ABOUT THE CENTER
The Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems was formed within the
Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln early 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. The overall goal of the Center is to enhance the
capability of the University of Nebraska to design and evaluate
sustainable production systems, and to incorporate this focus into
current and future research, teaching, extension and international
activities. Evaluation of systems will focus on their capacity to
improve productivity and resource use efficiency, reduce environmental
degradation, and promote short- and long-term economic viability.
The Center uses a systems approach to address the complex and
multidimensional challenges associated with a sustainable and profitable
agriculture. Examples of current challenges include: soil erosion;
decline in water quality; increasing costs and finite supplies of fossil
fuel based inputs; reduced commodity prices; decline of rural
communities; increasing consumer concern about food safety and
nutrition; increasing state and federal legislation restricting chemical
use and other environment-degrading practices. Center operations are
supported by state funds, while project activity is primarily supported
by grants.
Dr. Charles Francis, Professor of Agronomy, has a partial appointment
as director of the Center. Support personnel include an administrative
coordinator and a secretary/accountant. In addition, a team of six
faculty from different departments meet monthly with the director and
administrative coordinator for planning purposes.
The bimonthly newsletter was initially designed for internal distribution
to IANR faculty. Beginning with the March-April 1993 issue, the
newsletter was expanded in scope and distribution, and is now mailed
to numerous organizations across the U.S. and is available
electronically.
* * *
July-August 1993 CSAS Newsletter
Contents:
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AG ADVISORY COUNCIL VISITS
NEBRASKA
PROPOSED NORTH CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR AGROECOLOGY
CALL FOR LISA/ACE PREPROPOSALS
REPORT CALLS FOR ACTION ON PESTICIDES
MIDWEST FLOODING INCREASES SOIL EROSION
STATUS OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
NEW AGENCY FORMED IN INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
EARTHBOUND PROJECT AT STATE FAIR
REFERENCES
COMING EVENTS
DID YOU KNOW?
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
In June President Clinton announced formation of the 25-member
Council on Sustainable Development, with representatives from
industry and government (including Cabinet members), as well as
environmental, labor, and civil rights organizations to develop bold new
approaches to integrate economic and environmental policies. The
Council's primary goals are to: develop specific policy
recommendations for a national strategy for sustainable development;
respond to the recommendations in Agenda 21, the comprehensive
international policy declaration nations of the world agreed to at the
Earth Summit as a pledge to global environmental action; sponsor
demonstration projects that test the viability of the Council's
recommendations and that encourage comprehensive approaches;
establish links with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
within and outside the U.S.; recognize outstanding sustainable
development achievements through an annual Presidential award; and,
educate the public about sustainable development. The Council will
develop strategies in sustainable agriculture and land use, efficient
energy and transportation systems, environmental justice, eco-efficient
manufacturing, environmental education and setting environmental
priorities.
According to a report submitted by Isaac Kaufman, Intern with the
World Sustainable Agriculture Association (WSAA), sustainable
agriculture got very little attention at the Council's first meeting July
20. Around lunchtime John Sawhill, President of The Nature
Conservancy, pointed out that agriculture is an explicit sector to be
addressed in the process toward a sustainable economy; Council co-
chair Jonathan Lash, President of World Resources Institute, agreed.
Later in the day discussion revolved around working toward
sustainability through incentives and disincentives. The presence of
business and industry was strongly felt in this regard. Again,
sustainable agriculture was not specifically mentioned, but the relevance
is obvious: an overhaul of the methods by which tax incentives (in the
case of agriculture--farm subsidies) are given and taken away is a vital
element in creating a sustainable economy. When the floor was opened
to the 150-member audience, Linda Elswick, Associate Director of the
WSAA Washington office, asked for cooperation between the Council
and NGOs, and offered the support of WSAA. The Council's next
meeting is scheduled for October 18.
Following the July 20 meeting an ad hoc group was formed to monitor
the Council's activities and promote a sustainable agriculture agenda.
