The Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems (CSAS) in the
Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is an interdisciplinary
center formed in 1991 for the purpose of bringing together people
and resources to promote an agriculture that is efficient,
competitive, profitable, environmentally and socially sustainable
for the indefinite future. Electronic versions of the CSAS
bimonthly newsletter are sent to SANET, PENPages, and the
internal IANRNEWS 10-14 days before those on our mailing list
receive their hard copy. They are also available along with other
sustainable ag information on our new World Wide Web page:
http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/csas
Note: The electronic version is not sent to individual e-mail
addresses. To be added to the "hard copy" newsletter mailing list
(not sent to overseas addresses), or for questions or comments,
contact the newsletter editor, Pam Murray, Coordinator, Center
for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, PO Box 830949, University
of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0949, 402-472-2056, fax -4104,
e-mail: csas001@unlvm.unl.edu.
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CONTENTS:
RESTORING PRODUCTIVITY, PROFIT, AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
IN CHILE
SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCTS FIELD DAY A SUCCESS
GLICKMAN LAUDS FARMERS' MARKETS FOR CONSUMERS AND
FARMERS
WINDBREAKS HELP PEPPER PRODUCTION
INTEGRATED FARM UPDATE: VISITOR COMMENTS
MINIGRANTS AWARDED FOR SUSTAINABLE AG EDUCATION
SATELLITE PROGRAMS ON 1996 FARM BILL
NUMBER OF NATION'S LARGE FARMS INCREASES
CALL FOR PAPERS ON OGALLALA AQUIFER
DID YOU KNOW...
RESOURCES
CALENDAR
* * *
RESTORING PRODUCTIVITY, PROFIT, AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IN CHILE
In September I was invited to participate in a regional workshop on land use
planning and sustainable agriculture in the Southern Cone countries.
Hillsides in some areas near the coast in Chile have been planted to wheat
for more than 300 years, and harvests extracted with no addition of
nutrients. Tilled by subsistence farmers often working with oxen and a
single bottom plow, much of this land is in a wheat-fallow system that
yields as little as 1-1.5 tons/ha (15-22 bu/a) of winter wheat every two
years. When the tour leaders told me we would see farmers tilling the
B-horizon, I was sure that it would prove to be an exaggeration. It did not
take long to see that they were right.
Although level fields nearby are producing world-class wine and table
grapes, kiwi, and a range of stone fruits and apples for export, using drip
irrigation and other technologies that rival California in their innovation
and efficiency, limited resource farmers continue to eke out an existence on
highly degraded lands. The only viable option from an ecological point of
view appears to be consolidation of small holdings through purchase by
investors and planting of trees for lumber and pulpwood, an activity
subsidized at a rate of 75% by the government. The result is monoculture
pine or eucalyptus forests that are clear cut after 20 to 30 years, causing
yet another cycle of soil erosion and social erosion. Although there is some
conservation of soil, the consequences of this well-meaning strategy include
unemployment, continued migration to cities, and a widening gap between
those who own the land and those who need food and a better life.=20
Increasing the productive capacity and profit from highly eroded farms in
the coastal hills and central valley of Chile is one goal of a new
cooperative project launched after a recent workshop convened by INIA
(National Institute for Agricultural and Livestock Research) in Cauquenes at
a branch research station. Attended by specialists in agriculture and rural
development from all six countries in the Southern Cone, this conference had
the goal of preparing a comprehensive research project for the region. The
goals are to restore both crop and livestock productivity as well as
rehabilitate highly eroded lands and recreate the ecological integrity of
agroecosystems on which people depend for food and income. Specific pilot
projects in each country will bring interdisciplinary teams from appropriate
government agencies, universities, and the private sector together to work
side by side with farmers to seek location-specific solutions to problems of
soil erosion. Applying the best available current technologies that are
appropriate to small-scale farmers in these pilot areas, the teams plan to
involve neighbors and the community in long-term planning for integrated
systems that will help restore the ecosystem while producing food and income
for families.
