Developing and Extending Sustainable Agriculture A New Social Contract

About this book

Explores the challenges faced by today's farmers and ranchers to provide practical strategies to develop a twenty-first century system of sustainable agriculture that is economically sound, environmentally compatible, and socially acceptable. This comprehensive look at the current state of farming and ranching presents leading authorities discussing concepts and approaches in sustainable agriculture such as crop rotations, integrated pest management, alternative sources of nutrients to maintain productivity, and rotational grazing systems.

Presently there is a trend toward a more industrial agriculture and a global food system that will bring long-term negative impacts. If farmers look thoughtfully toward the future, alternatives are now available to help solve these problems to provide agricultural sustainability for generations to come. Developing and Extending Sustainable Agriculture: A New Social Contract provides a model for integrated research and outreach to everyone interested in sustainable development. A sensible framework of practical short-term strategies are combined with visionary long-term plans to provide viable approaches to sustain agriculture, secure our food system, and develop a more equitable society for the future. The text includes several tables and figures, extensive references, and comprehensive bibliographies.

Contents

About the Editors Contributors Foreword (James Ian Gray and Fred L. Poston) Preface Chapter 1. Overview of the Educational Social Contract: Building a Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (Ray P. Poincelot, Charles A. Francis, and George W. Bird) Introduction Evolving Role of Extension Industrial Agriculture and Family Farming Building an Appropriate Information Foundation Mainstream Activities in Sustainable Agriculture Closing the Loop: Educating the Consumer Renewing the Contract Chapter 2. Integrated Pest Management, Ecoliteracy, and Unexpected Consequences (George W. Bird and Michael J. Brewer) Introduction Nature of IPM Monitoring and Evaluation State IPM Program Coordinator Observations Management Strategies and Tactics IPM Program Implementation IPM Program Resiliency IPM Tactics for Resiliency Multiple Benefits of IPM Tactics Economics of IPM Ecoliteracy Law of Unexpected Consequences Chapter 3. Soil Management in Sustainable Production Systems (Kent McVay) Soil Development in Modern History Reasons and Goals Use of Cover Crops Cropping Systems That Mimic a Natural Environment Maintaining a Living Soil Earthworms Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Soil Management and Soil Quality Enhancing Environmental Quality and Productivity Chapter 4. Managed Grazing in Sustainable Farming Systems (Terry Gompert) Introduction Why Promote Managed Grazing What Do We Graze What Ecological Principles Do We Consider Conclusions Chapter 5. Whole-Farm Planning and Implementing Sustainable Agriculture (Rhonda R. Janke) Background Identifying and Filling the Gaps Literature Review and Testing the Tools Putting Together a Tool for Kansas Testing, Implementation, and Outreach Other Forms of Whole-Farm Planning Conclusions Chapter 6. Economic Analysis and Multiple Impact Valuation Strategies (John Ikerd) Introduction Comparisons of Alternative Farming Practices, Methods, and Enterprises Comparisons of Alternative Farming Systems Community, Regional, and National Impacts Whole-Farm Case Studies Decision Support Methodology Issues of Sustainability Chapter 7. Transformation in the Heartland: Emergence of Sustainable Agriculture in Iowa (Jerry DeWitt and Charles A. Francis) Introduction Background for Change Key Early Innovations Major Initiatives and Projects in Sustainable Agriculture Current and Ongoing Projects Lessons Learned in the Iowa Experience Conclusions and Potentials for Future Iowa Agriculture Chapter 8. Regional Training Workshops for Sustainable Agriculture (Heidi Carter, Charles A. Francis, and Richard Olson) Introduction Focus on Planning Choice of Workshop Themes Annual Themes for Workshops Materials and Learning Methods Participatory Learning Methods Evaluation Lessons Learned and Recommendations Conclusions and Future Dimensions Chapter 9. Regionalization of a Research and Education Competitive Grants Program (Steven S. Waller, Elbert C. Dickey, and Charles A. Francis) Rationale for a Regional Program North Central Region Administration and Planning Organizational Structure for Regional Research and Education Strategic Planning Grant Making Process Communications Specialist Speakers Bureau Producer Grant Program Producer Grant Coordinator Diversity Enhancement Grants Targeted Areas of Research and Education Graduate Student Support Training and Education in Sustainable Agriculture State Sustainable Agriculture Conferences Evaluation of Regional SARE Programs Conclusions Chapter 10. Expanding Visions of Sustainable Agriculture (Lorna Michael Butler and Cornelia Butler Flora) Introduction Agriculture As a Multifunctional Activity The Sustainable Agriculturist A New Social Movement in the Heartland New Institutional Models Changes at the Farm Level New Models at the Community Level Conclusions Chapter 11. Creating Viable Living Linkages Between Farms and Communities (Michele Schoeneberger, Gary Bentrup, Charles A. Francis, and Richard Straight) Unique Rural/Urban Interfaces Problems Facing Our Working Lands Ecobelts: Connecting the Working Lands Ecobelt Principles Creating People Linkages to Create Working Landscape Linkages Conclusions Chapter 12. Testing Ideas and Transferring Capacity Through Farmer Research: The Iowa Model (Rick Exner and Richard Thompson) Introduction Matching the Design to the Question: Profiles of Farmer-Researchers Replicating the Experience Chapter 13. Impacts of Private Foundations on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (Oran B. Hesterman) Introduction Sustainable Agriculture Funding, 1988-2002 Loss of Funders: Impact on the Nonprofit Community Funding Types Impacts of Private Foundation Funding What Have We Learned Case Examples of Sustainable Agriculture Projects Conclusion Chapter 14. Motivation Theory and Research in Sustainable Agriculture (Shirley K. Trout, Charles A. Francis, and John E. Barbuto Jr.) Introduction Motivation Theories Motivation and Sustainable Agriculture Tools of the Motivation Trade Motivation in Practice Conclusions Chapter 15. Future Potential for Organic Farming: A Question of Ethics and Productivity (Frederick Kirschenmann and George W. Bird) Introduction Emergence of Organic Agriculture Challenges Facing Agriculture in the Twenty-First Century A New Paradigm for Agriculture The Evolution of an Ecological Conscience Chapter 16. Future Multifunctional Rural Landscapes and Communities (Charles A. Francis) Introduction Building a Foundation SARE Results in Cooperative Extension Programs Future Farming Practices and Farm Evaluation Future Outreach Programs for Viable Rural Communities and Landscapes Future Priorities for Cooperative Extension Conclusions Index Reference Notes Included

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