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2. Cover crops and specialty crop agriculture: exploring cover crop use among vegetable and fruit growers in Michigan and Ohio
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Schoolman, E.D. (author) and Arbuckle, J.G. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-07
- Published:
- USA: Soil and Water Conservation Society
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12643
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 77, N.4
- Notes:
- 15 pages, Cover crops—crops grown primarily to protect and improve soil—are widely considered to be an important component of sustainable agricultural systems because their use can provide multiple ecosystem services without compromising yields over time. Specialty crops—fruits, vegetables, and horticultural crops—are increasingly important to US agriculture and food security and uniquely vulnerable to climate-related problems that cover crops can help to address. Yet far less research has been conducted on cover crop use by farmers who grow mainly specialty crops, compared to the much larger body of research on farmers who principally grow row crops like corn (Zea mays) and soybeans (Glycine max). In this study, we draw on survey data from a stratified, random sample of 881 specialty crop growers in Michigan and Ohio to accomplish two main goals. First, we seek to characterize cover crop use among this important group of farmers, focusing on types of cover crop used and use of multiple types. Second, we examine the relationship between cover crop use on vegetable and fruit farms and key social and economic factors, with particular attention to farmers’ environmental values, adherence to organic principles, and sources of information. According to survey results, cover cropping is more likely when farmers (1) manage certified organic (p < 0.01) or organic-in-practice (p < 0.05) farms; (2) report being influenced by private crop consultants (p < 0.01); (3) attach high importance to agri-environmental goals (p < 0.01); and (4) grow vegetable crops instead of or in addition to fruit crops (p < 0.001). No relationship was found to exist between cover cropping and farmers’ concerns about climate-related risks, education level, or perceived self-efficacy. We conclude by suggesting that the importance of structural factors to farmers’ decisions about cover crops should not be underestimated. Promoting and strengthening the market for organic food may be the most direct pathway toward increasing the number of farmers who use cover crops. Historically important entities in agricultural networks, including cooperative extension and conservation nongovernmental organizations, might enhance their impact on cover crop use by forming new partnerships with private crop consultants.
3. How 75,000 Abandoned Cabbages Inspired A Huge Online Forum For Farmers In Africa
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Cole, Diane (author) and National Public Radio (NPR)
- Format:
- Online article
- Publication Date:
- 2019-11-01
- Published:
- United States: NPR
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 114 Document Number: D11042
- Notes:
- 6 pages, via website
4. Research priorities for advancing adoption of cover crops in agriculture-intensive regions
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Carlson, Sarah (author) and Stockwell, Ryan (author)
- Format:
- Commentary
- Publication Date:
- 2013-08
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 137 Document Number: D02410
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development
- Journal Title Details:
- : 1-5
5. Smallholders farmers' attitudes and determinants of adaptation to climate risks in East Africa
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Shikuku, Kelvin M. (author), Winowiecki, Leigh (author), Twyman, Jennifer (author), Eitzinger, Anton (author), Perez, Juan G. (author), Mwongera, Caroline (author), and Läderach, Peter (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-03-08
- Published:
- Africa
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 169 Document Number: D08757
- Journal Title:
- Climate Risk Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 16 : 234-245
6. Using ICT to strengthen agricultural extension systems for plant health
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Wright, Holly Jane (author), Ochilo, Willis (author), Pearson, Aislinn (author), Finegold, Cambria (author), Oronje, Mary Lucy (author), Wanjohi, James (author), Kamau, Rose (author), Holmes, Timothy (author), and Rumsey, Abigail (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 16 Document Number: D10458
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural & Food Information
- Journal Title Details:
- 17(1): 23-36
- Notes:
- 15 pages., Via online journal., Plant pests cause crop losses of 30–40%, contributing significantly to global food insecurity. The Plantwise program works alongside national agricultural extension services, who advise smallholder farmers on plant health issues and collect data on problems they face. In a 1-year pilot, Plantwise tested the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)—tablets and short message service (SMS)—with 60 Kenyan extension workers. They were able to assist more farmers with better advice, had significantly improved access to plant health information, valued being able to ask their peers for advice, and dramatically improved the quality and speed of the data they collected.