Alternative Agriculture -- Copyright -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Part One -- Executive Summary -- Findings -- Incentives for the Adoption of Alternatives -- Evaluating Alternative Farming Methods and Systems -- Conclusions -- Alternative Farming Practices and their Effectiveness -- The Effect of Government Policy -- The State of Research and Extension -- Recommendations -- Farm and Environmental Policy -- Research and Development -- Economics and Markets -- The Future of Alternative Farming -- 1 Agriculture and the Economy -- TRADE -- AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES -- Inputs -- Fertilizers -- Pesticides -- Antibiotics -- Irrigation -- THE STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURE -- REGIONAL DISTINCTIONS -- THE POWER OF POLICY -- Lack of Long-Range National Program Goals -- Impact of Commodity Policy on Alternative Agriculture -- Tax Policy -- Research and Education -- Other Programs and Policies -- Soil Conservation Programs -- Pesticide Licensing -- Food Quality and Safety -- SUMMARY -- References -- 2 Problems in U.S. Agriculture -- THE FARM ECONOMY -- TRADE -- NATURAL RESOURCES -- Water Quality -- Surface Water -- Groundwater -- The Effects of Irrigation -- Soil Erosion -- Genetic Diversity -- Effects of Pesticides -- Food Safety -- Antibiotics -- SUMMARY -- References -- 3 Research and Science -- CROP ROTATION -- PLANT NUTRIENTS -- Soil Properties and Plant Nutrients -- Soil Texture -- Cation Exchange -- Soil Quality -- Nutrient Management -- Nitrogen -- Legumes as a Source of Nitrogen -- Manure as a Source of Nutrients -- Phosphorus -- Potassium -- Amending Soil Reaction -- Tillage -- Effect of Soil Biota on Nutrient Availability -- LIVESTOCK -- Obstacles to Greater Use of Hay and Forage -- Lignocellulose Digestion -- Improving Quality of Pastures and Forages -- Muscle-to-Fat Ratio -- Animal Health Systems -- Antibiotics.

Alternatives to Antibiotic Use -- Swine Production -- Hormonal Therapy -- Protection -- Parasitism -- Genetic Resistance to Disease -- Stress and Disease -- Technology and Advanced Diagnostics -- PEST CONTROL IN CROPS -- IPM Development -- Alternative Insect and Mite Control -- Alternative Plant Pathogen Control -- Alternative Nematode Control -- Alternative Weed Control -- SUMMARY -- References -- 4 Economic Evaluation of Alternative Farming Systems -- ECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS -- Economic Studies of Farming Practices -- Whole-Farm Analysis of Alternative Methods -- The Transition to Alternatives -- Comparative Regional Cost of Production -- Methods for Comparing Production Costs -- Alternative Agriculture and Production Costs -- ALTERNATIVE PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES -- IPM -- Alternative Weed Control Practices -- Quantifying the Benefits of Pesticides -- The Economics of Biological Methods of Pest Control -- ALTERNATIVE ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION STRATEGIES -- Alternative Animal Production Systems -- STUDIES OF DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES -- Integrated Crop and Livestock Systems -- Crop Diversification Strategies -- Legume-Based Crop Rotations -- The Effect of Government Programs on Legume-Based Rotations -- IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY -- The Effect of Rotations on Base Acres and Federal Deficiency Payments -- Impact of Research and Technology Transfer -- SUMMARY -- References -- Part Two -- The Case Studies -- Overview of Case Study Farms -- Crop and Livestock Farms -- Fruit and Vegetable Farms -- Other Farms -- Case Study 1 Crop and Livestock Farming in Ohio: The Spray Brothers -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Soil Fertility -- Tillage -- Weed Control -- Insect, Nematode, and Disease Control -- Labor -- Animal Enterprises.

Dairy Operations -- Beef Operations -- Performance Indicators -- Crop Yields -- Soil Fertility -- Weed, Disease, and Insect Control -- Marketing Strategies -- Financial Performance -- Case Study 2 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Southwest Iowa: The BreDahl Farm -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Crop Rotation -- Soil Fertility -- Tillage and Planting Methods -- Weed Control -- Performance Indicators -- Case Study 3 A Diversified Crop and Livestock Farm in Virginia: The Sabot Hill Farm -- General Data -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soils -- Irrigation -- Buildings and Facilities -- Management Features -- Crop Rotations -- Pasture Renovation and Interseeding -- Cattle -- Performance Indicators -- Environmental Impact -- Financial Performance -- Reference -- Case Study 4 A Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm in Pennsylvania: The Kutztown Farm -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Labor -- Tillage and Crop Rotations -- Soil Fertility -- Weed and Insect Control -- Animal Enterprises -- Performance Indicators -- Soil Conservation -- Yield Performance -- Financial Performance -- References -- Case Study 5 Crop-Livestock Farming in Iowa: The Thompson Farm -- General Data -- Commodities Produced, Used, and Marketed -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soils -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Climate -- Management Features -- Rotations -- Tillage and Planting Methods -- Weed Control -- Pest Control -- Labor and Costs -- Soil Fertility -- The Use of Cover Crops -- Livestock Systems -- Feeds -- Disease Control -- Transfer of Technology -- Case Study 6 Tree Fruits, Walnuts, and Vegetables in California: The Ferrari Farm -- General Data -- Climate.

Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Soil Fertility -- Tillage, Crop Rotations, and Irrigation -- Weed Control -- Insect and Nematode Control -- Disease Control -- Labor -- Performance Indicators -- Yield Data -- Financial Performance -- References -- Case Study 7 Florida Fresh-Market Vegetable Production: Integrated Pest Management -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Sandy Soils -- Muck Soils -- Management Features -- Pesticide Use -- IPM Features -- Performance Indicators -- Case Study 8 Fresh Grapes in California and Arizona: Stephen Pavich & Sons -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Irrigation Systems -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Soil Fertility -- Planting and Tillage -- Weed Control -- Insect Control -- Disease and Nematode Control -- Labor -- Performance Indicators -- Environmental Impact -- Economic Performance -- Endnotes -- References -- Case Study 9 Integrated Pest Management in Processing Tomatoes in California: The Kitamura Farm -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soils -- Buildings and Facilities -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Soil Fertility -- Tillage, Irrigation, and Crop Rotation -- The University of California IPM Program for Tomatoes -- The Kitamura Farm Insect Control Program -- Weed Control -- Disease Control -- Labor -- Performance Indicators -- Tomato Yields -- Financial Performance -- Environmental Impacts -- References -- Case Study 10 Livestock Farming in Colorado: Coleman Natural Beef -- General Data -- Climate -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Irrigation and Haying -- Labor -- Machinery -- Management Features -- Breeding -- Feeding -- Animal Health -- Marketing -- Performance Indicators -- References.

Case Study 11 Rice Production in California: The Lundberg Family Farms -- General Data -- Climate -- Physical and Capital Resources -- Soil -- Buildings and Facilities -- Farm Machinery -- Management Features -- Rotations and Cultural Practices -- Labor -- Soil Fertility -- Insect Control -- Disease Control -- Control of Tadpole Shrimp and Insects -- Weed Control -- Irrigation -- Performance Indicators -- Rice Yields -- Financial Performance -- Environmental Impacts -- References -- Glossary -- Index.