More and more farmers are adopting a diverse range of alternative practices designed to reduce dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics; cut costs; increase profits; and reduce the adverse environmental consequences of agricultural production.
Alternative Agriculture describes the increased use of these new practices and other changes in agriculture since World War II, and examines the role of federal policy in encouraging this evolution, as well as factors that are causing farmers to look for profitable, environmentally safe alternatives. Eleven case studies explore how alternative farming methods have been adopted—and with what economic results—on farms of various sizes from California to Pennsylvania.
- Alternative Agriculture
- Copyright
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Contents
- Part One
- Executive Summary
- Findings
- Incentives for the Adoption of Alternatives
- Evaluating Alternative Farming Methods and Systems
- Conclusions
- Alternative Farming Practices and their Effectiveness
- The Effect of Government Policy
- The State of Research and Extension
- Recommendations
- Farm and Environmental Policy
- Research and Development
- Economics and Markets
- The Future of Alternative Farming
- 1 Agriculture and the Economy
- TRADE
- AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
- Inputs
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Antibiotics
- Irrigation
- THE STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURE
- REGIONAL DISTINCTIONS
- THE POWER OF POLICY
- Lack of Long-Range National Program Goals
- Impact of Commodity Policy on Alternative Agriculture
- Tax Policy
- Research and Education
- Other Programs and Policies
- Soil Conservation Programs
- Pesticide Licensing
- Food Quality and Safety
- SUMMARY
- References
- 2 Problems in U.S. Agriculture
- THE FARM ECONOMY
- TRADE
- NATURAL RESOURCES
- Water Quality
- Surface Water
- Groundwater
- The Effects of Irrigation
- Soil Erosion
- Genetic Diversity
- Effects of Pesticides
- Food Safety
- Antibiotics
- SUMMARY
- References
- 3 Research and Science
- CROP ROTATION
- PLANT NUTRIENTS
- Soil Properties and Plant Nutrients
- Soil Texture
- Cation Exchange
- Soil Quality
- Nutrient Management
- Nitrogen
- Legumes as a Source of Nitrogen
- Manure as a Source of Nutrients
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Amending Soil Reaction
- Tillage
- Effect of Soil Biota on Nutrient Availability
- LIVESTOCK
- Obstacles to Greater Use of Hay and Forage
- Lignocellulose Digestion
- Improving Quality of Pastures and Forages
- Muscle-to-Fat Ratio
- Animal Health Systems
- Antibiotics
- Alternatives to Antibiotic Use
- Swine Production
- Hormonal Therapy
- Protection
- Parasitism
- Genetic Resistance to Disease
- Stress and Disease
- Technology and Advanced Diagnostics
- PEST CONTROL IN CROPS
- IPM Development
- Alternative Insect and Mite Control
- Alternative Plant Pathogen Control
- Alternative Nematode Control
- Alternative Weed Control
- SUMMARY
- References
- 4 Economic Evaluation of Alternative Farming Systems
- ECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS
- Economic Studies of Farming Practices
- Whole-Farm Analysis of Alternative Methods
- The Transition to Alternatives
- Comparative Regional Cost of Production
- Methods for Comparing Production Costs
- Alternative Agriculture and Production Costs
- ALTERNATIVE PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
- IPM
- Alternative Weed Control Practices
- Quantifying the Benefits of Pesticides
- The Economics of Biological Methods of Pest Control
- ALTERNATIVE ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
- Alternative Animal Production Systems
- STUDIES OF DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES
- Integrated Crop and Livestock Systems
- Crop Diversification Strategies
- Legume-Based Crop Rotations
- The Effect of Government Programs on Legume-Based Rotations
- IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
- The Effect of Rotations on Base Acres and Federal Deficiency Payments
- Impact of Research and Technology Transfer
- SUMMARY
- References
- Part Two
- The Case Studies
- Overview of Case Study Farms
- Crop and Livestock Farms
- Fruit and Vegetable Farms
- Other Farms
- Case Study 1 Crop and Livestock Farming in Ohio: The Spray Brothers
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Soil Fertility
- Tillage
- Weed Control
- Insect, Nematode, and Disease Control
- Labor
- Animal Enterprises
- Dairy Operations
- Beef Operations
- Performance Indicators
- Crop Yields
- Soil Fertility
- Weed, Disease, and Insect Control
- Marketing Strategies
- Financial Performance
- Case Study 2 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Southwest Iowa: The BreDahl Farm
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Crop Rotation
- Soil Fertility
- Tillage and Planting Methods
- Weed Control
- Performance Indicators
- Case Study 3 A Diversified Crop and Livestock Farm in Virginia: The Sabot Hill Farm
- General Data
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soils
- Irrigation
- Buildings and Facilities
- Management Features
- Crop Rotations
- Pasture Renovation and Interseeding
- Cattle
- Performance Indicators
- Environmental Impact
- Financial Performance
- Reference
- Case Study 4 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Pennsylvania: The Kutztown Farm
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Labor
- Tillage and Crop Rotations
- Soil Fertility
- Weed and Insect Control
- Animal Enterprises
- Performance Indicators
- Soil Conservation
- Yield Performance
- Financial Performance
- References
- Case Study 5 Crop-Livestock Farming in Iowa: The Thompson Farm
- General Data
- Commodities Produced, Used, and Marketed
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soils
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Climate
- Management Features
- Rotations
- Tillage and Planting Methods
- Weed Control
- Pest Control
- Labor and Costs
- Soil Fertility
- The Use of Cover Crops
- Livestock Systems
- Transfer of Technology
- Case Study 6 Tree Fruits, Walnuts, and Vegetables in California: The Ferrari Farm
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Soil Fertility
- Tillage, Crop Rotations, and Irrigation
- Weed Control
- Insect and Nematode Control
- Disease Control
- Labor
- Performance Indicators
- Yield Data
- Financial Performance
- References
- Case Study 7 Florida Fresh-Market Vegetable Production: Integrated Pest Management
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Management Features
- Pesticide Use
- IPM Features
- Performance Indicators
- Case Study 8 Fresh Grapes in California and Arizona: Stephen Pavich & Sons
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Irrigation Systems
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Soil Fertility
- Planting and Tillage
- Weed Control
- Insect Control
- Disease and Nematode Control
- Labor
- Performance Indicators
- Environmental Impact
- Economic Performance
- Endnotes
- References
- Case Study 9 Integrated Pest Management in Processing Tomatoes in California: The Kitamura Farm
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soils
- Buildings and Facilities
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Soil Fertility
- Tillage, Irrigation, and Crop Rotation
- The University of California IPM Program for Tomatoes
- The Kitamura Farm Insect Control Program
- Weed Control
- Disease Control
- Labor
- Performance Indicators
- Tomato Yields
- Financial Performance
- Environmental Impacts
- References
- Case Study 10 Livestock Farming in Colorado: Coleman Natural Beef
- General Data
- Climate
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Irrigation and Haying
- Labor
- Machinery
- Management Features
- Breeding
- Feeding
- Animal Health
- Marketing
- Performance Indicators
- References
- Case Study 11 Rice Production in California: The Lundberg Family Farms
- General Data
- Climate
- Physical and Capital Resources
- Soil
- Buildings and Facilities
- Farm Machinery
- Management Features
- Rotations and Cultural Practices
- Labor
- Soil Fertility
- Insect Control
- Disease Control
- Control of Tadpole Shrimp and Insects
- Weed Control
- Irrigation
- Performance Indicators
- Rice Yields
- Financial Performance
- Environmental Impacts
- References
- Glossary
- Index
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