scholarly journals Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural resource conservation profitably

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E. LaCanne ◽  
Jonathan G. Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Level Shift ◽  
Corn Production

Most cropland in the United States is characterized by large monocultures, whose productivity is maintained through a strong reliance on costly tillage, external fertilizers, and pesticides (Schipanski et al., 2016). Despite this, farmers have developed a regenerative model of farm production that promotes soil health and biodiversity, while producing nutrient-dense farm products profitably. Little work has focused on the relative costs and benefits of novel regenerative farming operations, which necessitates studying in situ, farmer-defined best management practices. Here, we evaluate the relative effects of regenerative and conventional corn production systems on pest management services, soil conservation, and farmer profitability and productivity throughout the Northern Plains of the United States. Regenerative farming systems provided greater ecosystem services and profitability for farmers than an input-intensive model of corn production. Pests were 10-fold more abundant in insecticide-treated corn fields than on insecticide-free regenerative farms, indicating that farmers who proactively design pest-resilient food systems outperform farmers that react to pests chemically. Regenerative fields had 29% lower grain production but 78% higher profits over traditional corn production systems. Profit was positively correlated with the particulate organic matter of the soil, not yield. These results provide the basis for dialogue on ecologically based farming systems that could be used to simultaneously produce food while conserving our natural resource base: two factors that are pitted against one another in simplified food production systems. To attain this requires a systems-level shift on the farm; simply applying individual regenerative practices within the current production model will not likely produce the documented results.

scholarly journals Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural resource conservation profitably

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E LaCanne ◽  
Jonathan G Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Level Shift ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Corn Production

Most cropland in the U.S. is characterized by large monocultures, whose productivity is maintained through a strong reliance on costly tillage, external fertilizers, and pesticides ( Schipanski et al., 2016 ) . Despite this, farmers have developed a regenerative model of farm production that promotes soil health and biodiversity, while producing nutrient-dense farm products profitably. Little work has focused on the relative costs and benefits of novel regenerative farming operations, which necessitates studying in situ, farmer-defined best management practices. Here, we evaluate the relative effects of regenerative and conventional corn production systems on pest management services, soil conservation, and farmer profitability and productivity throughout the Northern Plains of the United States. Regenerative farming systems provided greater ecosystem services and profitability for farmers than an input-intensive model of corn production. Pests were 10-fold more abundant in insecticide-treated corn fields than on insecticide-free regenerative farms, indicating that farmers who proactively design pest-resilient food systems outperform farmers that react to pests chemically. Regenerative fields had 29% lower grain production but 78% higher profits over traditional corn production systems. Profit was positively correlated with the particulate organic matter of the soil, not yield. These results provide the basis for dialogue on ecologically based farming systems that could be used to simultaneously produce food while conserving our natural resource base: two factors that are pitted against one another in simplified food production systems. To attain this requires a systems-level shift on the farm; simply applying individual regenerative practices within the current production model will not likely produce the documented results.

scholarly journals Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural resource conservation profitably

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E LaCanne ◽  
Jonathan G Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Level Shift ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Corn Production

Most cropland in the U.S. is characterized by large monocultures, whose productivity is maintained through a strong reliance on costly tillage, external fertilizers, and pesticides ( Schipanski et al., 2016 ) . Despite this, farmers have developed a regenerative model of farm production that promotes soil health and biodiversity, while producing nutrient-dense farm products profitably. Little work has focused on the relative costs and benefits of novel regenerative farming operations, which necessitates studying in situ, farmer-defined best management practices. Here, we evaluate the relative effects of regenerative and conventional corn production systems on pest management services, soil conservation, and farmer profitability and productivity throughout the Northern Plains of the United States. Regenerative farming systems provided greater ecosystem services and profitability for farmers than an input-intensive model of corn production. Pests were 10-fold more abundant in insecticide-treated corn fields than on insecticide-free regenerative farms, indicating that farmers who proactively design pest-resilient food systems outperform farmers that react to pests chemically. Regenerative fields had 29% lower grain production but 78% higher profits over traditional corn production systems. Profit was positively correlated with the particulate organic matter of the soil, not yield. These results provide the basis for dialogue on ecologically based farming systems that could be used to simultaneously produce food while conserving our natural resource base: two factors that are pitted against one another in simplified food production systems. To attain this requires a systems-level shift on the farm; simply applying individual regenerative practices within the current production model will not likely produce the documented results.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of forestry best management practices in the United States: Literature review

