Stories and News

We offer an array of content to explore, including these stories from around the country sharing trusted practices found in indigenous cultures, in modern universities, in long experiences on a particular property, and in innovation by first-generation farmers.

The Latest

person operating tractor with bright sunlit backgroundUSDA

Extreme Heat: Don’t Let Summer Be a Bummer

By Luz Ballesteros and Darron Gaus, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Farmers and ranchers are weather watchers—we begin the day by turning on the local news or checking our apps for the weather highs, humidities, and chances of rain. A lot…
Stephanie Kasper's rainwater harvesting system

When in Drought, Plan It Out: Rain Harvesting

By Stephanie Kasper, University of Texas Rio GraSoil for Waternde Valley Program Manager As a south Texas farmer, there’s not much I love more than a refreshing rainy day. However, my rain appreciation grew deeper this year after my partner…
Crops being watered by irrigationCanva Pro

NCAT Releases New Guide to Saving Water, Energy for Irrigators  

Responding to water shortages and uncertainties throughout the western United States, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has released a new edition of its popular The Irrigator’s Pocket Guide. “With growing conflict over…

Regenerative Journeys

Texastopia: A permaculture dream come true

Texastopia is located outside of Blanco, TX along the Blanco River. It is the property of Pete Van Dyke and his wife Elenor Goode. Pete owns Van Dyke Earthworks & Design, a permaculture consulting business. They started managing a 10 acre…
Zanzenberg Farms

Zanzenberg Farm: Staying innovative with hogs

Located Center Point, Texas in East Kerr County, Zanzenberg Farm specializes in raising heritage breed pigs on pasture. Much like heirloom vegetables, heritage breeds were very common on the American homestead centuries ago. Farm owners Justin…
Chris Grotegut

Grotegut: Water for Future Generations

Dr. Chris Grotegut is a veterinarian, farmer, and stockman in Hereford, located in Deaf Smith County in the Texas Panhandle. Hereford has a rich agricultural heritage and economy built on the waters of Ogallala Aquifer. But this aquifer has…
Whitworth Ranch

Whitworth Ranch: A multi-species approach

Ward Whitworth and his family have lived in the far western end of the Texas Hill Country near London, Texas for many generations. Today Ward and his wife Barbara manage multiple properties. The Whitworths are diversifying their operation by…
Alejandro Carrillo

Regenerating Rancho Las Damas in Mexico

We highlight internationally renowned rancher, president of Pasticultores del Desierto, consultant for Understanding Ag group, and Soil for Water technical advisor, Alejandro Carrillo. In the early 2000s, at the request of his father,…
Tina and Orion Weldon

TerraPurezza at Shield Ranch: Advancing regeneration

TerraPurezza was founded by Tina and Orion Weldon in Spicewood, TX in 2015. It has grown to over 1500 acres of native Texas prairie on multiple campuses including the Shield Ranch on Austin's Barton Creek and Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch in Spicewood,…