The group is recommending that Secretary Espy be asked to create a
new position, the Assistant to the Secretary for Sustainable
Development. The position would coordinate all USDA activities
related to sustainable development, serve as Executive Director of the
National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council, function as a focal
point for USDA responses to Agenda 21, and be detailed to the
President's Council on Sustainable Development. Last year the
General Accounting Office identified USDA's coordination and
management problems related to sustainable agriculture, and this
recommendation is designed to resolve these problems. The group
encourages those interested to write a letter supporting this position to
Secretary Espy. For more information, contact Linda Elswick, (202)
347-0637, email: wsaadc@cdp.apc.org.
NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AG ADVISORY COUNCIL VISITS
NEBRASKA
The first meeting of the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory
Council (NSAAC) was held in Omaha, Nebraska June 9-11. On June
10 a bus tour took the group to the Rosmann farm in Iowa, and then on
to the Ag Research and Development Center near Mead, Nebraska.
Here they learned about the research being conducted as part of the
overall Integrated Farm project (see May-June newsletter article on
Integrated Farm). During the balance of the meeting elected chairman
Jim Horne of the Kerr Center signed a policy statement on sustainable
agriculture drafted by the Council, which was then submitted to
Secretary Espy. For more information about the NSAAC, contact
George Bird, Director of USDA's SARE Program, (202) 401-4640.
PROPOSED NORTH CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR AGROECOLOGY
As part of a LISA grant for developing a curriculum in sustainable
agriculture, UNL's Jim King and Chuck Francis have convened three
workshops over the past three months in Lincoln and Ames. At the
July meeting, faculty and farmers in the North Central Region
developed a proposal for a regional educational institute to focus on
agroecology and sustainable systems. The draft report is currently
being revised for consideration by funding agencies and foundations.
We propose a major in agroecology that is both classroom and
experiential, taught by a regional faculty made up of academics,
farmers, and agribusiness specialists. Students will come together on
one campus for class work, and spend substantial time on farms or in
industry as part of the educational plan. At least one course or seminar
in agroecosystems will be included each semester. There are summer
internships that will intensify experience with on-farm research, crop
scouting, and other ag related learning. The program will conclude
with a senior thesis or other comparable project.
Additional options within this institute are a major or minor in
sustainable systems at each of the 12 universities, access to the summer
intern program, and availability of individual courses through satellite.
Kellogg Foundation and Northwest Area Foundation have provided
additional funding for planning. If you wish to become involved or
simply learn more about the proposed institute, contact our office.
Submitted by Charles Francis
CALL FOR LISA/ACE PREPROPOSALS
September 10 is the deadline for preproposals for LISA and ACE
grants. Level of funding for the North Central Region is expected to
be similar to last year's $1,000,000 for LISA and $350,000 for ACE
projects. To receive an application packet which contains priority areas
for this year, contact Steven Waller, 207 Ag Hall, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0701, (402) 472-7081. If you
are interested in working with our Center on a preproposal for an
interdisciplinary LISA/ACE project, contact our office.
REPORT CALLS FOR ACTION ON PESTICIDES
Editor's Note: One of agriculture's largest challenges is how to deal
with emerging public concern about pesticides: substituting other
inputs? educating about relative risk? learning more about health
hazards? fine-tuning critical contaminant levels? This is a central issue
in sustainable agriculture today. The following is an excerpt of an
article filed by the Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
(PANUPS), a pesticide-related news service posted weekly by the
Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center (PANNA
RC), 116 New Montgomery Street, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105,
(415) 541-9140.
* * *
A report released on June 21 by the Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) (see References) highlights serious problems with pesticide use
in the U.S., and calls for an overhaul of federal regulations and support
for pesticide use reduction and sustainable agriculture as solutions. In
conjunction with the report release, a broad coalition of groups
endorsed a "Pesticide Reform Agenda" to change the way pesticides are
used and regulated in the United States. Findings of NRDC's report,
After Silent Spring: The Unsolved Problems of Pesticide Use in the
United States, include:
-- Since 1964, conventional pesticide use in the U.S. has almost
doubled; total pesticide use now exceeds two billion pounds -- eight
pounds for person in the U.S.
-- Of 107 pesticides known to cause cancer, 83 are still in use in the
U.S., 71 of them on U.S. food crops.
-- One of every ten public water supply wells in the U.S. contains
residues of at least one pesticide, and over 440,000 rural private wells
contain pesticides.
