SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING # 11
JULY 1996
-part 2-
==========
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
P.O. Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727
Phone (501) 292-3714; E-mail: HN3551@handsnet.org
Keith Richards, Editor
==========
SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING is the bi-monthly voice of
the Southern SAWG, 50 member organizations working for
more sustainable agriculture in 13 Southern states.
Hard copy subscriptions via U. S. postal service:
$15 per year or $25 for two years
===============================================================
CONTENTS, part 2:
* ALBC: A SSAWG MEMBER PROFILE
* ENCOURAGING FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE AG
* PRODUCER RESEARCH GRANTS FROM SARE
===============================================================
AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS
CONSERVANCY: A Southern SAWG Member Profile
Eighty-three percent of the registered dairy cattle in
the United States are a single breed--Holsteins. Together
with Jerseys, Ayrshires, Guernseys, and Brown Swiss, these
five breeds comprise almost our entire milking herds.
Sixty percent of the beef cattle in our country are Angus,
Hereford, or Simmentals.
Only three breeds make up more than 75 percent of
the swine population in the United States. And four breeds
make up two-thirds of the sheep population in our country,
with the Suffolk accounting for 40 percent.
To a proponent of industrialized agriculture, these
figures may conjure images of uniformity and high
production, but to Don Bixby, director of the American
Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), they point out a
glaring loss of genetic diversity. He says, "Modern
production agriculture favors the use of a few highly-
specialized breeds that have been selected for maximum
production in a controlled environment." Many traditional
livestock breeds are threatened with extinction because
they are no longer favored. When we lose breeds, we lose
genetic diversity.
"In order to meet our agricultural needs for the
future, we need to have as many genetic resources as
possible," according to Bixby, who practiced veterinary
medicine for 20 years before coming to ALBC. Who
knows what the future will bring? If we only have four or
five breeds to choose from, we'll have lost innumerable
valuable traits from the gene pool. And to those who think
gene banks are the answer, Bixby replies that frozen semen
isn't the same as having hundreds of breeds of living
animals constantly making micro-adaptations to climate
and conditions.
Besides losing genetic diversity, our development of
a few highly specialized breeds has led to what Bixby calls
"high-tech husbandry." Most of the predominant breeds of
farm animals need an agricultural support system of high
inputs and more intensive management. For example,
Holsteins--having been bred for maximum milk production
at the expense of other traits--may be fine for a high-tech
milking and feeding facility. But what about the farmer
who is trying to cut his costs and become more sustainable
with a pasture dairy operation? A Holstein cow isn't as
efficient as many other breeds at converting forage to milk.
They develop more problems in their joints when moving
around all day. And they require almost three services per
conception on the average, as opposed to one for many
other breeds.
By trying to adapt a handful of breeds to every farm
and every condition in our country, we are losing the
heritage breeds--animals that, according to Bixby, "retain
the survival traits no longer found in industrial stocks, such
as climate adaptation, resistance to disease and parasites,
forage efficiency, longevity, high fertility, and maternal
abilities." In the U. S., nearly one-third of our cattle breeds
are facing extinction. World-wide, 1,500 farm animal
breeds are threatened, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organization in Rome.
Protecting Livestock Breeds From Extinction
The mission of the American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy is to protect breeds of cattle, goats, horses,
asses, sheep, swine and poultry from extinction. By
conducting a census of livestock approximately every five
years, the organization has been able to develop a
conservation priority list and monitor the progress of
endangered breeds.
ALBC encourages the use of these endangered,
heritage animals. "Our work is mostly helping to educate
people to consider more than one option when they make
their breed selection," says Bixby. "We help people to
figure out their goals and to pick a breed based on their
needs and market." Over half of the 4,000 members of this
non-profit organization are raising heritage breeds
themselves.
The ALBC staff also provides technical assistance
to breed associations, helping them to establish bylaws,
breed standards, and in setting up or maintaining registries.
