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2009 ANNUAL REPORT

NATIONAL PROGRAM - 216

AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY

As the world’s population continues to grow, water resources become scarce, and energy use 

climbs, even greater demands will be placed on agricultural producers to provide dependable 

supplies of products for consumers from a shrinking earth resource base. American farms

generate more than $200 billion in goods and services on 442 million acres. Profitable farms are 

the basis of vibrant rural economies. Consumers benefit from agricultural production that 

provides an abundant choice of safe products at relatively low costs. However, many farms have 

suffered from commodity prices that have, until recently, remained relatively unchanged for 

decades, while the costs of fuel and other purchased inputs continue to rise. In addition, much of 

agricultural production happens in a global market, so there is increasing competition from 

overseas where production costs are comparatively low. Also, continued advancement of 

conservation goals is needed to enhance the natural resource base upon which the nation not only 

depends for food, feed, fiber, and renewable energy, but also for abundant and high quality 

supplies of fresh water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems. The challenges producers face 

regarding productivity, profitability, and natural resource stewardship across the country are 

complex, so solutions to these challenges are equally complex.

The USDA-ARS projects contributing to the Agricultural System Competitiveness and 

Sustainability National Program (NP 216) use an interdisciplinary systems research approach to 

bring together the diverse expertise needed to understand how different kinds and sizes of farms 

function, and how changing or introducing new technology will affect their economic and 

environmental sustainability. Whether the ARS scientist teams and their university and industry 

cooperators are in the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Midwest, Southeast, or New 

England, they use their collective talents to find the best place-specific combinations of practices 

to help producers achieve their production goals. 

The Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability National Program contributes to 

USDA-ARS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Enhance the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Rural and 

Farm Economies, Objective 2.1: Expand domestic market opportunities, and Objective 2.2: 

Increase the efficiency of domestic agricultural production and marketing systems; and Strategic 

Plan Goal 6: Protect and Enhance the Nation’s Natural Resource Base and Environment.

Agronomic Crop Production Systems

The Agronomic Crop Production Systems component addresses challenges in agricultural 

systems dominated by the commodities including corn, soybean, cotton, peanut, cereal grains, 

and turf and herbage seed crops. The value of U.S. crop output in 2002 was 2.6 times higher than 

in 1948, while the inputs required to achieve this output have declined. However, the 

profitability of many farms producing major commodity crops is declining because of escalating 

costs of energy, fertilizers, and other purchased inputs. Loss of crop rotation diversity in 

production systems has also resulted in emerging problems with herbicide resistant weeds, 

particularly in the southeastern region. Research is needed to develop production strategies and 

technologies that increase productivity and reduce production costs and the risk of economic 

loss, all while maintaining or even enhancing natural resource quality.
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In addition, the United States has embarked on an ambitious program to replace a significant 

portion of petroleum-based transportation fuels with bio-based fuels from agricultural sources. 

Producers, government agencies, energy companies, and policy makers need to know how best 

to produce biomass and dedicated energy crops in different agricultural regions of the country,

and what the likely impacts would be of an expanding bio-economy on whole-farm economic 

return and natural resource quality. A new generation of production systems and technologies is 

needed to sustainably produce feedstocks to support emerging bioeconomies in ways that do not 

disrupt the integrity of existing farms and markets or degrade the quality of natural resources.

Selected Accomplishments

Conservation tillage in peanut and cotton systems and optimal peanut varieties for 

biodiesel production. ARS scientists showed that the use of conservation tillage in 

peanut/cotton rotation systems, while having no adverse impacts on crop yield or quality, 

resulted in lower production costs, lower emissions, and water savings of 20% versus 

conventional tillage. Peanut oil could be an excellent feedstock for biodiesel production, but no 

data currently exist about which cultivars might be best suited for this market. ARS scientists 

evaluated the economic and agronomic performance (under both low and high input management 

strategies) and biodiesel engine performance of over 40 different cultivars. Five peanut cultivars 

exhibited both superior production performance and oil characteristics, and would help to enable 

on-farm biodiesel production. (216-1A and 1B & 307-2B; PM 2.2.1 & 2.1.1) 

