bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meeting the challenges to agricultural research and extension
Authors: Sauer Richard 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe public agricultural research and extension system has provided the foundation for great improvements in U.S. agricultural production. However, our incomparable productivity has brought with it serious problems. These problems have also led to a rapidly changing perception about both agricultural scientists and today's conventional agriculture. Critics are placing high on the agenda of the agricultural research and extension establishment the need for alternative technologies that are more sustainable and less exploitative of our resources. The growing demand for alternative systems offers challenges for every part of the establishment-research and extension administrators, branch station/research center directors, and faculty. These challenges and how they should be met are discussed. Alternative systems will become the conventional agriculture of tomorrow.
Managing nitrogen for sustainable corn systems: Problems and possibilities
Authors: Magdoff Fred 
Published: October 2009

AbstractExcessive nitrogen fertilizer use in corn production has resulted in widespread nitrate pollution of ground water and economic losses for farmers. In addition, reliance on nitrogen fertilizers produced with large amounts of fossil fuels may not be economically or environmentally sustainable in the future. Although leaching of significant amounts of nitrate to the ground water is inherent in growing corn, several techniques are available for more environmentally and agronomically sound management. The following management practices are discussed in this article: sidedress as the main method of N fertilizer application; the pre-sidedress (Magdoff) nitrate soil test; farm-based nitrogen sources (manures, green manures, and rotations with sod crops); cover crops for lowering profile nitrate during the most likely period for leaching; and the end of season stalk nitrate test.
The growing importance of food safety to Japanese consumers and its implications for United States farmers
Authors: Jussaume Raymond A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractConsumer cooperatives in Japan, which is by far the United States' largest overseas market for agricultural commodities, expanded rapidly in the 1980s. Their recent success, according to Japanese reports, has been due to their responsiveness to increasing consumer demand for foods produced with minimal use of petrochemical inputs. I present data that confirm this claim by showing that the high level of concern that Japanese consumer cooperative members have about food safety is the main reason they give for joining cooperatives. I then discuss the significance of this trend for American agriculture, in particular whether Japanese consumer cooperatives could become a marketing channel for Americans who specialize in producing food with less intensive use of agricultural chemicals.
Integrating social, environmental, and economic issues in sustainable agriculture
Authors: Allen Patricia , Van Dusen Debra , Lundy Jackelyn , Gliessman Stephen 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIn the past several years, researchers, educators, policymakers, and activists have initiated sustainable agriculture programs and efforts the world over. This development has sometimes been accompanied by a sense that it is time to stop discussing sustainability at a conceptual level and get on with the work of making agriculture sustainable. Our perspective is that it is critical to pursue a comprehensive definition of sustainability in order to set sustainable agriculture priorities and ensure that sustainable agriculture takes a path that does not reproduce problems of conventional agriculture. In this paper we briefly review some popular definitions of sustainable agriculture and find that their focus is primarily on farm-level resource conservation and profitability as the main components of sustainability. Others have challenged this approach for either not examining the social aspects of sustainability or for containing an implicit assumption that working on the environmental, production, and microeconomic aspects of sustainability will automatically take care of its social aspects. We propose an expanded conceptualization of sustainability—one that focuses on the entire food and agriculture system at a global level and includes not only environmental soundness and economic viability, but social equity as well. In this perspective, issues such as poverty and hunger are as central to achieving agricultural sustainability as those of soil erosion and adequate farm returns.