Where no breed association exists for an endangered
animal, ALBC will help establish an association. And
ALBC assists producers to network with buyers and sellers
of the breeds they're interested in, especially for those
breeds which don't have a national association. This is
done mostly through publishing a yearly directory of
breeders and a bi-monthly newsletter.
The conservancy works with several universities to
conduct research on breed characteristics and use. By
documented the grazing efficiency or parasite resistance of
various breeds, for example, producers are able to make
more informed choices about the appropriate animals for
their farms.
Producers seeking assistance in developing
specialty markets for rare breed products can also contact
ALBC for help. Bixby says. "We can help people develop
a marketing plan for specialty products [such as unusual
wool colors and textures from heritage sheep]. Instead of
selling the product at a low market price because of low
demand, they can sell high in a niche market."
More than anything, ALBC acts as an information
source for producers and consumers interested in
endangered breeds of livestock. They publish literature on
heritage breeds and host an annual conference with a
different focus and location each year.
Resources Available From ALBC
*Noah's Ark Today: Saving Rare Breed Farm
Animals for the Future*. Bixby feels that the message to
many youth focuses on the importance of saving plants and
wild animals (ie: the rainforest), but neglects the
importance of farm animals. "Animals have always been
an integral part of agriculture," he says. "They provide
nutritious foods, such as milk, cheese, eggs and meat, as
well as wool, cashmere, mohair and other natural fibers.
Properly managed animal services, including browsing and
grazing, pest control, and draft power can replace
environmentally damaging practices."
This curriculum, developed primarily for
elementary school children, focuses on the importance of
farm animals, how breeds were developed and why
diversity of breeds is important. It includes a slide
presentation with script and activities for the students.
*A Conservation Breeding Handbook*, by Carolyn
Christman and D. Phillip Sponenberg. Explains the
importance of livestock and poultry breeds, and
demonstrates how individual breeders can be stewards of
these genetic resources.
*Taking Stock: The North American Livestock
Census* by ALBC Staff. The best source on livestock
genetic diversity, breed status, and conservation strategy.
A complete list of breed associations is included.
*American Minor Breeds Notebook* by Laurie Heise
and Carolyn Christman. An illustrated guide to 77 breeds
of livestock.
*1987 Poultry Census and Sourcebook*, by Laurie
Heise and Carolyn Christman. Description and drawings of
15 breeds of poultry and a list of sources.
ALBC also has a catalog of several animal health
and care books, notecards and posters. For more
information, contact ALBC, PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC
27312; 919-542-5704 (phone); 919-545-0022 (fax).
********************************************
ENCOURAGING FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE AG
by Julie Burns
Once again, sustainable agriculture supporters
around the country are wielding their "grassroots clout" to
influence the yearly agriculture appropriations decisions
made by Congress. Appropriations is the process where
funds are allocated to some of the programs operated by the
USDA. Since early spring, supporters of the Campaign for
Sustainable Agriculture have been busy writing, faxing,
visiting and calling House and Senate members to assure
sufficient funding for programs that support sustainable
agricultural practices.
Farmers like Gene Turpin of Kentucky have been
letting their voices be heard. Turpin recently wrote a letter
to the editor urging Senator McConnell to support the
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
and Chapter 3 programs. In part, he stated, "As a family
farmer, I know first-hand the value of solid information
about farming techniques, reducing costs and protecting the
soil. Information gleaned from small government funded
research and outreach programs has helped me cut costs by
replacing chemical fertilizers with more environmentally
friendly alternatives. After all, chemical fertilizers such as
ammonium nitrate cost $250 a ton while chicken manure
costs only $17.50 a ton."
The House voted on agriculture appropriations in
May, and the Senate may make its move this month. The
good news so far is that the House gave almost level
funding to the SARE ($8 mil.) and Chapter 3 ($3.3 mil.)
programs, the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program
($6.8 mil.), the Organic Standards program ($500,000), and
the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program
received $3 million (we had only asked for $2 million).
