[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Alternative Agriculture News, 6/96



                            Alternative Agriculture News
                                     June, 1996

                           Henry A. Wallace Institute for
                               Alternative Agriculture
                              9200 Edmonston Road, #117
                                 Greenbelt, MD 20770
                                   (301) 441-8777
                           E-mail: hawiaa@access.digex.net

                                        * * *

If You Are Interested in Sustainable Agriculture...
       In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace
Institute for Alternative Agriculture publishes the American
Journal of Alternative Agriculture, a quarterly, peer-reviewed
journal of research on alternative agriculture.  It is a
scientific forum for disseminating technical, economic, and
social research findings about the character and requirements of
alternative agriculture systems.  
       Articles in the current issue cover use of an intensive
rotational grazing for dairy cattle feeding, a method for
mechanically killng cover crops to optimize weed suppression, and
how an overwintering cover crop increases inoculumn of VAM fungi
in agricultural soil.
       Annual subscriptions to AJAA are $44, institutions; $24,
individuals; and $12, students.  For more information or a single
copy, contact the Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117,
Greenbelt, MD 20770; (301) 441-8777; e-mail
hawiaa@access.digex.net

                                        * * *

Table of Contents

Land Grant Colleges Must Respond to New Agenda, Report Says       
           1
SARE Program Releases Grants Schedules                            
           3
New Institute Report Looks at Industrial Reorganization           
           3
Better Row to Hoe Wins Award from Council on Foundations          
           4
David Ervin to Head Institute's Policy Studies Program            
           4
Cass Peterson, Ward Sinclair Win Leadership Award                 
           4
Defense Department to Cut Its Pesticide Use In Half by 2000       
           4
Millions Drank Pesticide-Polluted Water, Report Says              
           5
Position                                                          
           5
Upcoming Events                                                   
           5
Resources                                                         
           6


LAND GRANT COLLEGES MUST RESPOND TO NEW AGENDA, SAYS ACADEMY
REPORT
       The Land Grant University System must respond to the
"transformation" of U.S. agriculture and "the new national
interest," according to a new report on Land Grant Colleges by
the Board on Agriculture of the National Research Council, part
of the National Academy of Sciences.  Colleges of Agriculture at
the Land Grant Universities: Public Service and Public Policy
addresses the "adaptation of the land grant colleges to the
public's changing needs and priorities" and recommends "public
policy and institutional change that could enhance the colleges'
role in serving the national interest."
       Since the colleges' early years, the report says, U.S.
agriculture has "undergone a transformation" which includes
increased productivity, more stable and abundant farm output, and
less costly commodities for consumers.
       "The U.S. public is also increasingly concerned by how these
primary production and processing activities interact with
natural resources and the environment, rural communities,
consumer health, safety, and ethics," the report states.  "The
monetary value of environmental quality, the natural resource
base, human health, and the quality of life are often difficult
to measure but are clearly of value to society.
       "Diet-related health; food safety; water and air quality;
soil, water and energy conservation; wildlife habitat; open space
and the nation's landscape; and a 'way of life' that is
associated with the family farm and rural communities, are all
concerns of taxpayers who finance food and agricultural research,
education, and extension."
       The report cites changes in the increasingly concentrated
farm production sector, in which "a small portion of all farms
produce a majority of the farm output entering major commercial
channels....Industrial agriculture, characterized by vertical
ownership (that is, control by a single corporate entity) of
farming, processing, and marketing activities, is becoming more
important.  It is a trend that is challenging the traditional
role of the public land grant colleges in serving independent
farmers and ranchers whose agricultural operations are too small
to conduct their own research or their own market analysis."
       There is also a growing acceptance nationwide, the report
says, "of alternative farming production technologies; and there
is a growing recognition of the need for education and research
that expand and improve technological options for sustainable
production systems -- systems that enhance the compatibility of
farm profitability, environmental quality, and human
communities."
       In making its recommendations, the report states that "the
land grant system has served the nation well, but changes are
needed that reflect modern realities, challenges and
opportunities.  In particular, the system must increase its
relevance to contemporary food and agriculture system issues and
concerns; reinvigorate its commitment to the linkages among
teaching, research, and public service; organize its programs and
projects more efficiently and more in keeping with the regional
and multistate requirements of many modern food and agriculture
system problems; and enhance its accountability to the public." 
Within those themes, the report makes 20 recommendations for
teaching, research, and extension.
       Prepublication copies of Colleges of Agriculture at the Land
Grant Universities are $35 plus $4 shipping/handling from
National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., NW, Lockbox #285,
Washington, D.C. 20005; 1-800-624-6242; final copies, available
in August, will be $29.95 plus $4 shipping/handling.  Orders can
be placed through the Internet at http://www.nas.edu

