Alternative Agriculture

More and more farmers are adopting a diverse range of alternative practices designed to reduce dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics; cut costs; increase profits; and reduce the adverse environmental consequences of agricultural production.Alternative Agriculture describes the increased use of these new practices and other changes in agriculture since World War II, and examines the role of federal policy in encouraging this evolution, as well as factors that are causing farmers to look for profitable, environmentally safe alternatives. Eleven case studies explore how alternative farming methods have been adopted—and with what economic results—on farms of various sizes from California to Pennsylvania.Table of ContentsFront MatterPart OneExecutive Summary1 Agriculture and the Economy2 Problems in U.S. Agriculture3 Research and Science4 Economic Evaluation of Alternative Farming SystemsPart TwoThe Case Studies1 Crop and Livestock Farming in Ohio: The Spray Brothers2 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Southwest Iowa: The BreDahl Farm3 A Diversified Crop and Livestock Farm in Virginia: The Sabot Hill Farm4 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Pennsylvania: The Kutztown Farm5 Crop-Livestock Farming in Iowa: The Thompson Farm6 Tree Fruits, Walnuts, and Vegetables in California: The Ferrari Farm7 Florida Fresh-Market Vegetable Production: Integrated Pest Management8 Fresh Grapes in California and Arizona: Stephen Pavich & Sons9 Integrated Pest Management in Processing Tomatoes in California: The Kitamura Farm10 Livestock Farming in Colorado: Coleman Natural Beef11 Rice Production in California: The Lundberg Family FarmsGlossaryIndex