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By DOMENIC POLI

GILL — From the outside looking in, not much has changed at Sunrise Valley Farm recently. But, for the past month or so, owners Brian and Keri Peila have had one major addition to their to-do list.With help from their three children, the couple has...

By BELLA LEVAVI

CHARLEMONT — The Hawlemont, Agriculture and You (HAY) program has welcomed a rare breed of cow to their barn, giving students a lesson on biodiversity this school year.The school welcomed the 6-month-old, yet-to-be-named Kerry heifer last week. She is...

By MADDIE FABIAN

Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final article from the Western Massachusetts Solar Forum series. The first three forums took place in September, and another series of forums is in the works for this spring. AMHERST — Most experts agree solar...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

A permanent disaster relief fund to assist farmers devastated by acts of nature, and providing farmers more flexibility for using their properties once they are protected in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, are among the bills the...

By JACOB NELSON

“So much was just about to bloom,” said Suna Turgay of Flowerwork Farm in Northampton. “And then the flooding came.”Warmer, wetter and less predictable weather are all on the rise in New England as our climate changes. The idea of normal is constantly...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture’s (CISA) Buy Local campaign will get a boost in the coming months on the heels of a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) grant.CISA received the $84,737 grant on Nov....

By JAMES PENTLAND

Western and central Massachusetts farmers are receiving a boost from $23.3 million in disaster relief from a philanthropic fund set up in the wake of July’s devastating floods and further state aid announced by the Healey-Driscoll administration.The...

By MADDIE FABIAN

For farms across western Massachusetts, the effects of climate change were tangible this growing season.At Red Fire Farm with property in Montague and Granby, co-owner Sarah Voiland said that after the May frost event, the farm’s full harvest on...

By MADDIE FABIAN

NORTHAMPTON — This year was a tough run for Massachusetts farmers, with more than $42 million and 13,000 acres of crop losses reported due to extreme weather during the spring and summer.Despite the Feb. 4 freeze, May 18 frost and July 10 flooding...

By JACOB NELSON

In many ways, farming is an act of faith. Faith that nature will provide for a harvest, and a farmer’s faith in themselves to figure out whatever challenges arise. Some years bring bumper crops, others disappointment, but with climate change fueling...

By CHRIS LARABEE

ASHFIELD — Like many Americans after Thanksgiving, crowds of Franklin County residents left their homes on Black Friday to knock out some holiday shopping.In Ashfield, though, it wasn’t to purchase electronics or other big-ticket items, but rather one...

By JACOB NELSON

It’s hard to throw water on a burning house while trying to rebuild it at the same time, but that’s exactly what addressing climate change requires. Rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already changing the planet. The choice is whether to...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — While extremist Republicans in Congress are trying to gut programs that provide food to those in need, Massachusetts could become the first state to end hunger, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern told a special state commission on agriculture on...

By MARY BYRNE

GREENFIELD — The annual winter Farmers Market will soon be underway, thanks in part to a new partnership with the Greenfield Public Library.“Having it at the library is a huge deal because the library is going to be open while the farmers market is...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

TURNERS FALLS — Nine Franklin County Technical School students embraced last week’s national FFA Convention and Expo as an invaluable opportunity to connect with agriculturally inclined youth from all over the country.FFA, which originally stood for...

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — With climate change a present threat, Michael Pill and Carol Holzberg have been exploring installing a dual-use solar array on their farmland.The Shutesbury couple’s project, though, has run into a roadblock due to the Agricultural...

By BELLA LEVAVI

GREENFIELD — Business leaders came together at the monthly Franklin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Friday morning to discuss how they can continue to support the region’s farmers amid the increasing challenges they face. With about 830 farms...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — With farmers facing two of the most challenging summers in recent memory, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is launching a fundraising campaign that will expand access to local produce and prepare farmers for a...