SARE PROGRAM RELEASES GRANTS SCHEDULES
       The SARE program has released the schedules for its upcoming
competitive grants program for research, education, and extension
training projects in sustainable agriculture.  Grants are also
available to agricultural producers.  Administration of the
program takes place through four regional centers, each of which
has a separate schedule for its call for proposals and other
deadlines.  For further information, contact the regional office.
       North Central Region: July 15, call for preproposals sent
out; Sept. 15, deadline for preproposals; Dec. 1, invitation for
full proposals go out, deadline for producer grant final reports;
Jan. 23, 1997, deadline for full proposals; April 14-16, 1997,
Administrative Council makes decisions.  Contact Steven S.
Waller, Coordinator, Lincoln, NE, (402) 472-7081.
       Northeast Region: Sept. 1, farmer/grower call for proposals
mailed; Sept. 8, research and education proposals mailed; Sept.
15, professional training/extension proposals mailed; Dec. 6,
farmer/grower grants postmarked; Jan. 14, 1997,
training/extension proposals postmarked; Jan. 21, 1997, SARE/ACE
research and education proposals postmarked.  Contact Frederick
Magdoff, Coordinator, Burlington, VT, (802) 656-2630.
       Southern Region: July, research and education call for
proposals mailed; Sept. 1, research and education preproposals
due; October, producer grant call for proposals mailed; Nov. 10,
full proposals requested; Dec. 15, research and education full
proposals due; Jan. 31, 1997, producer grant proposals due;
April, 1997, Administrative Council meets to award grants. 
Contact Paula Ford, Program Manager, Griffin, GA, (770) 412-4787.
       Western Region: July 23, send out SARE, ACE, and Chapter 3
call for proposals; Oct. 29, SARE/ACE proposals due; Nov. 5, send
out farmer/rancher call for proposals; Nov. 26, Chapter 3
proposals due; Jan. 14, 1997, farmer/rancher grant proposals due. 
Contact Phil Rasmussen, Coordinator, Logan, UT, (801) 797-3394.

NEW INSTITUTE REPORT LOOKS AT INDUSTRIAL REORGANIZATION OF
AGRICULTURE
       The Industrial Reorganization of U.S. Agriculture: An
Overview and Background Report, just published by the Wallace
Institute, examines the industrial reorganization of U.S.
agriculture, and how that reorganization affects elements of
sustainability.  Author Rick Welsh draws from the literature in
law, sociology, economics and political science, and attempts to
illustrate areas for future inquiry.  The report's chapters
explore what agricultural industrialization is, why agriculture
is industrializing, what the consequences of this
industrialization are, and the results of four focus group
interviews.  Copies of the report are $5.50 from the Wallace
Institute, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117, Greenbelt, MD 20770; (301)
441-8777.

BETTER ROW TO HOE WINS GOLD AWARD FROM COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS
       A Better Row to Hoe, a report by the Northwest Area
Foundation on the economic, environmental, and social impacts of
sustainable agriculture, received the Gold Award in the special
report category in this year's Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for
Excellence in Communications, sponsored by the Council on
Foundations and the Communications Network in Philanthropy.  "The
foundation carefully considered its audiences and got the report
out to them. The message is: Sustainable agriculture works," one
judge said of the report.  Copies of the report and executive
summary are available free of charge from the Foundation, 332
Minnesota St., #E-1201, St. Paul, MN 55101; (612) 224-9635.

DAVID ERVIN NAMED DIRECTOR OF WALLACE INSTITUTE'S POLICY STUDIES
PROGRAM
       Dr. David E. Ervin, Professor in the Department of
Agricultural and Resource Economics at Oregon State University,
has been named the Director of the Wallace Institute's Policy
Studies Program, effective July 15.  He was head of Oregon State
University's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
>from  1991 through 1993, and had been a visiting senior analyst at
the Office of Technology Assessment's Environment Program from
1994 to 1995.  He also served as Chief of the Resource Policy
Branch, Resources and Technology Division, at the USDA's Economic
Research Service from 1988-1991.  Ervin's work has focused on
natural resource and environmental policy related to agriculture
and rural areas.  The Wallace Institute's Policy Studies Program
responds to the need for sound facts and information on the
sustainability of agriculture to help inform the national
policymaking process.  Ervin succeeds Katherine R. Smith, who
became Director of the ERS's Commercial Agriculture Division.

CASS PETERSON, WARD SINCLAIR WIN SUSTAINABLE AG LEADERSHIP AWARD
       Organic farmer Cass Peterson and her late husband Ward
Sinclair have been honored with the fourth annual Sustainable
Agriculture Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Association
for Sustainable Agriculture.  Peterson is a member of the Wallace
Institute's Board of Directors; Sinclair had served on the Board
for five years.  The award was given for the couple's
"outstanding leadership and support of sustainable agriculture in
Pennsylvania and the United States, and in recognition of their
untiring efforts to educate wannabe farmers, to create new
opportunities for all local and organic producers."  PASA has
also established the Ward Sinclair Endowment Fund to help finance
future programs for new and beginning farmers.  For details or to
make donations, contact PASA at P.O. Box 419, Millheim, PA 16854.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO CUT ITS PESTICIDE USE IN HALF BY 2000
       The U.S. Department of Defense has committed to reduce its
pesticide use by 50 percent by the end of fiscal year 2000,
according to the EPA.  The Department said it will examine its
properties and determine where use of pesticides is necessary;
use safer pest control alternatives whenever possible; and
stimulate technology for safer, non-chemical methods of control. 
The Department made the announcement when it joined the EPA's
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, an effort to reduce
pesticide use and related risks to public health in agricultural
and non-agricultural settings.  For more information about the
Program, contact the PESP hotline at 1-800-972-7717.

