This workshop at Pioneer Gardens in South Deerfield, MA will bring farmers and irrigation system designers together to look at emerging irrigation practices that increase water efficiency. Participants will have the opportunity to walk through and discuss the irrigation systems at Pioneer Gardens that were designed and implemented under the direction of a professional engineer.

In this event, the presenter will share a practical framework for assessing, prioritizing, and planning responses to farm risks, using pest and disease pressure as an example in the context of a changing climate. The host farmer will then describe how these planning tools have informed decisions on the farm, the new practices that have been implemented, and lessons learned through on-farm experience.

Join us for a workshop designed for farmers, land stewards, and growers navigating increasingly unpredictable growing conditions and seeking practical, field-tested ways to build soil health and farm resilience. Hosted at Stony Hill Farm with farmer Alice Colman, participants will learn directly how soil health planning and management reduces production risks and increases resiliency in the face of extreme weather events. The event includes hands-on soil health demonstrations, a guided farm tour, and an opportunity to connect with technical service providers from NOFA/Mass, CISA, the American Farmland Trust and the NRCS about available funding opportunities, technical assistance, and support for developing soil management plans.

This workshop will focus on livestock and pasture management in heat, drought, and flood, including practices for managing and capturing water, managing forage crops for water extremes, and efficient methods of providing access to drinking water for livestock. The presenters work with American Farmland Trust’s Thriving Farms and Ranches Livestock Team and can provide risk assessment and planning tools for farms and help them access services from NRCS and will explain the process for accessing this support. Presenters and CISA staff will facilitate discussion of farm-specific challenges and potential solutions.