Careful Use and Enhancement of Natural Resources
Water Quality Protection
- Filter strip establishment
- Nitrogen "trap crops"
- Manure management programs
Soil Quality Improvement
- Reduced tillage, high residue seeding systems
- Cover crops and organic amendments
- Perennial crops that need no tillage
Recycling and Multiple-use Strategies
- Renewable fuels and shared equipment
- New co-products that reduce processing waste
- Careful land application of livestock and processing wastes
Ecological Approach to Crop Health
- Biological control of insects with beneficials
- Cultural control of weeds, insects and disease
- Genetic resistance to disease and insects
Crop Diversification for Risk Reduction
- Complex crop rotations
- Alternative crops
- Agroforestry plantings
Grazing Land Conservation
- Intensive short-duration grazing maximizing vegetative growth
- Innovative fencing and watering technology
- Complementary rotation of classes or species of livestock
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
- Prairie and woodland restoration with native plants
- Wetland restoration and enhancement of farm ponds
- Buffer strips for cleaner streams and wildlife corridors
Farmland Preservation
- Development easements to keep prime farmland for agriculture
- lustering of housing to provide "green space" for the community
- Protection of scenic vistas for community pride and tourism
Selected Resources
Whole Farm Planning Resource Packet. Mike Hogan, Ohio State Extension Sustainable Agriculture Team. 330-627-4310.
Sustainable Agriculture in the American Midwest: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future, by McIsaac, Gregory and William Edwards, 1994. To order call 217 333 9411 gmcisaac@uiuc.edu
Water Quality Protection
60 Ways Farmers Can Protect Surface Water, by Michael Hirschi, Robert Frazee, George Czapar, and Doug Peterson, NC Regional Extension Publication 589, August 1997
Information Technology and Communication Services, University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
50 Ways Farmers Can Protect Their Groundwater, by Michael Hirschi, F. William Simmons, Doug Peterson, and Ed Giles, NC Regional Extension Publication 522, March 1994
Information Technology and Communication Services, University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Soil Quality Improvement
Building Soils for Better Crops, Second Edition, Handbook Series, Book 4 Fred Magdoff and Harold Van Ess Sustainable Agriculture Network, 2000 (800) 656 0484
Conservation Tillage Systems and Management: Crop Residue Management with Ridge-till, No-till, Mulch-till, and Strip-till MWPS – 45 Second Edition, 2000 Mid West Plan Service (515) 294-4337, Ag and Bio-systems Engineering Dept. 122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Managing Cover Crops Profitably, Second Edition, 1998 Sustainable Ag Network, contact Andy Clark (301) 504-6425 san@nal.usda.gov
Recycling and Multiple-Use Strategies
On-Farm Composting Handbook, NRAES-54 Cooperative Extension 152 Riley-Robb Hall Ithaca, New York (607) 255 7654 www.nraes.org
Field Guide to On-Farm Composting, NRAES-114
See above
Farm-Scale Composting (free booklet) by Donna Doel, 1994 Contact ATTRA (800) 346 9140 askattra@ncatfyv.uark.edu
Purdue extension publications on manure management planning: Swine manure management planning (ID-205), Poultry manure management planning (ID-206), Dairy manure management planning (ID-208), Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. Web site Manure Management Planner: www.agry.purdue.edu/mmp
Ecological Approach to Crop Health
Enhancing Biological Control: Habitat Management to Promote Natural Enemies of Agricultural Crops, Pickett, Charles H., 1998
Handbook of Pest Management. J. Ruberson(ed.) Marcel Dekker Inc., NY
Landscape structure and extra-field processes: impact on management of pests and beneficials: Landis, D.A. and P. Marino. 1999. p. 79-104
Natural Enemies Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control, 1998
Purdue Biological Control Laboratory www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/research/bclab/BCMAC.HTML
Biological Control Virtual Information Center at North Carolina State University http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/biocontrol/
Farmscaping, by Rex Dufour and Lane Greer, 1995 Contact ATTRA (800) 346-9140 (free booklet)
Steel in the Field: A Farmer’s Guide to Weed Management Tools. Sustainable Agriculture Network. SAN@nal.usda.gov
Sustainable Weed Management for Agronomic Crops, by Alice Beetz and Preston Sullivan, 1991, ATTRA (800) 346-9140 askattra@ncatfyv.uark.edu
Farming in Nature’s Image: An Ecological Approach to Agriculture, by Judith Soule and Jon Piper, 1992. To order contact Alice Sutton (913) 823 5376
Crop Diversification for Risk Reduction
Diversifying U.S. Crop Production, by Jules Janick, 1996. CAST (515) 292-2125 Cast@cast-science.org
Alternative Field Crop Manual, Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products, University of Minnesota, (612) 625-5747.
Alternative Field Crops, by Lance Gegner, ATTRA (800) 346-9140 skattra@ncatfyv.uark.edu
Evergreen – The New Uses Council Newsletter, focused on new industrial uses of agricultural materials, by Jonathan Harsch. (970) 928-0796. Jharsch@rof.net
Agroforestry Practices, by Tim Snell, 1995, The Kerr Center, (918) 647-9123
Grazing Land Conservation
Illinois Grazing Manual Illinois TRAILL website: il-traill.outreach.uiuc.edu
Profitable Dairy Options, Sustainable Agriculture Network, 1996 Andy Clark (301) 504-6425 SAN@nal.usda.gov
Control Grazing Guidelines, by Carl Fredericks, 1991 Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Sustainable Agriculture Program Order through Jane Larsen (608) 273-6408
Grass-based and Seasonal Dairying, Alice Beetz, 1996 ATTRA (800) 346-9140 askattra@ncatfyv.uark.edu
The Stockman/Grass Farmer, (monthly magazine) by Alan Nation, Order through Linda Davenport (601) 981-4805
Pastured Poultry Profits, by Joel Salatin. This how-to manual offers information about relationship marketing for poultry. Contact ACRES USA, 800-355-5313.
Salad Bar Beef, by Joel Salatin. This guide explores marketing beef in addition to production methods to raise superior beef on pasture. Contact ACRES USA, 800-355-5313.
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
Sustainable Agriculture and Wildlife: Piecing together a habitat puzzle –EDC3 Iowa State University www.exnet.iastate.edu
Birds of Benton Co. Indiana, FNR –165 Purdue University Extension Service
Managing for Wildlife on Agricultural Lands: The economics of conservation alternatives – FNR162
Farmland Preservation
American Farmland Trust Farmland Information Center Library www.farmlandinfo.org Last major change: 2001 June 22
Saving American Farmland: What Works. American Farmland Trust This comprehensive guidebook presents AFT’s latest research on farmland protection. 1997; 334 pages; $34.95.
Technical Report Series
Saving America's Farmland includes in-depth discussion and analysis of the most commonly used farmland protection techniques. These technical chapters have been adapted as stand-alone reports.
Agricultural District Programs: What Works 1997; 22 pages; $9.95.
Agricultural Protection Zoning: What Works 1997; 32 pages; $14.95.
Agricultural Tax Programs: What Works 1997; 20 pages; $14.95.
Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements: What Works 1997; 36 pages; $14.95
Right-to-Farm Laws: What Works 1997; 26 pages; $9.95
Transfer of Development Rights: What Works 1997; 24 pages; $14.95.