MILLIONS DRANK WATER POLLUTED WITH PESTICIDES, OTHER TOXICS, SAYS
REPORT
       More than 45 million Americans were served drinking water
during 1994-1995 that was polluted with unsafe levels of
pesticides, toxic chemicals, parasites, lead, and other
chemicals, according to a new report by the Natural Resources
Defense Council, the Environmental Working Group, and the
Environmental Information Center.  In 1994-1995, 471,700 people
drank water from 588 water supplies that violated the EPA's
standard for nitrate contamination, the principal cause of which
is overuse of nitrogen fertilizer, the report said.  During the
same time, 40 different pesticides or industrial chemicals were
found in 325 water systems at levels exceeding federal health
limits, according to the report.  Just Add Water is $20 plus $3
postage and handling from EWG, 1718 Connecticut Ave., NW, #600,
Washington, D.C. 20009; (202) 667-6982.  The report is available
on the World Wide Web at http://www.ewg.org

POSITION
       American Farmland Trust seeks a full-time, four-month
Research Assistant for a Cost of Community Services Study for
Frederick, MD; submit letter and resume to Jill Schwartz, Future
Harvest Project Coordinator, AFT, 1920 N St., NW, #400,
Washington, D.C. 20036; fax (202) 659-8339.

UPCOMING EVENTS
       July 1, "Teamwork Tour" of farming systems and learning
approaches will be held in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa,
and southwest Wisconsin; sponsors are Iowa State University and
Practical Farmers of Iowa; in IA, contact Rick Exner, (515) 294-
1923; MN, Helene Murray, (612) 625-0220; WI, Richard Klemme,
(608) 262-5201.
       July 6-20, Permaculture Design Course will be held at
Heathcote Community, Freeland, MD; contact Linda Flech at (410)
343-DIRT; e-mail lflech@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
       July 7-September 28, organic on-farm workshops will be held
throughout Vermont; for complete listing, contact Northeast
Organic Farming Assn. of VT, P.O. Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477;
(802) 434-4122.
       July 7-10, "Rocky Mountain Rendezvous," the 51st Annual
Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, will be
held at the Keystone Resort, CO; contact the Society at 1-800-
843-7645.
       July 8-11, "New Crops, New Products, New Opportunities," the
First Australian New Crops Conference, will be held at the
University of Queensland, Australia; contact Sally Brown, New
Crops Conference Secretariat, University of Queensland, Brisbane,
4072 Australia; phone +61-7-3365-6360; e-mail sally@ceu.uq.oz.au
       July 17-18, "Soil Quality: A Guide to Conservation" will be
held in Ames, IA; contact John Gardner, North Dakota State
University Carrington Research Extension Center, P.O. Box 219,
Carrington, N.D. 58421; (701) 652-2951; e-mail
recenter@ndsuext.nodak.edu
       July 21-26, "Rocky Mountain Conference Symposium on
Composting and Sustainable Agriculture" will be held in Denver,
CO; contact R. L. Wershaw, U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 408,
Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225; e-mail rwershaw@usgs.gov
       July 25, the 16th Annual Milan No-Till Field Day will be
held at the University of Tennessee's Milan Experiment Station;
contact John Bradley at the Station, (901) 686-7362.
       July 29-October 28, permaculture education courses and
workshops will be held in the Heathcote, MD, and Deer Rock, VA,
Communities; for complete schedule, contact School of Living,
RD1, Box 185A, Cochranville, PA 19330; or Bobbie at (804) 263-
6997, or Matthew at (540) 894-5126.

RESOURCES
       "Seeds and Science: Henry A. Wallace on Agriculture and
Human Progress," a videotape of the Inaugural Henry A. Wallace
Annual Lecture delivered by Senator John C. Culver on March 14,
1996, is $10; a written copy of the speech is $5; both are
available from the Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117,
Greenbelt, MD 20770; (301) 441-8777.
       "1996 SARE Project Highlights" is available from Valerie
Berton, SARE Communications Specialist, 0322 Symons Hall, Zip
5565, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; (301) 405-
5270.
       USDA videotapes summarizing the key concepts of the 1996
Farm Bill are available at no charge from Dottie Click, USDA
Office of Communications, (202) 720-4197.
       ATTRA's Resource List for internships, apprenticeships,
sustainable curricula, and working farms programs is now on the
agAccess World Wide Web site at http://www.mother.com/agaccess
       "Farmers Markets '96: The What's Hot/What's Not Guide for
Growers and Managers" is $5 from New World Publishing, 3085
Sheridan St., Placerville, CA 95667; (916) 622-2248.
       "Good Earth Guide to Organics in the Upper Mississippi
Region" is $5; in Minnesota, contact Donna Meyer, (612) 345-4925;
in Wisconsin, contact David Engel, (608) 734-3273 or Faye Jones,
(715) 772-3153.
                                        * * *