-- In the past 30 years, the number of insect and mite species resistant
to pesticides has increased from 137 to 447.
The report provides a detailed critique of federal pesticide regulations,
including case studies of 10 hazardous pesticides. NRDC argues that
there is vast potential to reduce pesticide use, citing impressive
examples from the U.S. and other countries. A study published by
NRDC in 1991 found that "pesticide use could be reduced in nine
major U.S. crops by 25 to 80 percent using currently available
practices including Integrated Pest Management (IPM), biological
control, and crop rotations." The final chapter of the report
recommends specific federal initiatives to promote pesticide use
reduction and sustainable agriculture, including a national policy
committing the U.S. to these goals. The coalition, which includes
twelve environmental, consumer, and labor groups, makes the
following recommendations:
-- Phase out the food uses of the most dangerous pesticides over a
specific time period.
-- Adopt a uniform statutory health-based standard for all pesticides in
all foods.
-- Encourage the development and demonstration of, and transition to
alternatives to risky pesticides through targeted research.
-- Streamline and strengthen EPA's pesticide program, improve EPA's
enforcement authority for Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and protect the public and farm workers
from risky pesticides.
MIDWEST FLOODING INCREASES SOIL EROSION
Jim Jensen at Iowa State University said some fields are experiencing
erosion four times greater than the "tolerable" level. In addition, the
floods are washing farm chemical and animal wastes into streams and
rivers. While no-till farming has helped to ebb the erosion, there is
concern that farmers may use more chemicals next spring in an attempt
to replenish their soil. Kevin Coyle of American Rivers recommended
allowing flood waters to take over some farm land and compensate
farmers. Bret Hulsey of the Sierra Club recommended changing the
scope of flood insurance programs to focus on moving people and
buildings out of areas that frequently flood, saying that the best
investment for the American people is to convert these low-lying areas
to farm land, wildlife preserves or green spaces.
Primary Sources: Scott McMurray, "Midwest Deluge Thwarts Efforts
to Protect Soil," WALL STREET JOURNAL, July 20, 1993; Charles
Abbott, "Give River More Room, Conservationists Say," REUTER,
July 15, 1993.
Secondary Source: "Sustainable Agriculture News Bulletin," July 23,
1993, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Minneapolis.
STATUS OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
The following is excerpted from a USDA-Economic Research Service
report titled "Agricultural Resources Situation and Outlook Summary,"
released in May.
* * *
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), after 12 sign-up periods in
8 years, has temporarily retired from production over 36 million acres
of highly erodible and other sensitive cropland, 90 percent of the
program's goal. But the CRP's future is linked to potentially limited
Federal funding for maintaining or expanding the enrolled acreage
beyond the current contracts. As the initial 10-year CRP contracts
begin expiring in late 1995, farmers can bring that land back into
production.
Under the conservation compliance provisions of the 1985 farm bill,
approved conservation plans have been fully applied on about 86
million acres of highly erodible cropland (HEL), 58 percent of the total
HEL determinations to date. Another 55 million HEL acres have Soil
Conservation Service-approved plans that are in the process of
implementation and certification. However, farmers have not requested
or accepted conservation plans on 7 million HEL acres, making these
farmers ineligible for USDA program benefits. Farmers who do not
fully implement an approved plan by January 1, 1995, will lose
eligibility for USDA program benefits. So far over 1,500 farms have
been found in violation of either the sodbuster or swampbuster
provisions and have been denied benefits exceeding $11 million.
Crop residue management (CRM) is the conservation practice called for
on 75 percent of the planned HEL acres. Conservation tillage, a form
of CRM, was practiced on 89 million acres in 1992 and could exceed
100 million acres in 1993. No-till, the most rapidly growing
conservation tillage practice, was used on 28 million acres in 1992 and
could reach 37 million in 1993.
The Wetlands Reserve Program has been implemented on a pilot basis
in nine states. Farmers' bids to enter land into the program were five
times the 50,000 acres accepted, indicating strong producer interest.
The President's budget for fiscal year 1994 includes funding for
450,000 acres, with another 500,000 acres proposed for fiscal 1995.
