Agriculture 2215 INTRODUCTION TO THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Spring Semester 2011 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 – 3:15 pm Room 28 Schweitzer Hall Credit Hours Instructor: Dr Mary Hendrickson Extension Associate Prof., Rural Sociology 200B Gentry Hall Tele: 882-7463 Email: hendricksonm@missouri.edu) Office Hours: 1-2 pm T/Th or by appointment Course description: This is an experiential course that provides an overview of the theoretical and practical principles of sustainable agriculture It combines classroom teaching, readings, guest lectures, and field visits to give students a well rounded understanding of the holistic nature of sustainable agriculture The course also discusses and analyzes various approaches to agriculture based on sustainability principles and their impact on the environment, economy, and communities Students will better understand the challenges to sustainable agriculture and its connections to policies from the local community to the global arena The course has no pre-requisites Course objectives: Students who are attentive, study assigned readings, complete all assignments, and participate actively in class discussions should, upon completion of this course, be able to a) Identify and explain the three major components of sustainable agriculture: economic viability, environmental soundness, and social responsibility b) Use sustainability criteria to evaluate farming, processing, transportation, and marketing practices c) Explain the history and philosophy of sustainable agriculture d) Relate sustainable agriculture to local, regional, and international economic development and policies e) Identify and propose solutions to the challenges to sustainable agriculture and sustainable farmers and consumers Course evaluation: Students will be evaluated on homework assignments, quizzes, reports, a final exam and classroom participation Classroom participation includes involvement in class discussions, interaction with guest speakers, attendance, and willingness to work in groups Homework Quizzes Field Trip Report Final exam Classroom participation TOTAL Extra Credit potential (Please note that extra credit is not guaranteed.) 200 points 300 points 150 points 200 points 150 points 1000 Points 50 points Text and Required Readings: There is no text book for this course, but there is a course packet available from the MU Bookstore Required readings are contained in this Course Packet or are Internet Hyperlinks on Blackboard (https://courses.missouri.edu/) As the field of sustainable agriculture is constantly evolving, there may be extra readings assigned and posted given new developments over the course of the semester All readings will be listed in the Topics and Discussion schedule available on Blackboard You are expected to read the assigned readings before class Field trips: One field trip to a series of local farms is planned for this course This is a required field trip that will take place on March 19 To receive credit, students are required to attend the field trip and write a report based on their experience At least one additional assignment will require students to visit off an off-campus location on their own or in small groups Please see instructor if transportation is a challenge Academic Honesty: Academic integrity is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university All members of the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed, and presented Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful The academic community regards breaches of the academic integrity rules as extremely serious matters Sanctions for such a breach may include academic sanctions from the instructor, including failing the course for any violation, to disciplinary sanctions ranging from probation to expulsion When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or any other form of cheating, consult the course instructor Disabilities: If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform me immediately Please see me privately after class, or at my office in 200 B Gentry hall between – pm on Tuesdays or Thursdays To request academic accommodations (for example, a notetaker or extended time on exams), students must also register with the Office of Disability Services, (http://disabilityservices.missouri.edu), S5 Memorial Union, 882-4696 It is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting academic accommodations, and for accommodations planning in cooperation with students and instructors, as needed and consistent with course requirements For other MU resources for students with disabilities, click on "Disability Resources" on the MU homepage Intellectual Pluralism: The University community welcomes intellectual diversity and respects student rights Students who have questions or concerns regarding the atmosphere in this class (including respect for diverse opinions) may contact the Departmental Chair or Divisional