Cavanaugh-Grant, Deborah (author / Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Research and Planning, Springfield, IL)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1990
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 87 Document Number: C05764
Notes:
Contains Table of Contents and Introduction only;James F. Evans Collection, Springfield, IL : Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Research and Planning, 1990. 86 p. (ILENR/RE-PA-90/01), Due to the high costs of conventional production agriculture, as well as concerns about adverse effects of production agriculture, there is a heightened interest in alternative or sustainable agriculture. These concerns have led to an increased interest in sustainable agriculture as a means of addressing the environmental and the economic concerns associated with production agriculture. This paper examines Illinois farmers' opinions and attitudes about their current farming practices, future practices, sources of information and attitudes about pesticides, health, economics, and groundwater and surface water quality. The study assesses present farming practices and farmers' desires to change those practices and it ascertains the extent to which Illinois farmers practice or may be willing to practice sustainable agriculture. Evidence from a statewide survey indicates that farmers are fairly traditional in their approach to agriculture and that few farmers practice sustainable techniques. Although the majority of farmers surveyed are not interested in change, a significant minority are interested. The group of farmers that is interested in change, for the most part, presently using sustainable agricultural practices. Results show that there is a definite need for more information and research in sustainable agriculture. Policy recommendations were made to promote the development of a policy initiative from which legislators and others interested in sustainable agriculture could derive ideas and develop legislative initiatives that will encourage and promote sustainable agriculture.
