Collaboration Promotes Sustainable Agriculture

October 7, 1996

Greensboro, NC: How can a farmer protect both his profits and the environment that sustains his livelihood? This is the question that will be studied in a collaborative effort involving research scientists and extension specialists from North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, Virginia State University, and producers in both North Carolina and Virginia.

Dr. M. R. Reddy, a professor of soil science with North Carolina A&T State University's School of Agriculture, is the project coordinator and principal investigator. "A project of this size requires experts from many disciplines," said Reddy. "We will involve horticulturists, soil and plant scientists, and economic and marketing specialists."

A&T will serve as the lead institution for the collaborative effort, which has been approved and funded by the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and Agriculture in Concert with the Environment, for a period of two years, with a budget of $182,751.

As family farms continue to struggle and new environmental issues arise, discussion of sustainable agriculture intensifies. Sustainable agriculture is a term heard frequently in agricultural circles; however, to many people its exact definition remains unclear.

Experts commonly describe sustainable agriculture as a type of farming that is "economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable." It typically involves crop rotations, reduced or no tillage and improved management practices, such as reduced usage of fertilizers and chemicals. A renewed respect for the environment is the motivation at the core of these practices.

"The goal of most sustainable agriculture practices is to reduce off-farm purchased inputs, while building soil fertility and conserving the soil by carefully incorporating cover crops and crop rotations," said Dr. John O'Sullivan, a marketing specialist with A&T's Cooperative Extension Program.

To study the applicability of sustainable agriculture practices in the production of seedless watermelons and fall lettuce, researchers will follow a year round rotation cycle. From May to July, they will focus their efforts on producing seedless watermelons. Then, once the watermelons are harvested, researchers will use the same land to grow fall lettuce. Finally, following the lettuce harvest in September, a cover crop of legumes and non-legumes will be planted.

By rotating two marketable crops and planting a cover crop, researchers hope to maintain the soil's fertility. The cover crops of legumes and non-legumes will be closely examined for their nitrogen-fixing abilities, organic matter buildup, retention of moisture and nutrients, and erosion control properties.

Researchers will also study the effectiveness of integrated pest management. Integrated pest management is a sustainable agriculture practice which involves the use of beneficial insects to control the population of harmful insects. It is hoped that, through crop rotation, biological control methods and careful monitoring, the use of insecticides and herbicides can be minimized.

Another facet of the project is marketing research. The team of scientists and extension specialists chose seedless watermelons for study largely because this is a commodity which represents a potential marketing niche for small-scale farmers. "We hope that alternative marketing strategies, such as using farmers' markets and specialty groceries, will increase a grower's profits and make these growing practices a viable option," said Reddy.

Demonstration sites in both Virginia and North Carolina, including one at the Piedmont Center for Agricultural Research and Extension Demonstration, formerly the A&T farm in southeast Greensboro, will provide the public with examples of the project's findings.

For more information, contact Dr. M. R. Reddy, NC A&T Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, (336) 334-7779.