Quivira Coalition’s Soil to Supper Project supports livestock producers to get more meat and other livestock and poultry products into regional supply chains while reducing waste, increasing soil health, and building climate resilience.
Program Update – 4/17/25
After four months of uncertainty we heard earlier this week from the USDA that our Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant was officially terminated. This federal funding made it possible for us to create this program.
We have already enrolled 13 livestock producers into the program over the last year, and we are dedicated to continuing to support them through their journey to create resilience on their lands. Learn how you can support the critical work done by these livestock producers.
Soil to Supper Project funds will help 13 livestock producers transform agricultural and wood waste, finish livestock and poultry on grass, and help enhance biodiversity and potential carbon sequestration on the land.
Livestock producers will receive financial assistance and technical support from regional experts, and will become part of a network of people supporting this important work. This may happen through the following focus areas, as applicable:
Compost or biochar production
We will help livestock producers transform manure, woody waste, green waste, and other organic amendments into valuable compost and biochar that can be used to improve soil and forage.
Grazing plans
Grazing management experts will help livestock producers create prescribed grazing plans that optimize soil health and forage production for grass-finishing.
Compost or biochar amendment*
We will support amendment of rangelands with compost or biochar aligned with the pasture plans.
Business planning
Livestock producers will receive business-focused planning support and other resources to help sell directly to consumers in regional markets (i.e. how to optimize carcass use).
Marketing
Producers will receive support in marketing grass-finished livestock products through marketing toolkits and will have access to professionals during office hours.
In-field workshops*
Livestock producers will network with neighbors and experts in the topics above to share knowledge.
* These focus area components are required to receive funding.
Soil to Supper livestock producers will receive financial assistance, receive technical support from regional experts, and become part of a network of people supporting this important work.
Every ranch/farm in the Soil to Supper project:
- Must manage at least 10 acres of rangeland and apply compost or biochar amendment to a portion of this. The ranch/farm can either produce compost or biochar on site, or purchase from a vendor; $2000 is available to offset costs of making or purchasing compost or biochar. We will also cover soil sampling costs which is approximately $950.
- Provide information on soil health indicators and changes. The Soil to Supper team will collect soil samples to measure soil organic carbon and other soil health indicators. Results will be provided to producer partners in a final report document.
- Optional: Host an in-field educational event. The producer will receive $500 for hosting. This is not mandatory and is funding dependent.
The ranch/farm may receive personalized technical support in the following areas from Soil to Supper partners and contractors:
- to make compost or biochar (up to 60 hours) from nuisance wood, agricultural, or food waste
- to add compost or biochar to the operation and monitor the results (up to 200 hours)
- to make a pasture plan to best utilize the compost or biochar amended locations (up to 6h)
- to make a business plan of how best to manage and process the livestock for financial benefit (up to 5 hours)
- to make a marketing plan for how to connect with consumers (up to 15 hours)
This technical support is valued at >$22,000
Soil to Supper
1413 Second Street, Suite 1
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-820-2544