight in Iowa to the Obama administration's recent failed attempt to pass reforms.

Important, timely, and explosive, The Meat Racket is an unvarnished portrait of the food industry that now dominates America's heartland.

How To Make A Million Dollars With Sheep: The Ultimate Guide To Profitable Sheep Farming is your roadmap to transforming your passion for sheep farming into a million-dollar success story. With a focus on profitable sheep farming, this comprehensive guide offers innovative strategies and insights to elevate your farming venture. From the very beginning, it delves into the world of sheep farming, providing you with essential knowledge on selecting the right breeds, optimizing pastures, and mastering the art of lambing.

But this book goes far beyond the basics. It takes you on a journey of diversification, encouraging you to explore value-added products and services that can skyrocket your earnings. From gourmet lamb products and sheep's milk treasures to wool-based crafts and eco-friendly insulation, this guide unveils lucrative opportunities you never thought possible. It's about embracing sustainability, tapping into international markets, and securing grants to fund your million-dollar dreams.

Intriguingly, the author walks you through the transition from a sheep farming millionaire to an industry mogul, emphasizing visionary thinking, innovation, and leadership. With this book, you'll not only learn how to make a million dollars with sheep but also how to leave a lasting legacy in the sheep farming industry. Dive into the world of profitable sheep farming today and unleash your full potential as an entrepreneur, shepherd, and industry influencer.

The print version of this book includes black-and-white images only.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRAPE-GROWING IN 168 PAGES. Viticulture is an introduction to the professional world of growing grapes for wine production and is aimed at the serious student in the wine trade, WSET Diploma student or Master of Wine candidate. It is also aimed at anybody considering owning or planting a vineyard who wants a basic primer to the subject. It is written in an easy-to-read style, arranged in fourteen relatively short chapters and illustrated with over 100 photographs and charts. It covers every aspect of viticulture, starting with a chapter on vine physiology, continuing via varieties and rootstocks, vineyard establishment, and the annual cycle in the vineyard and ending with pests, diseases and vine nutrition. The book is all you need to know about grapegrowing in 168 pages and since it was first published in 2007 has sold over 10,000 copies all around the world. The 2nd Edition, published in late 2019, has been updated to take account of modern developments in vine growing.

Inside these pages, you will find step-by-step instructions for a mobile broiler chicken shelter for pastured poultry that is used by farmers and homesteaders all over the country.

Raising chickens on grass provides them with a healthy lifestyle and a delicious flavor. You can raise just enough of them to feed your family or scale up to include pastured poultry as a profitable part of your farm business. John Suscovich has raised thousands of chickens using these mobile shelters, a main enterprise on his farm in Connecticut.

These chicken tractors were created using the best elements from other designs. They are easy to move and provide a good life for the chickens. With a little bit of creativity, they can also be modified for seasonal egg-layer housing, rabbits, ducks and forts for your kids.

Not only does this book contain the plans and supply list to build your first chicken tractor, but it gives you some insight into how to use it and what mindset you should have if you are to become a happy and successful farmer.

John also walks you through the light carpentry skills you need to build these chicken tractors and teaches you the most commonly used knots on a farm. You may learn these skills for this project, but you'll be able to apply them on your farm for years to come.

Cannabis Careers: The Insider's Guide to a Budding Industry is a comprehensive resource for individuals interested in entering the rapidly growing cannabis industry. This book provides an accessible introduction to key cannabis topics, including history and culture, to equip readers with essential knowledge.

The cannabis industry is expanding rapidly in the U.S., with medical cannabis legal in 38 states and adult-use cannabis in 24 states. Public support for legalization is at an all-time high, and national legalization appears imminent. This burgeoning industry has already created over 400,000 full-time jobs, with projections valuing the industry at $72 billion by 2030. Beyond direct industry jobs, numerous ancillary positions are available in fields such as web design, consulting, accounting, real estate, and law, often outnumbering direct cannabis jobs.

Cannabis Careers is structured around five vital touchpoints:
Cannabis Basics Essential terms, definitions, and history provide a foundation for understanding the industry.State of the Union Coverage of the cannabis and hemp industries, the legalization movement, and future prospects.Career Pivot Guidance on leveraging current skills to transition into the cannabis industry, including researching and finding job opportunities.Employment Opportunities An exploration of various careers, both plant-touching (e.g., budtenders, growers) and ancillary (e.g., marketing, legal services), with insights from industry leaders.Career Resources Practical tools including sample job descriptions, job search websites, resume and cover letter samples, and interview tips.The book addresses the challenges of entering the cannabis industry, such as legal complexities and lingering stigma, and provides strategies to overcome these barriers. It includes chapters on health and medical careers, education roles, nonprofit and government positions, and even unique opportunities in hospitality and tourism. Cannabis Careers serves as a practical guide for those looking to join this dynamic field, offering a blend of industry insight, practical advice, and resources to help readers successfully navigate and thrive in the cannabis industry.