Dear SA-netters and prospective Division A-8 programmers:
As you may be aware the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) recently
sanctioned the formation of a new "systems" Division. The title for the new
Division is "Integrated Agricultural Systems." Please spread the word. This
is a good opportunity to not only highlight systems efforts around the globe,
but also to inject some good sustainable agriculture programming within a
scientific/professional organization.
A copy of our "working" Mission Statement, Outline of Accomplishements,
and tentative program plans for the ASA annual meetings in Seattle (Nov. 13-
18) are attached for your information and perusal. In addition to bringing
these items to your attention, I am writing to solicit your involvement in
Division A-8 programming. If you have an interest in this area, please drop
me a line or call and let me know if you would be willing to participate in any
of the sessions, or if you have any ideas/suggestions for additional session
topics. Also, I am completely open to input on the Mission Statement.
Feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions. Best Wishes!
Steve Oberle, Chair ASA Division A-8
USDA-Extension Service
214 National Soil Tilth Lab
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: 515/294-2421
Fax: 515/294-8125
Internet: x1oberle@exnet.iastate.edu
____________________________________________________________
ASA Division A-8
Integrated Agricultural Systems
Mission Statement
Background 16 February 1994
Following the recommendation of the Study Committee on Practicing
Professionals (A201.6), in its meeting of 15 October 1989, the ASA Board of
Directors took action to approve establishment of Division A-8 for practicing
professional agronomists. The Division name adopted by members following
this Board action is Soil and Plant Science Applications. The A201.6
committee was appointed as one of a series of steps to attract and service those
agronomists who provide goods and services for the agricultural sector of the
work force. A survey directed at practicing professionals was developed and
conducted by the A201.6 committee in 1989. Results from this survey
indicated that the Society services most desired include opportunities for
increased networking, access to data bases, computerized lists of professionals
and a means for keeping abreast of research results and technology
development. The expressed desire of the majority of practitioners surveyed
was for state and regional programming.
A request was submitted to the ASA Board of Directors in November 1989
to consider the formation of an Agricultural Systems Division. The ASA
Board approved the formation of a Working Group on Agricultural Systems
(A201.8) in April 1990. "Working Groups" are officially sanctioned and
supported groups organized to provide programmatic leadership in dealing with
issues that may cut across division interests. They should utilize the diverse
talent and expertise and reflect the diverse interests and perspectives of the
membership (ASA Executive Committee minutes, 15 October 1989). The
Agricultural Systems Working Group (ASWG) first met in October 1990
during the annual meetings in San Antonio. There they agreed on the need for
a systems approach to the programming in ASA, particularly in those
Divisions oriented to practicing agronomists and conservationists.
Division A-8 and the ASWG have been conducting joint programs during
the annual meetings since 1991. These sessions cover a wide range of topics
and have been conducted using a variety of formats including symposia,
posters, software demonstrations, and workshops. Division A-8 and the
ASWG have also held two joint business meetings. During the 1992 annual
meetings, the ASWG and Division A-8 co-sponsored a symposium entitled
"Farming Systems Options for U.S. Agriculture." Six presentations from this
session, together with a synthesis paper from the ASWG Chair, appear in
Journal of Production Agriculture, Vol. 7, No. 1. In its meeting of 12
November 1993, the ASA Board took action to approve merging the ASWG
into Division A-8 and to rename the Division Integrated Agricultural
Systems.
Justification
Agricultural problem solving is difficult due to the inherent complexity of
agricultural systems. Public and producer concerns over such complex,
interrelated problems as sustainable agriculture, environmental quality, food
safety, and improved rural economic well-being have led to the increased use
of systems approaches to agricultural research and problem solving in the USA
and abroad.
Farming systems research and extension (FSRE) is a farmer-based systems
approach originally used in low income countries. FSRE methods were
developed in large part to address the needs of farmers operating more
diversified farming systems in resource-poor and risk-prone environments.
Farming systems methods are compatible with traditional (reductionist)
research approaches and have evolved as a means for involving farmers and
farm families in setting research and extension priorities, and in identifying
appropriate paths to agricultural development. Specifically, FSRE views the
whole farm as a system, and focuses on inter-dependencies between system
components under the control of members of the farm household, and how
these components interact with physical, biochemical, and socioeconomic
factors not under the household's control.
Although farming systems methods have not been clearly understood or
widely used in the USA, there is a growing awareness of the potential benefits
of maintaining farmer involvement in agricultural research and problem
solving. Incorporation of farmers in research, technology development, and
extension programming is a basic tenet in ongoing efforts directed toward
participatory or on-farm research and education, systems engineering, soft
systems development, and agricultural information systems. Farming systems
approaches and other systems methods fitted to agriculture are particularly
beneficial for addressing issues of increasingly limited research and extension
resources. By incorporating farmers throughout the development process--
from problem diagnosis, through adaptation and evaluation--systems
methodologies can reduce the incidence of redundant research (re-inventing the
wheel), and the development of inappropriate agricultural technologies.
