Alternative Agriculture: Committee on the Role of Alternative Farming Methods in Modern Production Agriculture

摘要

Chapter 1 describes the dimensions of U.S. agriculture in the domestic and world economies and its evolution since World War II. Chapter 2 outlines some of the economic and environmental consequences of agricultural practices and federal government policies. Chapter 3 examines the basic science supporting farming practices widely used in alternative agriculture: crop rotations, alternative crop nutrient sources and management strategies, integrated pest management, biological pest control, and alternative animal management systems. Chapter 4 analyzes the economic potential of alternative systems. The report concludes with 11 case studies describing 14 farms managed with an efficient combination of alternative and conventional practices.