Other recent USDA programs are targeting water quality and food
safety concerns. The Water Quality Incentive Projects now number
106 nationwide and the Integrated Farm Management Program has an
enrollment totaling nearly 100,000 acres in 32 States. Also, a program
begun in 1990, USDA's Water Quality Initiative, has promoted the
adoption of improved practices at the farm level in over 200 locations
nationwide. The program is also developing or evaluating production
systems for improving water quality and gathering new data on
pesticide and fertilizer use. Beginning May 10, 1993, applicators of
restricted-use pesticides must maintain pesticide product records by
field.
NEW AGENCY FORMED IN INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
The National Biological Survey, created by Secretary Bruce Babbitt, is
an independent bureau within the Department of the Interior that will
coordinate long-term analyses and inventories of the nation's biological
resources. The bureau will start operating on October 1, 1993, with
about $180 million in funding and a staff of 1,600 scientists and
support personnel. President Clinton has said the biological survey
would "help us protect endangered species, and just as importantly . . .
help the agricultural and biotechnical industries of our country identify
new sources of food, fiber and medication." However, the formation
of the agency has met with some criticism from organizations
concerned about the potential for weakening or severing the links
between research scientists and resource managers, and disrupting
relationships with state offices and universities.
EARTHBOUND PROJECT AT STATE FAIR
A new celebration of Nebraska's quality of natural resources~water,
land, air and living wildlife resources~will be a highlight of this year's
Nebraska State Fair which begins Labor Day Weekend. "Earthbound"
ties together agriculture, energy and the environment. Nebraska
Governor Ben Nelson said "Earthbound will give Nebraskans in
agriculture and other businesses an opportunity to showcase their efforts
to protect and preserve the bountiful resources we all enjoy."
The event is a joint project between the Nebraska State Fair, Keep
Nebraska Beautiful, University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, and the State Departments of Agriculture,
Economic Development, Energy and Environmental Quality.
Commercial and nonprofit organizations plan exhibits demonstrating
environmentally friendly products and practices. Fair-goers will see
new products made from Nebraska commodities, such as packing
peanuts made from 95% corn starch that dissolve in water, and
"hydrosorb," a corn starch-based powder that gels when mixed with a
liquid, making it a potential solution to cleaning up chemical spills and
other threats to our groundwater. The event includes a stage featuring
entertainment and educational programs, an energy park complete with
benches and flower pots made from recycled plastic, and a display of
alternative fuel vehicles.
Source: Nebraska Development News, May 1993, Nebraska Dept. of
Econ. Dev.
REFERENCES
Two New Sustainable Systems Papers -- The first two submissions to
our new Sustainable Systems Paper Series are now available: (1) "An
Integrated Crop/Livestock Farm for Eastern Nebraska" by Gary
Lesoing and Terry Klopfenstein; (2) "Impact of Sustainable Agriculture
Programs on U.S. Land Grant Universities" by Francis et al. Copies
of these and the sustainable ag book list (see below) will be sent to
those maintaining the Sustainable Ag Resource Notebooks previously
distributed to Extension and other interested personnel at UNL. Others
may contact our office to receive copies of the papers or book list.
Sustainable Ag Book List -- List of 75 book titles/authors purchased
over the past year by our Center for inclusion in the university library
system. While by no means exhaustive, this is a good starter list for
those wishing to add library resources.
SARE Reports Available -- This year's Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) reports summarizing regional projects
are now available. Contact George Bird at the national SARE Program
office in D.C. (202) 401-4640, or your regional office: North Central
(402) 472-2973, Northeast (802) 656-2530, Western (510) 987-0029,
Southern (504) 388-1766.
Vernon Ruttan Paper -- We recently became aware of an excellent
paper by Vernon Ruttan of the University of Minnesota titled
"Sustainable Growth in Agricultural Production: Into the 21st Century."
The paper, which was prepared for the USDA Outlook Conference last
December, discusses biological and technical constraints on crop and
animal production, resource and environmental constrains on
sustainable growth, and health constraints on agricultural development.
Contact our office for a copy.