The search for more efficient and sustainable farming systems ultimately
requires a shift in both the scientific method and scale in which agricultural
research is organized and conducted. Reductionist research in the laboratory
and greenhouse, and in small scale field plots can continue to provide answers
to productivity and efficiency questions where knowledge gaps currently exist.
However, sustainable development clearly will require the expanded adoption
of holistic and integrated (systems) methods in agricultural research and
problem solving. Agricultural systems research and the contemporary science
of agroecology provide the theoretical framework for comprehending
agricultural processes in the broadest manner. Successful systems research
and engineering teams will require specialists doing component research; and
generalists who can bridge disciplinary gaps, promote effective cooperation
among specialists, and integrate component results. Meaningful and effective
solutions to increasingly complex agricultural problems, and ecological
problems resulting from agriculture, would be much simpler if we educate one
another and together work to solve these problems.
Purpose
To enable interaction among agricultural and natural resource scientists,
professionals and practitioners for the purpose of fostering collaboration and
mutual understanding in research and development of integrated agricultural
systems.
Objectives
* To develop programs that address agricultural and natural resource issues
and problems that cut across ASA-CSSA-SSSA disciplines and Divisional
interests,
* To foster collaboration among disciplines, Divisions, and stakeholders in the
Tri-Societies, and in the broader agriculture and natural science communities,
* To encourage systematic elicitation, integration, analysis, and documentation
of the information and technology requirements of agricultural practitioners
and natural resource conservationists, including farmers and those who provide
agricultural and natural resource information, services and products,
* To advance systems principles (theory), methods and applications in science
and technology development relevant to creating sustainable agroecosystems.
Division A-8 (A018) and Agricultural Systems Working Group (A201.8)
Outline of Accomplishments (1990-1994)
1990
Oral Session--Developments of Interest to Agronomic Practitioners
Oral Session--Recruiting, Advising and Training Students
Workshop--The Practitioner's Worldview: Identifying Concerns, Proposing
Change
Symposium--Planning and Conducting "Real World" Research
Symposium--Agronomic Practitioners and the Systems Approach
Oral Session--Feedback from the Field
Oral Session--Restoration of Natural Resources
Oral Session--Professional Organizations of Interest to Practitioners
Oral Session--Teaching, Learning, Development and Evaluation
1991
Symposium--Ethics in Agricultural Consulting
Software Scene--Manure, Nitrogen and Fertilizer
Symposium--Agronomy and the Systems Perspective: Lessons From Success
Oral Session--Crop Performance Testing
Oral Session--Problem Solving: Systems Perspectives
Symposium--Composting of Organic Wastes
Poster Session--Agroecosystem Options
Symposium--VA Mycorrhizae in Sustainable Agriculture
Poster Session--VA Mycorrhizal Fungi
1992
Poster Session--Sustainable Farming Systems
Symposium and Poster Session--Soil Specific Crop Management
Symposium--Farming Systems Options for U.S. Agriculture
Symposium--On-Farm Research: Methodologies, Results, and Future
Directions
Software Scene--Crop Management
Poster Session--Soil Testing and Field Nutrient Tests
Symposium--Defining and Strengthening Relationships Between Public Sector
Researchers and Practicing Agronomists
Oral Session--Crop Cultivar Performance Testing
Software Scene--Manure, Fertilizer, and Residue Management
Symposium--Strategies for Improving Stand Longevity of Forage Legumes
Field Tour--Soil and Land Use: Urban Soil Conservation and Soil Specific
Management
Oral Session--New Visions/New Perspectives in Agricultural
Meteorology/Climatology and Modeling: IV. Climate and Weather
Information and Agriculture Modeling at the Farm Level
Oral Session--Crops, Soils, and Cropping Systems
Workshop--Soil Specific Crop Management: I. General Concepts and Practical
Applications; II. Mapping and Soil Variability; III. Variable Rate
Technology--Application Equipment and Computer Demonstrations
1993
Software Scene--On-farm Testing and Use of Computer Models and other
Computer-Based Decision Aids
Oral Session--Technology Transfer
Symposium--Building Bridges Through the Certified Crop Adviser Program
Oral Session--Student/Industry/Div. A-1 Faculty Breakfast, Building Bridges
to Careers in Agronomic Industries
Symposium--Contaminated Soils
Symposium--Farming Systems Options for Sustainable Agriculture
Oral Session--Innovative Methodology - Experimental Techniques for Fate &
Transport
Symposium--New Pathways in Agricultural Education
Software Scene--Information Systems for Natural Resource Planning and
Application
1994 (tentative)
Symposium--Designing a Diverse Future Agriculture
Symposium--Integrating Alternative Strategies into Weed Management
Symposium--Sustainable Farming Systems
Symposium and Resource Fair--Integrated Farming Systems
Symposium--Research and Technology Needs: Practitioners Viewpoint
Symposium--Bridge Building Between On-farm and On-station Researchers
Symposium--Statistical Methods for On-Farm Research
Symposium--Sustainable Cropping Systems for the Great Plains
Symposium--Research Database Needs for the Information Age