Benefits of conservation practices for producers in the Upper Midwest. ARS scientists 

showed that the use of conservation practices such as multi-crop rotations (four year cornsoybean-wheat/alfalfa-alfalfa), reduced tillage, and reduced inputs (no pesticides in organic 

systems) in the upper Midwest improved soil fertility (including nitrogen availability and carbon 

content), corn mineral nutrient composition, and in many cases overall yields. This research 

should enable greater use of conservation practices by upper Midwest farmers. Doing so would 

increase the economic sustainability of their farming systems and result in significant 

environmental benefits. (216-4A and 4D; PM 2.2.1) 

Increasing productivity of potato systems. Potato yield in the Northeast has remained stagnant 

for over 50 years, despite increased inputs of pesticides, nutrients, and water. Additionally, 

numerous soil-borne diseases are a persistent problem in potato production. ARS research 

showed that when soil quality was improved by increasing organic matter, potato plants 

developed more leaf area with greater and longer lasting photosynthetic potential, thereby 

increasing yield by as much as 50%. Several rotation crops with the potential to reduce soilborne diseases when managed as full season, green manure, or fall cover crops were evaluated. 

Canola and rapeseed rotations reduced certain soil-borne diseases by 30-80% through a 

combination of effects, to include decreased disease incidence and severity of symptoms. This 

provides growers with new technology and specific rotation guidance that makes them more 

competitive in the global economy. (216- 2A/ 216- 1B/ 216-2B/ 216- 4A; PM 2.2.1)
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Specialty Crop and Organic Production Systems

The Specialty Crop and Organic Production Systems component is focused on solving problems 

related to the production of high-value specialty crop and value-added organic agricultural 

products. The value of U.S. specialty crops is greater than the combined value of corn, soybean, 

wheat, cotton, and rice crops. At the same time, organic production now captures more than 3% 

of the U.S. food market, and is growing at a rate of 10% annually. The production of high-value 

specialty and organic crops often requires cost-intensive practices to achieve profitable 

production levels for products that must be of sufficient quality to meet high market and 

consumer preference standards. Producers wishing to produce high-value specialty and organic 

crops may face significant barriers to the development and marketing of new products grown in 

their region. Alternative management strategies are needed that utilize an understanding of the 

agro-ecological and biophysical processes innate to plants, soils, invertebrates, and microbes that 

naturally regulate pest problems and soil fertility, to reduce or replace reliance on the use of 

synthetic pesticide and fertilizer production inputs. Also, an understanding of marketing supply 

chains from field-to-table must be considered and integrated with production, handling, and 

processing information to increase the portion of product value received by producers. 

Selected Accomplishments

Organic cropping systems mitigate global climate change. Agriculture can contribute to or 

mitigate global climate change. Researchers at ARS in Beltsville, Maryland estimated the global 

warming potential of no-till, chisel till and organic cropping systems at the long-term Beltsville 

Farming Systems Project. Organic cropping systems resulted in greater increases in soil carbon

and lower energy use compared to conventional no-tillage and chisel-tillage crop management 

systems. Despite relatively low crop yields in organic systems, the ratio of global warming 

potential per unit of crop yield was also significantly higher in conventional no-tillage and 

chisel-tillage than in organic systems. Practices common in organic systems, including 

incorporating legume cover crops and animal manures into soil, can help reduce global climate 

change compared to conventional systems, primarily by increasing the amount of carbon in the 

soil. These results will benefit policy makers, farmers, and others interested in reducing the 

impact of agriculture on global climate change. (216-4D; PM 2.2.1) 

Novel cover crop mixtures of legumes and cereals enhance sustainability. Cover crop 

mixtures of legumes and cereals combine the nutrient scavenging abilities of cereals with the 

nitrogen fixing ability of the legumes. Such mixes can reduce losses of nitrogen to ground and 

surface water, and reduce the need for expensive supplemental nitrogen fertilizers. Novel

mixtures of legumes and cereal were evaluated by ARS scientists for biomass production, 

nitrogen content and weed suppression in on-farm trials in Salinas and Hollister, California over 

several years. Mixtures of 90 percent legumes (faba beans or peas) and 10 percent cereals (rye 

or oats) were evaluated. This research provides farmers with critical information that will help 

them choose more cost effective cover crop mixtures, and improve weed and soil fertility 

management in vegetable rotations. (202 -1A/ 202-1B; PM 6.1.2) 

