NASA reports potential megadrought; CSA becomes increasingly important

A few weeks ago we discussed climate smart agriculture (CSA) and how it’s time to start considering how the changes in climate and weather can harm our food supply and alter growing techniques. While shifting growing techniques can be intimidating, this week’s report from NASA shows the importance for those in agricultural communities around the world to make proactive changes.

Spotlight on Pastured Life Farm: Foraging on Fodder

With the limited availability of non-GMO verified feed, high prices of quality and the difficulty of producing consistent forage throughout the winter, David and Ginger Shields of Pastured Life Farm knew it was time to start looking for a better feed option.

Frequently Asked Questions 2.0 – The FodderPro Feed System (part 2)

As promised, we’re back with our second edition of the Frequently Asked Fodder Questions blog. If you haven’t gotten the chance to look over part one yet, you can find it here, and read it at your convenience. Part one of our two part FAQ blog was intended to give an overview of the FodderPro Feed System by answering some of the more general questions we are asked every day. Part two of our blog series is intended to answer your more technical questions, in hopes that all your fears of fodder will have vanished after you’ve finished reading. So without further ado, we present you with the final installment of our Frequently Asked Fodder Questions blog.

Frequently Asked Questions 2.0 – The FodderPro Feed System (part 1)

With the growing interest (no pun intended) in hydroponic fodder, more and more customers are calling in to ask questions about our FodderPro Feed Systems. We’ve also found that our previously published “Frequently Asked Questions – The FodderPro Feed System” blog has been one of the most frequently visited posts we have ever produced. So in order to further help you, our valued customer, get the information you are seeking, we have produced not one, but two more, information packed Frequently Asked Questions blogs. These blogs should help answer any of the burning questions you may have, but if they don’t, be sure to check out our first edition FAQ blog, which will help you uncover even more information about our FodderPro Feed Systems.

CEA School: Molding the Minds of Aspiring Growers…and Employees

Our most recent CEA school provided a great opportunity for our attendees, and myself, to learn the ins and outs of controlled environment agriculture. I am new to FarmTek and have been working here for just about a month, and while I moved here from a small town in New Hampshire, I truthfully have very limited agricultural and farming knowledge. The most I could tell you about farming prior to this is that cows have dry tongues, and catching loose chickens is a tougher task than you originally think. However, after being given the opportunity to sit in on the majority of lectures at our most recent CEA school here at Technology Center East, I, like all of our attendees, have gained a lot of knowledge and interest in the previously mysterious topic of controlled environment agriculture.

FarmTek Introduces Commercial Fodder Systems and Turnkey Solutions

It’s been too long since my last blog post, but with good reason. Our phones and websites have been inundated with fodder inquiries now that we have rolled out two amazing additions to our FodderPro Feed Systems product line.

Spotlight on Lensmire Family Farm – Hydroponic Fodder Sprouts Savings

Lensmire Family Farm, owned and operated by Tom and Jane Lensmire, is home to about 80 Holstein, Jersey and Swiss dairy cows. Located in Cleveland, WI, the farm has been in the family for 23 years and spans 80 acres of land. The Lensmires began rotational grazing about 13 years ago and still use this practice today, in addition to purchased feed. However, an interest in hydroponics led them to FarmTek’s Fodder-Pro 2.0 Feed Systems after reading about hydroponic fodder in the company’s catalog.

Photo Blog: FarmTek’s First-Ever CEA School at Technology Center East

With the grand opening of FarmTek’s Technology Center East this month came our first-ever CEA School in South Windsor, CT. We had 58 people attend the school from not just across the county, but across the world. People came from down the street to as far away as Burnley, England! We had presenters from local businesses, non-profits, academia, vendors and our own experts on controlled environment agriculture, including several of our frequent blog contributors.

Into the West with FarmTek’s Fodder Trailer

Today’s blog post comes from our fodder specialist Ken Erha. Ken travels across the country with our fodder trailer to attend trade shows and events. He went into the west for events in Idaho, Utah and Colorado to spread the word about hydroponics and fodder, and came back with a story to tell.

Idaho

WODPA Fall Conference and Organic Trade Show
Our tour began at the Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance Fall Conference and Organic Trade Show in Twin Falls, ID. This two-day event was a great way to begin the tour.

Tales From the Fodder Trails…Sam Takes on Wisconsin!

Here at FarmTek, we pride ourselves on our knowledge of controlled environmental agriculture. But, the million-dollar question remained: can we control the environment of a trailer while DRIVING over 1,200 miles? The answer: a resounding yes! That’s not to say we recommend it! We now know it can be done. Three days before departing, I soaked the seeds. Two days before leaving I put the seeds into the channels right in the trailer. Practicing what we preach, we kept the air moving and cool—usually around 68 degrees with a relative humidity around 60%. We had a timer that watered the channels two minutes every two hours. The day had come to finally get on the road. Bright and early, we left our corporate office in South Windsor, CT. All was going according to plan…until we got to Ohio!