Alternative agriculture / Committee on the Role of Alternative Farming Methods in Modern Production Agriculture, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council
Part 1. Executive summary: Findings ; Conclusions ; Recommendations ; The future of alternative farming. Agriculture and the economy: Trade ; Agricultural industries ; The structure of agriculture ; Regional distinctions ; The power of policy ; Summary -- Problems in U.S. agriculture: The farm economy ; Trade ; Natural resources ; Summary -- Research and science: Crop rotation ; Plant nutrients ; Livestock ; Pest control in crops ; Summary -- Economic evaluation of alternative farming systems: Economic assessments of alternative methods ; Alternative pest management strategies ; Alternative animal disease prevention strategies ; Studies of diversification strategies ; Impact of government policy ; Summary
Part 2. The case studies: Crop and livestock farming in Ohio: the Spray brothers -- A mixed crop and livestock farm in Southwest Iowa: the BreDahl Farm -- A diversified crop and livestock farm in Virginia: the Sabot Hill Farm -- A mixed crop and livestock farm in Pennsylvania: the Kutztown Farm -- Crop-livestock farming in Iowa: the Thompson Farm -- Tree fruits, walnuts, and vegetables in California: the Ferrari Farm -- Florida fresh-market vegetable production: integrated pest management -- Fresh grapes in California and Arizona: Stephen Pavich & Sons -- Integrated pest management in processing tomatoes in California: the Kitamura Farm -- Livestock farming in Colorado: Coleman Natural Beef -- Rice production in California: the Lundberg Family Farms. Glossary -- Index
Summary
Case studies of eleven farming operations across the United States test the economic impacts of alternative agricultural practices such as integrated pest management, crop rotation, manure management, low-density animal production systems, and crop diversification. Impact of U.S. federal regulations and policies on alternative farming is also considered