White mustard seed meal suppresses weeds in organic onions. Weeds are the primary 

limitation and expense ($800-$6,000/acre) to organic onion production. ARS scientists at 
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Prosser, WA found that mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal, applied at 1 to 2 tons/acre after the 2 

leaf stage of onion growth, controlled annual weeds without significant injury to onions. Mustard 

seed containing high levels of sinalbin suppressed weeds much better than seed meal derived 

from seed lines bred for low glucosinolate levels. Mustard seed meal may be useful to producers 

of organic crops for weed suppression, while helping to reduce the excessive costs of hand 

weeding, which can range from $800 to $6,000 per acre. (304-2B; PM 2.2.3)

Blueberry production improved with effective irrigation management. Blueberry is 

sensitive to drought so supplemental irrigation is essential and can improve yields by 25 to 40 

percent. Although blueberry is the most widely distributed crop in the U.S., over 40% of 

lowbush blueberries produced in North America are grown in Maine, an area in which water 

resources are critical to salmon. In order to determine the proper amount of irrigation needed to 

boost yield and yet conserve water resources, ARS scientists combined meteorological data with 

several years of field measurements to calculate crop coefficients for irrigated blueberry. Crop 

coefficients allow water use of blueberries to be compared to other reference crops. These data

allow growers to specifically determine crop water use for blueberries from readily available 

weather data, and substantially increase their ability to improve water use efficiency for irrigated 

blueberry production. 216 2 A 2008/ 216 2 B 2008/ 216 4 A 2008

Integrated Whole Farm Production Systems

The Action Plan component Integrated Whole Farm Production Systems addresses problems 

associated with the integration of specialized crop and livestock enterprises, as well as 

diversified agroforestry systems. Agricultural producers face increasing pressures to become 

more efficient because of increasing energy and nutrient input costs. Increased profitability has 

been achieved by some producers through specialized production and acreage consolidation into 

large farm units. Integrating crop and livestock production elements is an alternative strategy that 

reduces risks of economic loss, diversifies income, and enhances environmental benefits. 

Selected Accomplishments

Incorporating perennials in corn-soybean cropping systems. Combining annual and perennial 

crop species in rotational cropping systems – termed “living mulch” cropping systems – could 

enable the production of both food and bioenergy on the same land and thereby minimize the 

displacement of food crops by cellulosic energy crop production. Concurrent management of 

food/feed crops such as corn or soybeans with perennial crops (forages) requires that forages be 

suppressed during row-crop production. ARS scientists investigated combinations of reed 

canarygrass or orchardgrass with leguminous forages such as alfalfa, kura clover, and birdsfoot 

trefoil, in a corn-soybean-forage rotation. The cover crops were managed by harvesting four 

times during the forage year and by suppressing with a 10 inch glyphosate band over the row 

during the corn and soybean years. They found that a combination of alfalfa, kura clover, and 

reed canarygrass resulted in the highest forage yields and lowest weed densities. They also found 

that seeding an unadapted alfalfa in the spring of the forage year supplemented yield and 

suppressed weeds in the former crop row. As a result, producers can produce both food and 
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bioenergy crops on the same land, diversify their cropping systems, obtain high yields of forages 

for livestock or bioenergy, eliminate the lower yields usually encountered in the first

(establishment) year for perennials, and improve ecosystem function of corn production systems. 

(216-1A & 307- 2B; PM 2.2.1 & 2.1.1) 

Integrated dryland production systems enhance long-term production. Diversified, 

intensified cropping systems are replacing wheat-summer fallow systems in the Northern Great 

Plains. The inclusion of annual cool-season forages in diversified cropping systems decreases 

pesticide use and increases the productivity of pea and spring wheat. Spring wheat grown every 

third or fourth year in diversified cropping systems has been shown to have higher yields and 

quality, and fewer weeds and weed seed production compared to spring wheat grown 

continuously or planted every other year. Field pea grown every third or fourth year in 

diversified systems has higher yields and fewer weeds compared to pea grown every other year. 