Understory cover crops in pecan orchards: Possible management systems
Authors: Bugg Robert L. , Sarrantonio Marianne , Dutcher James D. , Phatak Sharad C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAnnual legumes and mixtures of annual legumes and grasses can perform several functions as understory cover crops in pecan orchards, such as providing nitrogenrich organic matter to improve soil fertility, or by sustaining lady beetles and other arthropods that may aid the biological control of pecan pests. Remaining questions concern selection of appropriate plant materials; whether to use cover crops singly or in mixtures; how to ensure reseeding as well as a substantial N contribution; whether, when, and how to use mowing and tillage; and fertilization options. Different considerations apply when dealing with cool- vs. warm-season cover crops. With minor adjustments, growers could adapt present cultural practices to include cool-season cover crops. These could be used throughout the orchard, by establishing appropriate self-reseeding species and avoiding both excessive mowing and indiscriminate placement of N-rich fertilizers. Within alleys, alternating 2-m strips of cool-season cover crops could be tilled in mid to late April or allowed to mature. The tilled strips would supply N to pecan trees immediately, whereas the adjoining untilled (remnant) strips could be mowed after seed is mature, to ensure dispersal of seed and reestablishment of cover crops over the entire alley. Cool-season annual legumes that die or are killed in late spring will probably furnish N and other nutrients at a suitable time, particularly in orchards with sprinkler irrigation. Warm-season cover crops, if desired, should be restricted to alleys to reduce possible competition with pecan. Alleys provide better illumination than do tree rows during periods when pecan trees are in leaf, and the tillage mentioned above will encourage emergence of warm-season cover crops. If these die or are killed in late summer or early fall, timing of N release may not be optimal, in the absence of adequate irrigation. Many options and tradeoffs need to be explored before choosing a cover-crop system. Attimes, several objectives may appear to conflict, and even delicately-managed mixtures of species may not fulfill all the desired functions.
Cover crop management effects on soybean and corn growth and nitrogen dynamics in an on-farm study
Authors: Karlen D. L. , Doran J. W. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractCombining cover crops and conservation tillage may result in more sustainable agricultural production practices. Objectives of this on-farm study were to quantify effects of cover crops on growth and nitrogen accumulation by soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr,] and corn (Zea mays L.) on a Nicollet loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludoll) near Boone, Iowa, Our farmer-cooperator planted soybean in 1988 using ridge tillage into an undisturbed strip with a hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L. Roth) cover crop and into a strip where previous crop residue and a negligible amount of cover crop had been incorporated by autumn and spring disking. In each strip, we established four plots for soil and plant measurements. Our cooperator planted corn on the same strips in 1989 into a cover crop that consisted of both hairy vetch and winter rye (Secale cereale L.). We determined the source of N accumulated by the corn by applying 67 kg N/ha of 15N depleted NH4NO3 fertilizer. In the absence of cover crops, early season soil NO3-N levels in the top 30 cm were higher, and corn growth and N accumulation were more rapid. At harvest, the corn grain, stover, and cob together accounted for 36 and 39 percent of the 15N fertilizer for the ridge tillage and disked treatments, respectively. We suggest that lower net mineralization of organic matter or greater denitrification losses before planting reduced the availability of soil N, This created an early season Nstress in corn grown with cover crops that was not overcome by broadcast fertilizer N applied three weeks after planting. Our on-farm research study has helped focus continuing efforts to determine if non-recovered fertilizer N is being immobilized in microbial biomass, lost by denitrification, or leached below the plant root zone.
A survey of organic produce purchases and related attitudes of food cooperative shoppers
Authors: Goldman Barbara J. , Clancy Katherine L. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWe surveyed shoppers at a food cooperative in New York state to measure the relationship between organic produce purchases and attitudes related to pesticide use in agriculture, food costs, and other factors affecting produce buying. Two-fifths of the co-op shoppers surveyed usually or almost always purchased organically grown produce, and one-third were somewhat or very likely to pay 100 percent more than conventional produce for residue-free produce. Those who usually or almost always purchased organic produce were less concerned than other shoppers about price when they shop for produce, had higher levels of concern about food safety, and were less concerned about insects and surface blemishes on produce. There was no relationship between income and frequency of organic purchases. Most shoppers were concerned about pesticide residues in produce, but a high level of concern appeared necessary to affect the frequency of organic purchases. In their support of organic agriculture, respondents ranked environmental protection higher than consumer protection. Educators should emphasize both the environmental and food safety benefits of organic farming to consumers.
Comparison of the effect of leaf rust on the grain yield of resistant, partially resistant, and susceptible spring wheat cultivars
Authors: Singh R. P. , Payne T. S. , Figueroa P. , Valenzuela S. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThree hypersensitive resistant, six partially resistant (slow rusting), and one susceptible spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated for grain yield, test weight, and kernel weight under artificially created epiphytotics of leaf rust disease (caused by Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) with and without fungicide protection for three years. Rusted plot yields were 4 percent lower compared to fungicide-protected plot yields for cultivars with hypersensitive resistance. In rusted plots, grain yield and kernel weight averaged 8 percent less for cultivars with partial resistance but varied from 2 to 20 percent less depending on cultivar. The susceptible check cultivar, Yecora 70, averaged 27 percent lower grain yield, 22 percent lower kernel weight, and 6 percent lower test weight in rusted plots. Slight reduction in test weight was also observed for each cultivar. Losses in grain yield could, therefore, be reduced to levels similar to those of hypersensitive resistant cultivars by the use of partial resistance. We discuss the sustainability of partial genetic resistance to leaf rust. Since partial resistance is expected to be durable, and since rust levels and effects on yield in farmers' fields are likely to be less than in this experimental plot study, partial resistance should give long-lasting resistance at a negligible cost in yield that is insufficient to justify the use of fungicides.