2016 ◽  
Vol 360 ◽  
pp. 133-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Cristan ◽  
W. Michael Aust ◽  
M. Chad Bolding ◽  
Scott M. Barrett ◽  
John F. Munsell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Best Management ◽  
United States Literature

COMPARING SWEDISH OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS TO REGIONAL COUNTRIES USING THE RETOS™ EVALUATION TOOL

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Jonas Pålsson ◽  
Lawrence Hildebrand ◽  
Olof Lindén
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Full Range ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
The Baltic

ABSTRACT 2017-253 Few standardised frameworks are designed to assess the full range of oil spill preparedness activities, from plan development, implementation, equipment, training, exercises, and response sustainability. This paper analyses the international practice of oil spill preparedness measures and compares them to Swedish practice. Friedman’s test and Dunn’s post-test have been used to compare the RETOS™ evaluation scores of Finland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway to Sweden. The United States is examined as an external reference. The RETOS™ programme is an Excel tool developed for the International Oil Spill Conference 2008. It is a guide for industry and governments to assess their level of oil spill response, planning, and preparedness management in relation to established criteria, and is intended for international best management practices. Swedish oil spill preparedness is shown to be comparable to the Baltic Sea regional practice. The Swedish RETOS™ evaluation score is 69%, compared to the average 73.1% of the examined countries. A statistical difference exists between Sweden and both Norway and the United States. Swedish oil spill preparedness is comparable to the Baltic Sea Region countries despite: not having a National Contingency Plan, not using the Tiered Preparedness and Response concept, nor having adopted an Incident Management System. This suggests that these concepts are not essential for a functioning preparedness regime, although Sweden instead has a system serving the same function. However, it also questions what effect implementing these concepts would have on Swedish preparedness.

Pollution Control and Prevention at Containerized Nursery Operations

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan V. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Return Flow ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Crop Income

Most plant materials marketed in the United States are produced in containers under controlled growing conditions at large (> 20 ha) nurseries located in southern and pacific coast states. The nursery/greenhouse business is one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture accounting for 11% of all crop income in 1991. Runoff and irrigation return flow from containerized nursery facilities can contain nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria, certain pesticides, various salts, and trace metals. Because of their large size, the intensity of the growing cycle, the huge volume of water needed to produce the product, and the concentration of these nurseries in certain areas, there is the potential for diffuse pollution from these nurseries to adversely impact a number of surface and ground water systems in the southern and western United States. Discharges from nursery/greenhouse operations are not federally regulated although some states require large facilities to obtain discharge permits. A number of larger nurseries in Texas, Oklahoma, and California have designed and installed pollution control and prevention systems that appear to be effective. This paper will provide background information about containerized plant culture and discuss the structural, vegetative, and management Best Management Practices that are in use at two different large containerized nurseries in Texas.

scholarly journals Changing Forests and Forest Management Policy in Relation to Dealing with Forest Diseases

2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 1041-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Root Diseases