USDA-ERS Report -- The June 28 Situation & Outlook Summary
report, "Industrial Uses of Agricultural Materials," says recent
scientific advances are reducing the costs of producing and processing
renewable resources into industrial products, making agriculturally
based products more competitive. The scientific gains, along with
federal and state environmental regulations, and growing consumer
preference for "green" products, are increasing the industrial demand
for agricultural materials. Some analysts expect that over the next
three years the amount of plant matter used in industrial materials,
excluding paper and natural rubber, could increase by over five million
tons, almost double that of 1990. For a copy of the full report which
discusses everything from ethanol for fuel to kenaf for packing
materials, contact the ERS, (202) 720-5505.
New Organic Book -- Increasing Organic Agriculture at the Local
Level: A Manual for Consumers, Grocers, Farmers & Policy Makers,
by Maren Hansen and others with the Santa Barbara County Safe Food
Project, addresses issues pertinent to every sector of society involved in
food production and sales. A well-documented chapter on pesticides
provides a compelling argument for organic agriculture and a chapter
on consumer education outlines how community activists can get the
message out. Available for $16 (plus 7.75% tax for CA orders) and $2
s&h from the Gildea Resource Center, 930 Miramonte Drive, Santa
Barbara, CA 93109, (805) 963-0583.
Pesticide Pubs -- (1) "After Silent Spring: The Unsolved Problems of
Pesticide Use in the United States," $7.50 + $1.45 s&h, from Natural
Resources Defense Council, 71 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA
94105, (415) 777-0220 (see highlights elsewhere in this newsletter); (2)
Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children, $47.95 + $4 s&h, from
National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., NW, Box 285,
Washington, DC 20055, 1-800-624-6242; (3) "Pesticides in Children's
Food," $15 + $3 s&h, from Environmental Working Group, 1718
Connecticut Ave., NW, #600, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 667-
6982.
Recommended -- Two publications have recently been brought to our
attention by faculty: (1) Natural Enemies of Vegetable Insect Pests by
Michael Hoffmann and Anne Frodsham, Cornell Cooperative
Extension, $22.50, order from Resource Center, 7
Business/Technology Park, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14850, (607) 255-
2080; (2) Intensive Grazing Management: Forage, Animals, Men,
Profits by Smith, Leung and Love, $29.95 + $1.50 s&h from
Kingsberry Communications, Box 1988, Woodinville, WA 98072.
COMING EVENTS
Contact our office for more information:
Aug. 20 -- Amaranth Opportunities Meeting, Iowa State U., Ames.
Sep. 30-Oct. 1 -- Applied Research and Education in Sustainable
Agriculture: What Have We Learned? An interdisciplinary workshop
for scientists and educators who work with sus. ag. practices and
practitioners, Indianapolis.
Sep. 9 -- Thompson On-Farm Research Field Day, Boone, Iowa.
Oct. 12-16 -- 13th annual Association for Farming Systems
Research/Extension Symposium, Gainesville.
Oct. 15 -- 1993 World Food Day teleconference, "Seeds of Conflict:
Biodiversity and Food Security."
DID YOU KNOW?
The new University of Nebraska's Ag Research and Development
Center headquarters building will be constructed of mostly renewable
resources, recycled products and materials sensitive to the environment.
A recent study by Public Voice for Food and Health Policy determined
that the volume of pesticides used in agricultural production in the U.S.
rose 125% from 1986 to 1991.
A study by the Center for Resource Economics says the EPA has
evaluated less than 1% of 19,000 pesticides in two decades.
Sales of organic produce have quadrupled over the past decade and
organic suppliers hold a 3% share of the national produce market.
A survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin's Rural
Development Institute identifies three major forces that will shape
agriculture: environmental concerns, vertical integration of farms, and
movement of political clout from agricultural interests to urban
consumers.
Pennsylvania's governor recently signed legislation requiring many of
the state's farmers to develop nutrient management plans.
An FAO study estimates that due to deforestation, overgrazing and
other destructive farming practices, an area the size of Alaska may lose
most of its agricultural value in 20 years.
Germany and Denmark recently implemented aid schemes where
farmers are compensated for the income they lose while switching over
to chemical-free production.
Mikhail Gorbachev now heads the newly-created Green Cross, which is
the environmental version of the Red Cross headquartered in The
Hague, Netherlands.
I'm now available on PENpages and the SAN electronic meeting group
on Internet!