The bad news is that the House voted to give ATTRA and
State Mediation programs NO FUNDING, allocated only
$1 million to the Outreach and Assistance to Socially
Disadvantaged Farmers (we asked for $5 mil.), and made
significant cuts in funds for Direct Ownership and Direct
Operating Loans. Enrollments in the Wetlands Reserve
Program were limited to 100,000 acres for FY97.
Margaret Krome, appropriations coordinator for the
Campaign, remarked, "This markup was a little hair-
raising. Overall, we can feel pleased that no more damage
was done, given the dramatically tighter budget and threats
of terrible damage. But we would have liked to get more
of our programs funded at higher levels, so we've definitely
got our work cut out for us this summer in the Senate."
The Campaign hopes to restore funding for the programs
cut by the House when the Senate votes.
If you would like to help by writing a letter or
making a call, contact Julie Burns, southern region
coordinator for the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture,
704-255-8376; e-mail: HN3897@handsnet.org.
************************************************
___________________________________________
1997 Southern Region SARE Producer Grants
Call for proposals: in October SARE newsletter
Deadline for proposals: January 31, 1997
Grants awarded: around June 1997
Timeline for research: up to three years
Limits: maximum of $10,000
___________________________________________
PRODUCER RESEARCH GRANTS FROM SARE
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education (SARE) program within USDA is unique not
only because it funds research on and disseminates
information about sustainable agriculture, but also because
it includes farmers and ranchers at all levels of decision
making. Producers help set the agenda for the program and
participate in funding decisions.
Three years ago, the Southern Region SARE
program further recognized the role of farmers and
ranchers in agriculture research by beginning to award
grants for producer-initiated, on-farm research. Alex Hitt,
a North Carolina farmer and chairman of the producer
grants committee for Southern SARE, believes producer-
initiated research is important for two reasons. "One is to
shake out of the woodwork ideas that farmers have that
researchers would never have thought of. Because
sustainable farmers are involved with the ecosystem every
day, because they're looking at what's going on, they are
more in touch with the questions that need to be
researched."
"Secondly," Alex continues, "it helps identify
farmers who are good cooperators for the sustainable ag
research community. And it helps build a support
community for sustainable agriculture practitioners because
it encourages farmers to work together."
Early in 1996, the Southern region SARE program
took another step toward creating a whole producer grant
program by hiring John Mayne as full-time producer grant
coordinator. He brings enthusiasm and respect for farmers
to his job. "One of the things that I find exciting about the
program is that farmers are coming up with ideas that no
one [in the research community] would have thought of. I
like that this program allows for farmer ingenuity.
Ingenuity is what our country was founded on."
By working closely with farmers and ranchers, John
will encourage greater participation in the program and
help to make sure that the funded research is sound and
useful. Although he can't design the applicant's projects for
them, he will attempt to answer any of their questions and
refer producers to other people for assistance.
Advice for Grant Applicants
For anyone who is considering submitting a
proposal for a producer grant, John says, "Its important to
think it through completely. Its important for farmers to
think 'what information do I want to get out of this?'"
John advises producers not to get hung up on
design. "If you're going to do an experiment, you're going
to have an experimental design, but it doesn't have to
duplicate the types of experiments done on research
stations." Sometimes a producer will miss the main goal of
their research because they are trying to put in too many
variables.
He also believes the right cooperator is crucial to
success. "Its really, really important for farmers to get a
cooperator who is genuinely interested in the project, who
has a goal of coming away with something to use and pass
on to other farmers." A cooperator can help producers who
don't have research experience or don't have time for
certain aspects of the experiment, such as running analyses
on nutrients, setting up a farm field day, or helping to
disseminate information. "Remember," says John,
"cooperators can be other farmers or from NGOs [as well
as university or extension personnel]; they can be anyone
who has expertise in the area of the research."
Finally, John stresses, "If you have a question, call
me. Call early, even if you are just beginning to think
about a proposal. Don't wait until the last minute." Phone
John Mayne at 770-229-3350 or e-mail to:
jmayne@gaes.griffin.peach.edu.
Connect Mail Sent: July 10, 1996 1:02 pm PDT Item: R00UOzB