The forest landscape of the United States has changed over time, as has public concern for the trees, water, and wildlife. Early in the history of the United States, forests were viewed as an encumbrance and an inexhaustible resource, used to meet the needs of a growing nation. Around 1900, it became clear that old approaches were not sustainable and forest pathology saw its beginning. Annual lumber production increased from 5.4 billion to 44.5 billion board feet. Forest pathologists were called upon to help manage forests for a variety of products, with a focus on decays of wood and wood products. Projection of timber famine stirred public concern, and a number of laws were enacted to deal with the issue. Pathologists were called upon to deal with many of the issues associated with intensive management, and new pests such as chestnut blight and white pine blister rust demanded attention. Then pathologists were called upon to help manage for multiple benefits, and the issues became more complex. Pests such as mistletoes, root diseases, rusts, nursery pests, and urban pests presented new challenges. Concepts such as landscape level assessments, ecosystem management, and multiple-use led to the management of forests to provide for a complex variety of needs. Management objectives vary across the landscape, and pathologists find themselves working with managers who want to maximize fiber production, those that manage areas set aside for special purposes, and all combinations in between. Issues such as acceptable levels of pests, nonnative invasive species, landowner values, visual and watershed quality, and best management practices must be considered in an ever-changing landscape.

Water resource use and management by the United States forest products industry

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 751-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Wiegand ◽  
C. A. Flinders ◽  
G. G. Ice ◽  
B. J. Malmberg ◽  
R. P. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
The United States ◽  
Large Scale Disturbance ◽  
Groundwater Yield ◽  
Forested Areas

The connections between forest products operations and water resources in the United States is considered and, where possible, quantified. Manufacture of wood, pulp, and paper products and the influences of forest management and forest products manufacture on water quality are discussed. Most fresh water in the US originates in forested areas. Responsible harvesting strategies, best management practices, and forest re-growth combine to minimize or eliminate changes in water availability and degradation of water quality due to harvesting. Relative to alternative land uses and large-scale disturbance events, forested areas produce the highest quality of fresh water. Water inputs for the manufacture of forest products total about 5.8 billion m3 per year, an amount equal about 0.4% of the surface and groundwater yield from timberland. Approximately 88% of water used in manufacturing is treated and returned directly to surface waters, about 11% is converted to water vapor and released during the manufacturing process, and 1% is imparted to products or solid residuals. Extensive study and continued monitoring of treated effluents suggest few or no concerns regarding the compatibility of current effluents with healthy aquatic systems.

New Tools for the SCAT Program: An Innovative Approach to Assimilating Newer Responders into the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique Program

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 1298-1314
Author(s):  
Heather A. Parker ◽  
Josie Clark ◽  
Brad H. Martin ◽  
Linda Pilkey-Jarvis ◽  
Brian MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Field Work ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Technique ◽  
Incident Command

ABSTRACT As less experienced responders join spill response operations, concurrent with the loss of experienced responders to retirements and fewer large spills, the need for tools that capture and promote the best practices of spill response functions becomes imminently critical. Better, more practical tools help less-experienced responders assimilate not only the basics of the planning assignments but also provide them with guidance gained from seasoned responders. The Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) program within the Incident Command System (ICS) is one assignment that often sees a number of less experienced participants. In many instances, responders participate on SCAT Field Teams and are not adequately exposed to planning or managing the overall SCAT program. Most SCAT tools are oriented towards field work, or focus only on single components of the SCAT process (e.g. treatment recommendations, endpoints). Comprehensive guidance that unites the elements of planning for SCAT, that highlights timing, integration into ICS and best management practices has previously not been available. The Northwest Area Committee (NWAC) in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States created a SCAT Task Force in 2012, comprised of Federal and State agencies, industry and experienced consultants, to develop “smarter” checklists and innovative tools that assist responders from “pre-SCAT” activities through the Treatment Endpoints and Sign Off process, within the ICS framework. Through a collaborative process, this Task Force developed a suite of unique products designed to guide new and less experienced responders to walk through the process of establishing a comprehensive SCAT program and empower them with best practices learned over many years of spill response experience, including those gleaned from some of the larger responses around the United States in the last ten years. This paper will describe this NWAC suite of SCAT checklists and products in greater detail, and describe how they might be used in other regions to help less experienced responders expedite their working knowledge in performing the range of SCAT program tasks, responsibilities and functions.

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