Green leaf manuring as an alternative nitrogen source for castor bean on marginal soils of India
Authors: Reddy G. Subba , Venkateswarlu B. , Vittal K. P. R. , Shankar G. R. M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractChemical fertilizers are used only in a limited way under dry farming conditions in India because of their high cost and the risk of crop failures due to drought Several alternative strategies are being evaluated to reduce the cost of supplying N to castor bean without adversely affecting yield. We report the results of a two-year study on the possible replacement of fertilizer nitrogen by green leaves from Leucaena leucocephala for production of castor beans on a low fertility Alfisol Bean yield and dry matter production were significantly higher when 50 kg N/ha was applied as green leaves compared with 50 kg N/ha as urea. Among substitution levels, 37.5 kg N/ha as green leaves at planting followed by 12.5 kg N/ha as urea at 45 days after planting was found to be the most effective combination. Across all the substitution levels, addition of nitrogen as green leaves at planting was found to be better than application at 45 days after planting. Nutrient and water use efficiencies were higher when the N was applied as green leaves compared to urea. Nitrogen use efficiency was higher for green leaves than for urea under limited rainfall conditions. The overall data indicated that 75 percent of the fertilizer N requirement of castor bean can be supplied by leaves of Leucaena leucocephala when applied at planting.
Runoff impoundment for supplemental irrigation: An economic assessment
Authors: Scrimgeour F. G. , Frasier G. W. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWater harvesting technologies capture surface water runoff and recycle it for productive use. Despite the long history of water harvesting and the renewed interest in many places in the world, the technology has not been widely adopted in the United States, in part because of a lack of understanding of its economic benefits. We developed a simulation model for the economic evaluation of water harvesting systems that combines agronomic, engineering, and economic factors and daily meteorological data. The simulation model was used to investigate the economic feasibility of using a water-harvesting, supplemental irrigation system for grain sorghum production over a 44-year period at two locations in Texas. Water harvesting combined with supplemental irrigation was most successful where the precipitation is the highest. However, the net benefits were extremely variable from year to year. The modeled technique could not take advantage of the potential additional water in the wet years and did not harvest sufficient water in dry years to make water harvesting more economically attractive than conventional dryland farming. This does not mean that runoff farming cannot be of economic benefit, depending on local conditions. Widespread adoption of the technology is constrained by the limited profit potential the variability of the profits, and the knowledge required to use the technology successfully. The simulation model was a useful and simple tool for dealing with the complexity of the issues.
The economics of collecting chaff
Authors: Olfert M. R. , Stumborg Mark , Craig Wayne , Schoney R. A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractChaff, a by-product of cereal and oilseed production that is largely treated as waste product, may have significant economic value as a ruminant feed, and its collection and removal may reduce herbicide usage and tillage. We surveyed fifty farms located throughout the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black/Grey Wooded soil zones of Saskatchewan to determine the costs and benefits of their chaff collection systems. Benefits measured or estimated included both the feed value of chaff and agronomic benefits in the form of reduced tillage and herbicide requirements. Costs measured were for equipment and machinery ownership, maintenance and operation, including labor. The survey responses showed that, regardless of the type of collection system utilized, feed-related benefits outweighed the costs under the stated assumptions about prices and methods of assigning costs. Agronomic benefits alone also were sufficient to offset chaff collection costs. The net benefits of chaff collection are related to both the quantity of chaff collected and the distance the material is transported.