In the pilot program near the coast in Chile, one option will be to
concentrate wheat production on the best fields using needed N and P
applications along with crop rotations to increase yields on a limited area.
Other areas on the farm will be used for intensive, high-value crops such as
grapes and tree fruits, using irrigation tape, minimum tillage, and
biological control of pests. The most eroded parts of the farm will be
planted to permanent pastures and a diverse mixture of trees to allow the
soil to regenerate and to prevent further erosion. Planning will be
conducted in close communication with the farmers in the pilot zone, and
research will be carried out as a joint venture by cooperators in the field
and the team of investigators. This pilot project is specific to the coastal
hills in Chile. One or more sites will be chosen in the five other countries
where soil erosion is a major problem and location-specific solutions will
be tested and demonstrated.
This project is one of the most attractive of current efforts in Latin
America in terms of its agroecosystem focus and its goal of restoring both
productivity and ecological integrity to the landscape. It is part of a
comprehensive program by PROCISUR (Cooperative Program for Technological
Agricultural and Livestock Development in the Southern Cone) with
headquarters in Montevideo, Uruguay. This subproject is a comprehensive
agricultural program of IICA (Interamerican Institute of Agricultural
Sciences) that is financed by the Interamerican Development Bank, individual
governments, and other international donors. The group is currently seeking
funding sources for this ambitious project.
Submitted by Chuck Francis
SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCTS FIELD DAY A SUCCESS
On August 24 about 40 people participated in the first field day that
focused on farmers' markets and other forms of direct marketing locally
grown products. After cruising the Lincoln Farmers' Market (LFM), manager
Billene Nemec welcomed the group and told them they were helping to
celebrate the first decade of the LFM. The Lancaster County Extension Office
hosted the second segment of the field day where participants heard from
producers Tom Tomas and Keith Lutnes, and UNL representatives Alice
Henneman, Laurie Hodges, and Jill Gifford. The panel, moderated by Lancaster
County Extension Unit Leader Gary Bergman, described what is involved in
direct marketing such as common problems and how to avoid them, safety
requirements for processed food, organic certification, and what resources
are available from UNL and elsewhere to assist direct marketers of food
products.
After a lunch supplemented by wonderful donations from many LFM vendors
(including sweet corn prepared to perfection by Ward Shires and Wanda
Leonard), the group visited five farms of LFM vendors who shared their
experiences (and treats) with participants. Demonstrations and commentaries
covered such topics as drip irrigation, mulching with plastic film,
regulation of food labels and safe food laws. As CSAS Advisory Committee
member Mort Stelling put it, "We observed the ingenuity and unquenchable
spirit of the small producers themselves." Thanks to Bob and Judy Slama of
Crete, Peggy and Gene Eggert and Diane McCown of Martell, Gene and Dot
Langdale of Firth, and Jerry Meyer of Beatrice for being great tour hosts.
The event was sponsored by CSAS, Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Lincoln
Farmers' Market, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, and Specialty
Growers/Organic Crop Improvement Association - Nebraska Chapter 3. We plan
to make this an annual event.
GLICKMAN LAUDS FARMERS' MARKETS FOR CONSUMERS AND FARMERS
On August 23, one day before the Lincoln Farmers' Market event, Agriculture
Secretary Dan Glickman hosted a farmers' market at the USDA. He told the
gathered farmers, area workers and other visitors that such local farmers'
markets are a growing trend throughout the nation, and farmers can increase
their income significantly by participating. As part of National Farmers'
Market Week, Glickman released a new USDA survey which found that nearly a
million consumers visit farmers' markets across the country each week and
that direct marketing sales of fruits and vegetables total approximately
$1.1 billion annually. In addition, the number of farmers' markets has
increased nearly 40% since 1994.
"The growth in the number of farmers' markets across the nation illustrates
the importance of the bridge between farmers and consumers," said Glickman.
"Farmers =97 especially small and limited resource farmers =97 continue to=
look
for new, innovative marketing opportunities to increase income and combat an
ever increasing lack of competition in U.S. agriculture. Consumers,
conscious of the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, also
are supporting farmers' markets in record numbers."
