Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gvh9x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-23T15:14:34.969Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Institutional support for practicing sustainable agriculture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Peter F. Korsching
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.
James E. Malia
Affiliation:
Director, Minnesota Project, St. Paul, MN 55414.
Get access

Abstract

A mail survey of Iowa farmers with membership in the Practical Farmers of Iowa, a sustainable agriculture organization, was used to examine perceptions of institutional support for information on reducing chemical inputs, needed research for farming with sustainable practices, and policy needs for encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable practices. We first developed a chemical input index to measure commitment to sustainable practices and to analyze information sources and research and policy needs. Results indicate that sustainable farmers rely primarily on each other and on their personal experience for information about sustainable practices; they use conventional farm practice information sources considerably less. The primary research need identified by the respondents was for better nonchemical weed control. Other important research needs identified were: nonchemical insect control, new seed varieties, cover crops, alternative tillage methods, and the economics of sustainable systems. The primary policy needs identified were more information and educational programs about sustainable agriculture and increased taxes on farm chemical use. We discuss the implications of the relationship between institutional support and the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Andrew, J. C. 1987. Making the transition to low-input agriculture: A farmer's perspective. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(1):1718.Google Scholar
2.Benbrook, C. M. 1988. Testimony given before the Senate Subcommittee on Agricultural Research, Conservation, Forestry, and General Legislation, U.S. Senate, April 28, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
3.Blobaum, R. 1983. Barriers to organic farming practices in the Midwestern United States. In Lockeretz, William (ed.). Environmentally Sound Agriculture. Praeger Publishers, New York, New York. pp. 263278.Google Scholar
4.Crosson, P. R., and Ostrov, J. E.. 1988. Alternative agriculture: Sorting out its environmental benefits. Resources #92(Summer):1316.Google Scholar
5.Fleming, M. 1987. Agricultural chemicals in ground water: Preventing contamination by removing barriers against low-input farm management. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(3):124130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Goldstein, W. A., and Young, D. L.. 1987. An agronomic and economic comparison of a conventional and a low-input cropping system in the Palouse. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(2):5156.Google Scholar
7.Ikerd, J. E. 1989. The future of small farmers in a sustainable agriculture. Paper presented at the Conference on Expanding the Future of Small Farms: What Works. September 24–27, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.Google Scholar
8.Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. 1987. The Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, State of Iowa.Google Scholar
9.Korsching, P. F. 1984. Farm operator characteristics, institutional support, and use of soil and water conservation technologies. Southern Rural Sociology 2:4357.Google Scholar
10.Lockeretz, W. 1988. Open questions in sustainable agriculture. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3(4):174181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Myers, P. C. 1988. Testimony given before the Senate Subcommittee on Agricultural Research, Conservation, Forestry, and General Legislation, U.S. Senate, April 28, Washington, DC.Google Scholar