Interest is growing in sustainable agriculture, which involves the use of productive and profitable farming practices that take advantage of natural biological processes to conserve resources, reduce inputs, protect the environment, and enhance public health. Continuing research is helping to demonstrate the ways that many factors—economics, biology, policy, and tradition—interact in sustainable agriculture systems.
This book contains the proceedings of a workshop on the findings of a broad range of research projects funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The areas of study, such as integrated pest management, alternative cropping and tillage systems, and comparisons with more conventional approaches, are essential to developing and adopting profitable and sustainable farming systems.
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE FIELD
- Copyright
- Preface
- Contents
- Introduction
- BASIC CONCEPTS AND OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
- Basic Concepts
- Operational Definitions
- PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
- REFERENCES
- PART ONE Overview
- 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture
- THE USDA APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
- The Road Ahead
- The Need for Hard Data
- CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACHES THAT ARE UNDER WAY
- The Roles of Universities and Farmers
- THE NEED FOR A PROACTIVE EFFORT
- LEGISLATIVE AND FUNDING INITIATIVES
- Farm Bill
- Request for LISA Funding
- Commitment to Research
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- 2 Background and Status of the Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture Program
- BACKGROUND
- LEGISLATION
- LISA PROGRAM ENACTMENT
- LISA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE LISA PROGRAM
- THE FUTURE
- REFERENCES
- 3 Challenges and Rewards of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
- CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
- The Elements of Crop Production Systems
- TOWARD SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS OF WHEAT PRODUCTION IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
- The Soil Fumigation Effect
- The Crop Rotation Effect
- The Crop Residue Effect
- The Herbicide Effect
- IMPROVEMENT OF ROOT HEALTH WITH BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS IN THE RHIZOSPHERE
- ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE
- Making Maximum Use of Biological Interactions and Cycles on the Farm
- Crop Rotations and Tillage
- Suppressive Soils
- Biological Control of Insects with Indigenous Natural Enemies
- Biological Nitrogen Fixation Using a Legume
- Maximizing the General Resistance in Crops to Disease
- Making an Occasional Release, Introduction, or Treatment
- Classical Biological Control of Insects
- The Deployment of Genes for Disease and Pest Resistance
- Making Regular Inputs
- THE EXPANDING AGENDA FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
- REFERENCES
- 4 Overview of Current Sustainable Agriculture Research
- THE CHALLENGES
- LISA: SUCCESSES AND LIMITATIONS
- ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CHANGES ON THE GREAT PLAINS
- Fallow on the Great Plains
- The Changing Roles of Livestock
- SCIENTIFIC LIMITATIONS
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- 5 Economic Considerations in Sustainable Agriculture for Midwestern Farmers
- THREE LOW-INPUT FARMING SYSTEMS
- Chemical and Organic Production System Demonstration Project in Northeastern Iowa
- Rodale Conversion Project in Kutztown, Pennsylvania
- Farming Systems Project in Central Iowa
- Conclusion
- SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
- Profitability
- Societal Costs and Benefits
- Farm Family Resources
- Government Policies
- Risk Management
- Macrolevel Impacts
- STEPS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
- REFERENCES
- PART TWO Research and Education in the Western Region
- 6 Comparative Study of Organic and Conventional Tomato Production Systems: An Approach to On-Farm Systems Studies
- TERMINOLOGY
- BACKGROUND RATIONALE
- GOALS OF THE PROJECT
- WHY AN ON-FARM STUDY?
- METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Site Selection
- Working with Farmers
- ANALYTICAL APPROACHES
- Sampling Techniques and Variables Measured
- Statistical Analysis
- PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND EVALUATION
- Site Selection
- Management Practices
- Preliminary Results
- CONCLUSION
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- REFERENCES
- 7 STEEP: A Model for Conservation and Environmental Research and Education
- THE STEEP PROGRAM
- ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM
- STEEP Program Extension
- Farmer Support
- STEEP PROGRAM RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Tillage and Plant Management
- Plant Design
- Erosion and Runoff Prediction
- Pest Management
- Socioeconomics of Erosion Control
- Soil Erosion-Productivity Relationships
- IMPACTS OF STEEP PROGRAM RESEARCH
- FUTURE DIRECTIONS
- Emerging Issues
- STEEP II Program
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- 8 Soil Moisture Monitoring: A Practical Route to Irrigation Efficiency and Farm Resource Conservation
- HOW SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING REDUCES GUESSWORK AND IMPROVES FARM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
- Scheduling Irrigations To Meet Crop Needs
- Managing Equipment More Efficiently
- Controlling Distribution and Drainage
- Reducing Soil Compaction and Infiltration Problems
- Converting to Conservation Tillage
- Integrated Resource Management
- TOOLS FOR MONITORING SOIL MOISTURE
- Soil Moisture Monitoring and Other Approaches to Irrigation Management
- INFORM'S RESEARCH: FORERUNNERS AND FINDINGS
- Field Demonstrations, 1984–1986
- Findings
- GYPSUM BLOCK PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO
- The California Program, 1989–1990
- Colorado's Ogallala Program
- THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS AND AGENCIES
- PRODUCERS OF GYPSUM BLOCKS
- THE PUBLIC ROLE
- REFERENCES
- 9 Reactors' Comments
- RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE WESTERN REGION
- REACTIONS
- A FARMER'S PERSPECTIVE
- REFERENCE
- PART THREE Research and Education in the Southern Region
- 10 Southeastern Apple Integrated Pest Management
- OVERVIEW OF SOUTHEASTERN ARTHROPOD PESTS AND DISEASES
- PATHOLOGY RESEARCH
- Postharvest Removal of Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck
- Chlorine Treatment Effects on Pesticide Residues
- Shelf Life of Chlorine-Treated Apples
- Phytotoxicity and Fruit Finish Trial
- Conclusions of Fruit IPM Research
- ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH
- Mating Disruption
- Male Orientation to Traps
- Damage Assessment
- Ground Cover Management Inventory
- Pesticide Applications Toxic to Beneficial Predators
- Assessment of Grower Expertise for IPM
- GEORGIA GROWER IPM TRIALS
- REFERENCES
- 11 Low-Input Crop and Livestock Systems in the Southeastern United States
- LOW-INPUT CROP AND LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS
- RESEARCH PROJECT ORGANIZATION
- CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS COMPARISON STUDY
- Plot Location and Sampling
- Pasture Establishment
- Establishing the Crop Rotation Sequence
- Conventional System
- Sampled Variables
- LOW-INPUT CORN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
- Contribution of Winter-Annual Legume and Small Grain Cover Crop Combinations to Silage Corn Production
- Evaluation of Alternative Cover Crop Management Practices for Winter-Annual Cover Crops in No-Till Corn
- Evaluation of Ridge-Till Corn Production Systems Using Winter-Annual Cover Crops
- EXPERT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
- EXTENSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
- CURRENT PROJECT STATUS AND FUTURE PLANS
- REFERENCES
- 12 Solarization and Living Mulch to Optimize Low-Input Production System for Small Fruits
- OBJECTIVE ONE: BLUEBERRY LIVING MULCHES
- General Farm Background
- Experimental Protocols
- Results
- Discussion
- OBJECTIVE TWO: SOLARIZATION FOR STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION
- General Farm Background
- Experimental Protocols
- Results
- Soil Temperatures
- Yield
- Weed Control
- Nematode Control
- Soil Chemistry
- Discussion
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- 13 Reactor's Comments
- RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH
- PART FOUR Research and Education in the North Central Region
- 14 New Strategies for Reducing Insecticide Use in the Corn Belt
- EFFECT OF SOIL INSECTICIDES ON CORN ROOTWORM POPULATION DYNAMICS
- FACTORS INFLUENCING INSECTICIDE USE IN CORN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
- NEED FOR NEW CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR CORN ROOTWORMS IN THE CORN BELT
- NEW MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR CORN ROOTWORMS
- REFERENCES
- 15 On-Farm Research Comparing Conventional and Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture Systems in the Northern Great Plains
- THE TWO CASE STUDY FARMS
- PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE
- ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
- Baseline Results, Assuming No Premium Prices for Organic Crops
- Implications of Premium Prices for Organic Crops
- Policy Analyses
- DISCUSSION
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- REFERENCES
- 16 Low-Input, High-Forage Beef Production
- PRINCIPLES OF BEEF PRODUCTION IN THE CORN BELT
- DESIGN OF THE STUDY
- EARLY FINDINGS
- High-Grain Versus High-Forage Experiments
- Wintering Systems Experiments
- Model Development
- BREAK-EVEN BEEF PRICES OF ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS
- Wintering Systems
- High-Grain Versus High-Forage Systems
- Increased Grazing of Forages
- CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES
- REFERENCES
- 17 Reactor's Comments
- LOW-INPUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECTS, ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE, AND RELATED ISSUES
- THREE NORTH CENTRAL LISA PROJECTS
- New Strategies for Reducing Insecticide Use in the Corn Belt
- On-Farm Research Comparing Conventional and Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture Systems
- Low-Input, High-Forage Beef Production
- GENERAL COMMENTS
- COMPETITIVE GRANTS
- ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE
- INTERGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
- ARE THE VARIOUS GROUPS REALLY AT ODDS?