The 1996 edition of the "National Farmers' Market Directory," a
state-by-state listing of nearly 2,500 farmers' markets across the country,
may be accessed via the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/ams/states.htm.
Source: USDA press release, 8/23/96
WINDBREAKS HELP PEPPER PRODUCTION
Laurie Hodges, UNL Vegetable Specialist, has been conducting research on the
impact of windbreaks on peppers. In her August 23 newsletter (see Resources)
she states: "We've harvested heavily for the past four weeks from the plots
sheltered by a tree windbreak, with hardly anything ready in the plots
unprotected from the wind. The differences in vegetative growth, leaf size,
and fruit size, weight, and number are striking. Also the exposed peppers
have moderately severe bacterial leaf spot, while the sheltered peppers have
much less of this devastating disease." Dr. Hodges will have final yield
data by late fall.
INTEGRATED FARM UPDATE: VISITOR COMMENTS
Integrated crop/livestock production and research continue to draw visitors
to the Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC). This past summer
there have been numerous student visits and tours with farmers that included
the Integrated Farm as part of their itinerary. The key features of the
project that appear to attract attention are cropping system and
agroforestry diversity, complementarity of crops and livestock, and
conversion of dairy and feedlot manure to compost as part of the nutrient
cycling strategy on the farm.
"In the future, I imagine many of the erodible hillsides in the corn belt
will have strips and diversity like what is here at the ARDC," observed a
student intern from the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. She had been
learning about the contour strip cropping rotations east of the headquarters
building, a series of three fields with large plots and different rotations
of predominant crops for the region. The contour strips and minimum tillage
reduce erosion to below the soil replacement value, and provide both spatial
and temporal diversity within the field. Originally funded by a SARE grant,
this project continues to be one of the most visible indications that
research at the ARDC is not business as usual.
The intensive use of cool- and warm-season grasses, complemented by grazing
residues and a short feedlot period, is one of the most compelling systems
emerging from research conducted by animal scientists and agronomists at the
ARDC. "This strategy seems to have the potential to reduce production costs
for beef, keep the soil in place on erodible lands planted to pastures,
solve most of the manure problem, and release some of our basic grain
production for human food use and export," said a local producer who toured
several of the experiments. The system also results in leaner beef, an
important product for today's consumer. Research on grazing residues,
effects of field windbreaks on winter gains, and implications of ridge till
planting are among the activities of the Integrated Farm.
Making compost to meet crop nutrient needs is one viable alternative to
spreading manure directly from the feedlot or applying slurry from the dairy
barns. A major effort to efficiently recycle nutrients back into production
fields, coupled with carefully planned crop rotations, has provided a
strategy to meet about 40% of the nitrogen needs and most of the other
nutrients required for top yields at the ARDC. "Manure has become a problem
for those of us who raise confined cattle," according to a Nebraska feedlot
manager. "This approach to compost production and application gives us
greater flexibility in time of application and helps to stabilize nutrients
for use by crops in rotation." The compost research includes several
projects that evaluate the potential for replacing chemical fertilizers,
interactions with cover crops and rotations, and long-term effect on soil
quality. These comments from visitors confirm that the Integrated Farm is a
valuable joint project of the CSAS, ARDC, and several cooperating
departments. The project is in its fifth year.
Submitted by Chuck Francis
MINIGRANTS AWARDED FOR SUSTAINABLE AG EDUCATION
For the second year, the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Training
Program (NCSATP) has awarded minigrants to support regional training
activities. These minigrants supply funds for out-of-state speakers and
special topic tours. The goals are to:
- stimulate the exchange of information and materials across states;
- test alternative learning methods;
- give educators on-farm experience with various systems;
- provide in-depth training on sustainable agriculture issues.
NCSATP has sponsored six speakers and three tours to date. For example, the
Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association invited John Ikerd, University
of Missouri, and Bob Leader, Indiana Farmers Union, to the Agricultural
Mega Conference in Lansing. Ikerd discussed moving beyond defining
sustainable agriculture to developing more environmentally sound,
economically viable, and socially responsible farming systems. Leader
described how he gets more money for his soybeans by processing the crop on
his farm. He turns out a variety of products including fish food and
specialty oils.
