Penelope L. Diebel

An Economic Comparison of Conventional and Alternative Cropping Systems for a Representative Northeast Kansas Farm

The 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act (FACTA) prescribes a vigorous agenda for environmentally-compatible farmingsystems research. This type of system has been labeled alternative agriculture and can be defined as a system of food production that includes a plan for profitable production with concern for reduction in off-farm inputs; use of natural or biological processes; and improved management and conservation of soil, water, and other biological resources (National Research Council). Alternative agriculture studies are important to producers who are developing production plans that must meet the increasing demands of agricultural and environmental soil conservation policies, water quality legislation, and uncertainty in the marketplace. Studies in Nebraska and South Dakota

An Economic Analysis of the Integrated Farm Management Option for Corn and Wheat Rotations

The Integrated Farm Management Program Option (IFMPO) of the 1990 farm bill is designed to increase crop management flexibility and to promote the use of resource-conserving crops. Economic analysis of this program indicates that although the current format provides flexibility, it provides little economic incentive to adopt resource-conserving crop rotations. A potential change to the IFMPO that would provide the economic incentives needed for adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations is limited to haying or grazing rights.