Creating a typology of U.S. organic grain farmers using reduced tillage
Master thesis
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2725907Utgivelsesdato
2020Metadata
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- Master’s theses (BioVit) [363]
Sammendrag
Despite an increasing number of studies demonstrating the feasibility and value of integrating reduced tillage practices into organic cropping systems, adoption of these practices has been slow, with tillage and cultivation still a primary method of organic weed control. The aim of this study is to provide an insight into the range and scope of implementation of reduced tillage practices implemented by organic corn and soybean farmers in three states in the United States of America (Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Iowa). A survey conducted by the University of Madison-Wisconsin to assess the extent to which organic farmers use specific reduced tillage. Additionally, the survey sought to understand the relationship between farm characteristics, production strategies, and socio-demographic factors reduced tillage adoption. The findings of the study indicated that the earliest adopters of reduced-tillage practices had the greatest proportion of land managed using reduced tillage techniques, and shallow cultivation was the most commonly used reduced tillage practice amongst organic farmers. Furthermore, the results suggested that larger organic producers, farmers with a post-secondary education, farmers consulting a variety of sources of information to learn about reduced tillage practices were using reduced tillage practices. Future work could use this typology of U.S organic grain farmers in order to find better ways of promoting the feasibility of using reduced tillage practices in organic cropping system to a broader audience.
Beskrivelse
This document was written by an ISARA student in the framework of a convention with University of Madison-Wisconsin. For all citing, communication or distribution related to this document, ISARA has to be mentioned.