Sustainable agriculture: The wildlife connection
Authors: Robinson Ann Y. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWildlife and fish have much to gain from the movement toward alternative, sustainable agricultural practices. Interrelated reasons for the habitat improvements to be expected from a change to sustainable systems include reduced use of agricultural chemicals, better care of the soil, and reintroduction of greater landscape diversity. The most well-documented benefits would result from reduced use of agrichemicals, which often are toxic and frequently change the structure and composition of available food and cover. The wildlife benefits of erosion prevention and landscape diversification are less well-documented but may be as significant for habitat improvement. The opportunities to enhance habitat using sustainable farming methods are beginning to receive increased attention from wildlife professionals. As a result, efforts are under way to expand use of sustainable methods on farmlands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
An economic comparison of conventional and reduced-chemical farming systems in Iowa
Authors: Chase Craig , Duffy Michael 
Published: October 2009

AbstractLabor requirements, production costs, yields, and economic returns were evaluated for conventional and reduced-chemical cropping systems in northeast Iowa from 1978 to 1989. Continuous corn (C-C) and corn-soybean (C-Sb) rotations represented the conventional system; a corn-oat-meadow (C-O-M) rotation represented the reducedchemical system. The C-C and C-Sb rotations used both commercial pesticides and fertilizers. The C-O-M rotation used manure for fertilization and applied pesticides only in emergencies. Operations for all systems were implemented by one farm manager. The C-Sb rotation had the highest corn yield over the 12-year period, and the C-O-M rotation the lowest. The corn within the C-O-M rotation, however, produced the second highest average return to land, labor, and management. With costs of production substantially lower than the conventional systems, the C-O-M corn crop had competitive returns despite lower yield. The C-Sb average return to land, labor, and management was significantly higher than for the other systems. Hourly labor charges of $4, $10, $20, and $50 had little effect on the rankings of economic returns. Because of unusually high alfalfa reseeding costs and low average oat yields, returns to the C-O-M rotation were significantly lower than C-Sb but comparable to C-C. With better alfalfa establishment and higher average oat yields, the reduced-chemical system might have been competitive with the C-Sb conventional system.
Marketing prospects for organic and pesticide-free produce
Authors: Jolly Desmond A. , Norris Kim 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe March 1989 food safety episodes involving Alar on apples and the cyanide tainted grapes found in a Chilean shipment were seminal events in the history of U.S. organic agriculture. Demand for organic produce soared as a consequence of these events, and mainstream supermarkets began adding more organic produce to their traditional product lines. But when organic supplies proved scarce, and as prices increased, consumer purchases decreased and many marketing managers began to question the rationality of allocating scarce shelf space to organic products. In fact, many supermarket chains either drastically reduced their organic offerings or dropped them altogether. Some analysts proclaimed that organics had failed the market test. However, two surveys we carried out in 1989 and 1991 among major California supermarket chains show that forecasts of the demise of organic produce in mainstream markets may have been premature. Of 16 chains responding to our survey, 12 continue to carry organic produce. All had carried organics for more than six months, two-thirds of them for more than a year. Of the 12 that carry organics, six rate organics as worse overall than conventional produce. But, interestingly, six rate organics as “about the same” as conventional produce. This is a significant achievement for organics. Organics rated better on environmental impact and residues, worse on appearance and shelf life, and “about the same” on flavor and nutritive value. Despite the constraints and difficulties encountered in marketing organic foods, 8 of the 12 chains that carry organics would carry more organic fruits and vegetables if supplies were available. The prospects for certified “pesticide free” produce are less definite.
The economics of small-scale rabbit production
Authors: Gebremedhin Tesfa G. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractDiversification into alternative enterprises appears to be gaining in popularity and economic importance as a way to supplement family income and to provide alternative sources of high-quality food. However, potential rabbit producers lack information about investment requirements and production and marketing costs. The objective of this study was to determine the most profitable operation of small-scale rabbit production by estimating the costs and returns, net present values, and payback periods of two rabbit production systems. Despite a difference in the net income generated, a cash surplus occurred for both systems at the end of the third year. This surplus was the return to land, family labor, and management. Thus, rabbit enterprises may provide economic opportunities for farm families who have limited land and capital.
Assessing the character of agricultural production systems: Issues and implications
Authors: Batie Sandra S. , Taylor Daniel B. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAlternative agriculture can be viewed as an alternative belief system to that underlying conventional agriculture. However, alternative agriculture can also be viewed from a technological perspective—that is, as a set of substitute technologies to conventional agriculture from which a farmer can selectively choose. Definitional distinctions between low-input, organic, sustainable, and conventional agriculture become important with this second perspective. Different policy and research implications are generated from these competing perspectives.