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Production: It’s All About Systems

Learn about different production systems, including conventional, sustainable, and organic agriculture. Explore the benefits and challenges of each system and how they contribute to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

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Production: It’s All About Systems

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  1. Production: It’s All About Systems Developed by: Bob Hamblen, Colorado State Cooperative Extension Cinda Williams, University of Idaho Extension Kevin Laughlin, University of Idaho Extension Melody Hefner, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension USDA NRCS

  2. What we’ll learn today • Production systems • Traditional or conventional • Sustainable • Certified organic • Certifications • Risk management • Record-keeping

  3. Your choice of a production system depends on • Your goals • The markets available to you • Your personal values or philosophies • Funding available • How your family feels about your choice of production system!

  4. Conventional systems • Maximize the profit from natural resources using high input levels • Use all available management, production and marketing tools • Depend on mechanized farm practices • Use a business model with an emphasis on profitability

  5. NRCS

  6. NRCS

  7. NRCS

  8. Fertilizer and pesticide applications Univ. of Idaho

  9. Bottom line • Profitability is part of all decisions in developing production systems • In business, profitability is not a bad thing! • But, the conventional approach may be too large-scale or machinery-intensive for smaller properties

  10. Sustainable agriculture According to Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), sustainable agriculture is a system “that produces abundant food without depleting the earth’s resources or polluting its environment.”

  11. Sustainable production systems • Address economic profitability, social benefits to the farm family and community, and environmental conservation • Depend on a whole-system approach with an overall goal of continuing health of the land and people • Concentrate on long-term solutions to problems instead of short-term treatment of symptoms

  12. According to SARE • Sustainable agriculture consists of farming systems that are: • profitable (economically sustainable) • environmentally sound (environmentally sustainable) • good for people and communities (socially sustainable)

  13. Economic sustainability

  14. Social sustainability UNCE, Reno, Nev.

  15. Environmental sustainability CSU Extension

  16. The government first addressed sustainable agriculture in the 1990 Farm Bill thedailygreen.com

  17. A sustainable system is a goal, not an absolute • Any farm may adopt practices that help them take the steps towards sustainability • Your property does not have to be certified organic to be sustainable, but may incorporate organic principles • The practices you choose to adopt reflect your personal mission and goals • No properties are perfectly sustainable! Some are farther along the continuum than others

  18. An overview of some sustainable tools and practices Univ. of Idaho Extension

  19. Cultural Biological Chemical Mechanical Integrated pest management (IPM) • IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks

  20. IPM Institute

  21. Biorational pesticides • Microbial insecticides • Insecticidal soaps • Horticultural oils • Botanical insecticides • Insect growth regulators

  22. Biological pest control BBSRC Parasitic wasp preying on aphid www.ces.ncsu.edu Leaf-eating beetles on tamarisk mtwow.org NDOA

  23. Add manure and compost Univ. of Idaho Extension

  24. Use biosolids depweb.state.pa.us goletasanitary.com

  25. Green manures and cover crops NRCS USDA NRCS NRCS

  26. Tillage and cultivation for weed control Univ. of Idaho Extension

  27. Mulches Univ. of Idaho Extension

  28. Planned crop rotation ucanr.org

  29. Planned animal rotation polyfacefarm.com polyfacefarm.com

  30. Intercropping and companion planting Gardenwiseonline.com www.yates.co.nz

  31. Burning for sanitation and weed control Univ. of Idaho Extension Univ. of Idaho Extension

  32. Solarization www.faculty.ucr.edu

  33. Physical barriers and buffer zones USDA NRCS Univ. of Idaho Extension

  34. Integrating crops and livestock www.thebefsite.com www.polyfacefarm.com

  35. Organic production systems

  36. What is organic? • Safe • Fresh • Local • Free-range • Humanely raised and handled • Small-scale • Higher-quality • Visually appealing NOT NECESSARILY!

  37. The term “organic gardening” is of fairly recent origin. J.I. Rodale is credited with first using the word “organic” to describe the “natural method of gardening and farming” by his son Robert Rodale.

  38. The National Organic Standards Board defines organics as “An ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.”

  39. Certified organic production • The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 mandated uniform organic standards • Use of the term organic is controlled, versus “natural”, “pesticide-free”, “free-range” or other marketing terms used by growers • Growers must have an organic plan for their farm and be certified organic • Annual inspections are mandated after certification

  40. Organic crop production http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu

  41. Organic crop production http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu

  42. Organic livestock production http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu

  43. Organic livestock production USDA NRCS

  44. Organic handling or processing operations www.pnwcheese.wsu.edu

  45. 100% 95-100% 70-95% 0-70% Organic product labeling USDA

  46. The Federal $5,000 exemption Jonathon Demcak

  47. Transitioning to organic • Transitioning may take a number of years to accomplish • It may be faster and easier to transition to an organic system and organic certification from a sustainable production system than from a conventional system

  48. Organic transition approaches • Transitioning one parcel at a time • Gradual or piecemeal transition (check your state regulations) • “Cold turkey” • Certifying Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land

  49. Additional certifications you may obtain • Third-party certifications (self-claims do not constitute certification) • Can enhance the marketability of your product • Can help you network with other small producers

  50. What does it really mean? No Detected Pesticides Residues Made from milk from contented cows Grass Fed 100% Natural No Artificial Ingredients Free Range Cage Free Hormone and Antibiotic Free

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