An Introduction to the Concepts of Sustainable Agriculture

1. IPM 401/601 October 5, 2004 An Introduction to the Concepts of Sustainable Agriculture Geoff Zehnder, Coordinator IPM and Sustainable Agriculture Programs B28 Long Hall zehnder@clemson.edu www.clemson.edu/scg/sust www.clemson.edu/scg/ipm

2. Farming in the U.S.The Last 50 years • New technologies • Mechanization • Increased use of farm chemicals • Specialization and govt. policies that favor max. production Fewer farmers with reduced labor demands produce the majority of food and fiber

3. Are “Mega-farms” Sustainable? • Since WWII, US agriculture science and policy have favored large-scale, centralized farming • The sustainability of this system is now being questioned

4. Benefits and Costs of Large, Corporate Farms • Benefits • Increased production, cheap food prices • Many risks in farming reduced • Costs • Topsoil depletion and loss of biodiversity • Groundwater contamination • Falling crop prices and increased prod. costs • Decline of family farms and rural communities

5. Growing Movement for a More Sustainable Agriculture • Create direct connections between farmers and consumers • Create regional food self-sufficiency • Reduce economic concentration in production, processing and marketing • Encourage resource conservation More small to medium size diversified farms growing food for local and regional consumption

6. Industrial vs. Biological Models of Agriculture

7. So What is Sustainable Agriculture? • It means growing crops and livestock in ways that meet the following objectives simultaneously: • Economic profit • Social benefits to the farm family and community • Environmental conservation Transition is a long-term goal; normally requires a series of small steps. Requires all participants in the systems (farmers, retailers, consumers, policymakers, etc)

8. Environmental Sustainability • Farming to mimic natural eco-systems • Farm as a nature-based system, not a factory • Natural cycles: waste becomes input

9. Managing Natural Processes on the Farm • Energy flow; capturing solar energy • Maximize leaf area for photosynthesis; efficient cycling of stored solar energy through food chain • Water cycles; preventing runoff, erosion • Organic matter; increase soil water holding capacity • Mineral cycles • Conservation of nutrients from soil-crops-animals-soil • Ecosystem dynamics • Effective ecosystem: high level of plant/animal diversity If managed properly will conserve resources and reduce costs

10. Economic Sustainability(If I grow it will they buy it?) • Selecting profitable enterprises • Diversification spreads risk, maximizes profit • Specialty crops, organic, value added • Comprehensive financial planning • Market research and plan

11. Social SustainabilityDecisions on-farm effect community • Find ways to connect with community • Buying supplies locally • Marketing locally • Respect for neighbors, farm workers • Farmland conservation and preservation

12. Applying the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture Some Examples of Sustainable Agriculture Practices

13. Keep Soil Covered Year-roundCover Crops between Market Crops • Plant material • moderates temperature • increases water penetration and storage • enhances soil aeration • maintains soil structure, prevents erosion by softening the impact of falling raindrops

14. Minimize Tillage • Moldboard plowing • Brings subsoil to surface • Buries crop residue too deeply • Soil compaction • Soil exposed to erosion

15. Crop RotationMarket and Cover Crops • Long-term crop rotation plan • Diversity in the field and at the market • Break pest cycles, weed management • Improve soil quality, add nutrients Thomas Jefferson crop rotation plan for Monticello

16. Cover Crops and Green Manures • Green manure crops • Soil incorporation of a field or forage crop while green • Add organic matter • Fix nitrogen • Suppress weeds, pests • “Catch” crops Mustard green manure crop between wheat and potatoes; Idaho

17. Fertilizer, Manure & Compost • Some conventional fertilizers can reduce soil quality (e.g., anhydrous ammonia and potassium chloride) • Reduce populations of soil microbes necessary for good soil structure

18. Other Forms of FertilizersImprove Soil Quality • Manure: Composted and aged manure preferred (usually ideal C/N ratio) • Other environmentally friendly fertilizers available (soybean meal, bone meal, feather meal, etc)

19. Pest ManagementMoving Along the IPM Continuum • Pesticide Management Phase • Sampling, economic thresholds, spraying when needed • Cultural Management Phase • Knowledge of pest life cycles used to implement cultural practices like delayed planting and harvest, crop rotations, etc. • Bio-intensive IPM Phase • Knowledge of pest and beneficial life cycles used to implement cultural practices and to design favorable habitats for natural enemies. Broad-spectrum pesticides avoided

20. Weed Management • Long-term plan based on a knowledge of weed ecology • Crop rotations to suppress, smother weeds • Allelopathic cover crops • Timed cultivation to reduce weed stands and prevent seed set • Mulch in high value crops

21. Insect Management • Prevention and avoidance • Diversified habitat reduces pests, enhances natural enemies • Farmscaping • “Soft” insecticides if necessary Bio-Intensive IPM http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/ipm.html

22. Disease Management • Mixed cropping • Plant, row spacing • Vigorous plants more resistant to disease • Healthy, microbially-active soil suppresses root diseases • Compost: disease-suppressive soil • Compost extract

23. Happy Cow DairyA Successful Transition • Losing money with conventional dairy management • Transitioned to a rotational grazing system (12 Aprils) • Added creamery • Now more profitable, environmentally sound Tom Trantham, Dairy Farmer Pelzer, SC

24. Trantham Dairy Conventional Practices (Pre-1990) • Confinement dairy operation • Herd kept in barn or feedlot • Feed, hormone inputs to maximize milk production (65% of income) • High production, but not enough to cover costs

25. Trantham DairyRotational (paddock) Grazing System • 70 acres for grazing • 75 small paddocks • Cows graze 24 hours then moved • Moveable electric tape fencing • Paddocks regenerate • Supplemental feed based on available forage, # cows and weight, milk production goals

26. Trantham DairyForage Varieties • 12 Aprils Concept • Plant a succession of different forages throughout the year • Varieties based on performance, longevity, preference, nutritional value • Objective: Cows able to graze almost 12 months/year

27. Trantham DairySpecialized Equipment • No-till seeder • Drills seed into existing crop residue • Can plant seed for second crop while first crop is being grazed

28. Trantham DairyWaste, Irrigation, Fertility Management • Manure scraped into picket-dam • Waste water goes into lagoon • Solids spread onto paddocks with spreader • Waste water used to irrigate, fertilize paddocks

29. Benefits for Trantham Dairy • 42% input cost reduction (62 cents/cow/day) • Healthier cows, lower vet bills • Improved soil quality, reduced use of pesticides, fertilizers • Value-added benefits (better tasting milk, health benefits, creamery, farm market)

30. Questions?