Madison, Wisconsin
April 6, 2009
Source:
American Society of Agronomy
Which is a better strategy,
specializing in one crop or diversified cropping? Is
conventional cropping more profitable than organic farming? Is
it less risky?
To answer these questions, the
University of Wisconsin’s College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute agronomists
established the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial
(WICST) in 1990. This research is funded by USDA-ARS.
Systems ranging from species-diverse pasture and organic systems
to more specialized conventional alfalfa-based forage and
corn-based grain systems were compared at two sites in southern
Wisconsin from 1993 to 2006.
Crop production analysis was published in the 2008 March–April
issue of Agronomy Journal while this companion article focuses
on the net returns and associated risk exposure of these
systems. Full research results from this current study are
presented by Chavas et al. in the 2009 March–April issue of
Agronomy Journal.
"In our study we found that diversified systems were more
profitable than monocropping," explains Joshua Posner,
University of Wisconsin.
With feed grade premiums the organic systems were more
profitable than the Midwestern standards of continuous corn,
no-till corn and soybeans, and intensively managed alfalfa.
Rotational grazing of dairy heifers was as profitable as the
organic systems. And to our surprise, including risk premiums
into the evaluation did not change the ranking of the systems.
This study indicates that governmental policy that supports
mono-culture systems is outdated and support should be shifted
to programs that promote crop rotations and organic farming
practices.
The full article is available for no charge for 30 days
following the date of this summary. View the abstract at
http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/101/2/288.
A peer-reviewed international journal of agriculture and natural
resource sciences, Agronomy Journal is published six times a
year by the American Society of Agronomy, with articles relating
to original research in soil science, crop science,
agroclimatology and agronomic modeling, production agriculture,
and software. For more information visit:
http://agron.scijournals.org.
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is a
scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the
disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional
growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality,
research-based publications and a variety of member services.
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