Act boosts farm’s green credentials

Oct 14, 2024
By Farms.com

Energy efficiency gains for organic farm

At Boldly Grown Farm in Skagit Valley, Washington, owners Amy Frye and Jacob Slosberg have made strategic improvements to their farm's energy management with the support of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Their 60-acre certified organic farm, which focuses on robust fall and winter vegetable production, utilized funding from the NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program to insulate their packing warehouse effectively.

This project, completed in collaboration with the Skagit Conservation District, was aimed at reducing the energy needed for heating, thus lowering operational costs and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions

The improvements, finalized in October 2023, are pivotal for the farm, which uses diesel-powered heaters to maintain temperatures that prevent their crops from freezing.

Jacob highlighted the project's success, stating, “It is definitely saving us money and energy,” emphasizing the dual benefits of cost reduction and energy conservation.

The upgrade has extended their produce storage capabilities, improving local food distribution and minimizing the environmental impact associated with food transportation.

This initiative is part of Boldly Grown Farm’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible farming practices, underscored by their various certifications, including Organic and Salmon Safe.

With NRCS's support, the farm continues to set an example in climate-smart agriculture and community engagement within the agricultural sector.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.