Field pea produced in alternate year rotations has improved yield compared to field pea 

following broadleaf crops in stacked rotations. This research provides options for producers to 

more intensively manage their production systems with less dependence on pesticides and 

greater yield and economical productivity. (216 -1A; PM 2.2.1)

Water-stressed sugarcane promotes Mexican rice borer reproduction. The Mexican rice 

borer has been spreading northward from Mexico and Texas, and invasion of Louisiana 

sugarcane and rice has begun. ARS researchers at Weslaco TX have shown that the rice borer 

prefers laying eggs on drought-stressed sugarcane plants over well-watered sugarcane. 

Preference was linked to increased numbers of dry leaves, where eggs are mostly laid, and to 

enhanced nutritional status of the plant based on accumulations of free amino acids essential to 

insect growth and development. A study of the important characteristics of sugarcane leaves that 

cue Mexican rice borers toward drought-stressed plants led to the development of a technique of 

mulching with dry sugarcane leaves to trap Mexican rice borer eggs and neonates. Droughttolerant varieties may also have potential for suppressing the pest. Better understanding of the 

relationship of the Mexican rice borer and water-stressed sugarcane plants is important to 

controlling this pest. (216-2A; PM 2.2.1) 

Integrated Technology and Information Systems

The Integrated Technology and Information Systems component focuses on research to develop 

and apply technologies that can be used to understand and increase production system economic 

and environmental sustainability. ARS customers want not only the latest information and best 

technology that research can provide; they also want to know how these innovations can best be 

incorporated into their unique operations. Also, it is important to know whether the use of new 

technology will increase farmer ability to compete in the marketplace or to deliver their services. 

Understanding the system level impacts of implementing new technologies will help increase 

adoption and reduce uncertainty and risk. Recognizing that users are the ultimate system 

integrators, customer participation in the entire research process becomes a necessity for the 

successful transfer and adoption of emerging technologies. 
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Selected Accomplishments

Corn-soybean tillage economics. While no-till and minimum tillage systems could provide 

environmental benefits, use of these practices for corn and soybean production in the northern 

Corn Belt has been limited because farmers believe they are less profitable than conventional 

tillage practices. In a 7-year field study in Morris, MN, ARS scientists compared the economics 

of eight different tillage practices. Switching from moldboard plow tillage to a minimum tillage 

fall residue management system increased average net returns by as much as $37/acre. 

Furthermore, all but one of the minimum tillage and no-till systems evaluated were less risky 

than the two conventional tillage systems commonly used. This research could enable greater 

adoption of minimum tillage and no-till systems in the northern Corn Belt. (NP 216-1A; PM 

2.2.1) 

Economic modeling tool for farmers. Often, the most expensive resource for an agricultural 

enterprise is the land. Allocating this valuable resource between different uses (enterprises) has

substantial impacts on both profitability and sustainability, and finding the optimal allocation 

scenario can be difficult. ARS scientists developed a computerized model – the Land Allocation 

Model (LAM) – for producers to evaluate how land allocation decisions, environmental factors 

(such as residue quantity and quality, rainfall variability, number of operations, energy 

requirements, and degree of industrialization), economic factors (e.g., price coefficient of 

variation), and producer preferences impact net return per acre. The LAM tool utilizes 

information that is easily available to producers, and it allows producers to optimize land 

allocation between their enterprises for optimal profitability and sustainability. (NP 216, 

Component 3A)

Social and political factors influence agricultural systems. If agriculture is to be sustainable, it 

is critical to understand how it is affected by social and political factors. A panel of experts was 

surveyed to identify the most important social and political influences on U.S. agriculture. 

Although the panelists often had contrasting views about the importance of some factors, there 

was strong agreement that globalization and low margins requiring increased scale and efficiency

were the two most important factors affecting agriculture. This research provides agricultural 

scientists with a better understanding of the social and political effects on agriculture resulting in 

the development of agricultural systems more likely to be accepted and used by farmers. This 

research also provides information needed by social scientists and policy makers to develop

policies that lead to more sustainable agricultural systems. (NP216, Component 1A 2008)