Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T19:10:28.387Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What will be required to guarantee the sustainability of U.S. agriculture in the 21st century?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Michael R. Dicks
Michael R. Dicks
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078.
Get access

Abstract

The increased effort by Congress to reduce agriculture's adverse consequences on the environment has been focused almost entirely on changing agricultural production practices at the farm level Because the agricultural sector is highly integrated, attempts to change a specific industry within the sector, such as production, input supply, or processing, may have undesirable effects. Programs designed to achieve society's environmental objectives by forcing change in agricultural production practices will lead to increased frustration, new programs and regulations, and further conflict between society and farmers. To guarantee sustainability of U.S. agriculture into the next century, efforts to incorporate new social needs into production agriculture should include changes in the research agendas of public and private institutions, marketing grades and standards, and the institutions that support the agricultural producer.

Keywords

sustainable agriculturefood securityproperty rightsenvironmental regulationsweed science
Type
Commentary
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , December 1992 , pp. 190 - 195
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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.Batie, S.S. 1990. Agricultural policy and environmental goals: Conflict or compatibility? J. Economic Issues 24(2):565–573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Braden, J.B. 1982. Some emerging rights in agricultural land. Amer. J. Agrie. Economics 64(1): 19–27.Google Scholar
3.Brown, G. 1989. Put the environment on your agenda. Progressive Fanner 104(11): 16.Google Scholar
4.Calabresi, G., and Melamed, A.D.. 1972. Property rules, liability rules, and inalienability: One view of the Cathedral. Harvard Law Review 85:1089–1128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Carriker, R., and Purvis, A.. 1990. Agriculture and water quality: Old problem, new urgency. Southern J. Agric. Economics 22(1):27–32.Google Scholar
6.Doering, O. 1991. Federal policies as incentives or disincentives to ecologically sustainable agricultural systems. Paper presented at the EPA Sustainable Agriculture Workshop, Washington, D.C., July 22.Google Scholar
7.Dundon, S.J. 1982. Hidden obstacles to creativity in agricultural science. Presented at the Conference on Agriculture, Change and Human Values, Gainesville, Florida, October 18–21.Google Scholar
8.Faeth, P., Repetto, R., Kroll, K., Dai, Q., and Helmers, G.. 1991. Paying the farm bill: U.S. agricultural policy and the transition to sustainable agriculture. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
9.Ikerd, J. 1991. Applying Lisa concepts on southern farms. Southern J. Agric. Economics 23(1):43–52.Google Scholar
10.McGuire, T. 1991. Food, energy and environmental quality: The necessity for balance. Choices 6(2):4–10.Google Scholar
11.Mollison, B. 1990. Permaculture: A Practical Guide for a Sustainable Future. Island Press, Covelo, California.Google Scholar
12.Offutt, S. 1989. Protecting water resources from agricultural pollution: Research and education—alternatives to regulation. In Increasing Understanding of Public Problems and Policies—1989. Farm Foundation, Oak Brook, Illinois.Google Scholar
13.Pearce, D. 1989. An economic perspective on sustainable development. J. Soc. International Development 2(3): 17–20.Google Scholar
14.Pearce, D.W., and Turner, R.K.. 1990. Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.Google Scholar
15.U.S. Senate. 1990. Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990. Report 101–357. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, p. 273.Google Scholar