Also in Michigan, the Extension Service and the Michigan Integrated Food &
Farming Systems Project hosted a field day at the Guthrie farm near Delton.
Tom and Nancy Guthrie along with other agriculturists and community leaders
are developing a model stewardship plan to protect water quality and natural
resources. Speakers from Ontario and New York addressed whole farm planning,
and participants toured demonstration sites including nitrogen test plots.
The North Dakota and South Dakota task force designed two tours for
Extension educators and specialists and Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) personnel. The tours supplemented classroom training in
sustainable agriculture, strengthened the systems approach to production
agriculture, and gave educators the opportunity to listen to farmers'
philosophies and management techniques. Participants visited a no-till
research farm and an intensive rotational grazing operation using the
Holistic Resource Management model.
Back in the classroom, Dennis Johnson, University of Minnesota, detailed
various learning methods to implement grazing and livestock confinement
systems. Among the techniques discussed were the pasture walk, learning
circles, and networking. Sandy Wyman, NRCS Montana regional office, tackled
the issue of grazing riparian and other environmentally sensitive areas. The
topic elicits a wide variety of opinions regarding the best use of this
potential resource.
Evaluations of the speakers and tours as well as suggestions for future
training activities will be shared throughout the North Central region. The
funding source for the NCSATP and minigrants is the USDA SARE Program. For
more information, call Heidi Carter at 402-472-0917.
Submitted by Heidi Carter
SATELLITE PROGRAMS ON 1996 FARM BILL
Washington State University and several federal agencies are sponsoring a
satellite series on the farm bill. Two scheduled for November are: Risk Is
Not a Four-Letter Word (Nov. 1, 8:00-10:00 PT); Conservation Compliance and
EQIP (Nov. 22, 8:00-9:30 PT). They will be aired on Telestar 401, ch. 17
C-Band. Another program, Wetland Provisions, will be scheduled at a later
date. For more information contact Colette DePhelps at WSU, (509) 335-0183,
dephelps@wsu.edu.
NUMBER OF NATION'S LARGE FARMS INCREASES
The number of America's large farms =97 those with sales of $100,000 or more=
=97
grew sixfold in the past 25 years, increasing from 51,995 in 1969 to 333,865
in 1992, according to an Agricultural Brief (AB/96-1), released in early
August by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. During this same time
span, the total number of farms declined from 2.7 million in 1969 to 1.9
million in 1992.
CALL FOR PAPERS ON OGALLALA AQUIFER
The 1997 Nebraska Water Conference has issued a call for papers on the Great
Plains Symposium: The Ogallala Aquifer, to be held in Lincoln, Nebraska
March 10-12, 1997. One of the four sessions will be presentations on
regional sustainability from the management perspectives of producers,
manufacturers, food processors and government. Abstracts are due November
15. For more information contact Robert Kuzelka, (402) 472-7527,
rkuzelka@unlinfo.unl.edu.
DID YOU KNOW...
According to Giving USA 1996, environment and wildlife organizations
received an almost 13% raise in gifts from 1994 to 1995, and contributions
to education institutions experienced an 8% growth.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy for Farm Aid says there are
now two farmers over age 65 for every one farmer under 35.
The U.S. Department of Defense has committed to reduce its pesticide use by
50% by October 2000.
As a tribute to the 10-year anniversary of Iowa's Groundwater Protection
Act, the state has declared 1997 the "Year of Water."
Growing a day's food for one adult takes about 1,700 gallons of water.
RESOURCES
Agroforestry Notes. Free. New series of peer-reviewed technical papers
written for non-researchers. Topics fall into four categories: agroforestry
principles; conservation agroforestry; production agroforestry; and special
applications of agroforestry technologies. Issued periodically throughout
the year. National Agroforestry Center, East Campus-UNL, Lincoln, NE=
68583-0822.