- REFERENCE
- PART FIVE Research and Education in the Northeastern Region
- 18 Long-Term, Low-Input Cropping Systems Research
- THE RODALE FARMING SYSTEMS TRIAL
- THE CORNELL CROPPING SYSTEMS EXPERIMENT
- THE RODALE LOW-INPUT, REDUCED-TILLAGE EXPERIMENT
- LONG-TERM CROPPING SYSTEMS COMPARISONS
- MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION OF FARMER AND RESEARCHER INFORMATION
- SUMMARY
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- REFERENCES
- 19 Perspectives for Sustainable Agriculture from Plant Nutrient Management Experiences in Pennsylvania
- PLANT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IMPLICATIONS
- MONITORING WHOLE FARMS
- PLANT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS
- NORMAL SCIENCE, LEARNING, AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- 20 Use of Fungal Pathogens for Biological Control of Insect Pests
- FUNGAL PATHOGEN LIFE CYCLES AND BIOLOGY
- DISEASE EPIZOOTIOLOGY
- The Pathogen Population
- The Host Population
- The Abiotic Environment
- COWORKERS AND COOPERATORS INVOLVED IN SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
- SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF INSECT BIOLOGICAL CONTROL RESEARCH USING FUNGAL PATHOGENS
- Awareness of Naturally Occurring Pathogens and Their Relevance to Biocontrol
- Entomophaga grylli Mycosis of Grasshoppers
- Augmentation of Fungal Pathogens for Biological Control
- Beauveria bassiana Mycosis of Colorado Potato Beetles
- Enhancement of Naturally Occurring Fungal Pathogens
- Zoophthora Mycosis of the Alfalfa Weevil
- Introduction of Exotic Fungal Pathogens
- Introduction of Zoophthora radicans into the United States
- CONCLUSION, RESEARCH NEEDS, AND FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
- REFERENCES
- 21 Reactors' Comments
- TIME FRAME FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AS A PREVENTION STRATEGY
- TIME FRAMES FOR SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
- REFERENCES
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE NORTHEAST
- LONG-TERM, LOW-INPUT CROPPING SYSTEMS RESEARCH
- PERSPECTIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FROM NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCES IN PENNSYLVANIA
- USE OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS
- REFERENCE
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN THE FIELD
- LONG-TERM, LOW-INPUT CROPPING SYSTEMS RESEARCH
- PERSPECTIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FROM NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCES IN PENNSYLVANIA
- USE OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS
- ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES
- On-Farm Analysis
- Infrastructural Analysis
- Consumer Analysis
- Societal Analysis
- Environmental Analysis
- INFORMATION DELIVERY
- REFERENCES
- PART SIX Summary
- 22 Assessing the Progress of Sustainable Agriculture Research
- Appendix A Poster Sessions
- LOW-INPUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FARM DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
- CHARACTERISTICS OF LISA-FDSS2
- RMS Budgeting
- Whole-Farm Planning
- Custom Budgets
- OBJECTIVES OF LISA-FDSS
- NOTES
- VOISIN CONTROLLED GRAZING MANAGEMENT: A BETTER WAY TO FARM
- GUIDELINES FOR VOISIN CONTROLLED GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN VERMONT
- Recovery Periods
- Periods of Occupation
- Paddock Size
- Paddock Number
- Fencing
- Water
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- Appendix B Expert Systems: An Aid to the Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Systems
- DESCRIPTION OF EXPERT SYSTEMS
- DECISION MAKING FOR APPLE ORCHARDS
- THE PENN STATE APPLE ORCHARD CONSULTANT
- Structure of the Penn State Apple Orchard Consultant
- Profiles
- The Integrated Pest Management Module
- PSAOC as a Tool for Sustainable Apple Production
- Field Testing the System
- Grower Surveys: System Use and Practice Change
- General System Usage Patterns
- General Practice Change Characteristics
- Weekly Time Monitoring and Basic Economic Questionnaires
- Further Mechanisms to Obtain Grower Evaluation, Feedback, and Training
- Cooperators' Planning and Review Meetings
- Midseason Grower Training Sessions
- Electronic Mail Network Among Growers and Researchers
- Site Visits to Cooperating Orchards
- Grower Panel at Professional Meetings
- Involvement with Cooperative Extension Agents
- County Extension Agents Survey on Expert Systems for Fruit Growers
- Extension Agent Expert System Training Session
- Local Experts Network
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- REFERENCES
- Authors
Text
Audio
Adobe DRM
Login to your account