Director; the Director of the Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities (http://osrr.missouri.edu/); or the MU Equity Office (http://equity.missouri.edu/), or by email at equity@missouri.edu All students will have the opportunity to submit an anonymous evaluation of the instructor(s) at the end of the course Disclaimer: This syllabus and the class schedule are subject to change to facilitate instructional and/or student needs Schedule for Sustainable Agriculture (AGRIC 2215) – Spring Semester 2011 University of Missouri – Instructors: Dr Mary Hendrickson Section 1: Defining and Describing Sustainable Agriculture Date January 18 Topic Introductions and Overview Reading January 20 What is Sustainable Agriculture? January 25 The past 100 years in agriculture Sustainable Agriculture: Wes Jackson, Guest Speaker Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture at http://sare.org/publications/explore/explore.pdf Applying the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture http://attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/Transition.pdf (pages 1-7 only, stop at Planning and Decision-Making) Chapters 1& in Tom Lyson 2004 Civic Agriculture January 27 January 27 Feb Feb February Increased Food and Ecosystem Security via Perennial Grains by J Glover et al http://www.sciencemag.org/content/328/5986/1638.full? ijkey=jWkVC/8x0TeS2&keytype=ref&siteid=sci%c2%a0 The Next 50 Years on the American Land, Special Lecture by Wes Jackson, The Land Institute 6:00 pm at Middlebush Auditorium See more info at http://maa.missouri.edu/classestours/foodseries.html January 31 – Last day to change grading option Class cancelled Class cancelled Contrasting the Assignment Homework Assignment #1: Visiting the Farmer’s Market Go to Blackboard (https://courses.missouri.edu/) and complete Homework Assignment #1, found under the Assignments Tab Due by March 15 Group #1: Research Wes Jackson and the Land Institute and write up questions about his work that you would like answered Good sources: www.landinstitute.org The group will need to submit the questions to me directly after class Attending can give you 10 points on extra credit Check Blackboard for guidelines on extra credit Pp 1-10 and 285-297 in Benyus, Janine 1997 Biomimicry – February 10 past with the present – A look at Biomimicry and the importance of place based applications (Special guest Fred Martz) Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World? Innovations Inspired by Nature Harper Perennial Dianna Deumling, Mathis Wackernagel, and Chad Monfreda, “Eating up the Earth: How Sustainable Food Systems Shrink our Ecological Footprint” http://www.resourcesaver.org/file/toolmanager/CustomO16C45 F60895.pdf Read article “Organic Farming Can Feed the World” and listen to Podcast at http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=5936 Section 2: The Environment and Sustainable Agriculture February 15 Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture, Gliessman, Stephen, “Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture”, Section 1, Chapter 2, p 17-28 Agroecology and Sustainable Development http://www.panna.org/files/PANagroecologyBrief20090505.pdf Quiz over Section February 17 Sustainable Agriculture and Water (Guest Speaker, Bob Broz) “Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch.” Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Network at USDA, and available at www.sare.org/publications/water.htm Group #2: Research sustainable water management and write up questions for Bob Broz that you would like answered Check out http://elpc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2010/03/ELPC-CultivatingClean-Water-Report.pdf February 22 Sustainable Agriculture and Part (pp 1-20) of Preston Sullivan 2004 “Sustainable Soil Management.” Available at www.attra.ncat.org/attra- Group #3: Research sustainable soil strategies and write up questions for Dr February 24 Soil (Guest Speaker, Bob Kremer) pub/PDF/soilmgmt.pdf Biological Diversity and Working Landscapes Jackson, Laura 2002 "The farm, the nature preserve and conservation." Pp 39-55 in Dana L Jackson and Laura L Jackson (eds) The Farm as Natural Habitat Island Press: Washington Kremer that you would like answered Good sources are a couple of readings by Kremer that I posted in the extra readings section Homework#2: Due in class on March DeVore, Brian 2002 "Stewards of the wild." Pp 97-106 in Dana L Jackson and Laura L Jackson (eds) The Farm as Natural Habitat Island Press: Washington March Agriculture’s Role in Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Change Climate Change Pp 46-52 in International assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, Synthesis Report Available in Extra Readings section https://www.crops.org/files/science-policy/ghg-report-august2010.pdf March Organic Agriculture Guest Speaker, Organic Farmer Liz Graznak Kuepper, George 2010 A Brief Overview of the History and Philosophy of Organic Agriculture Kerr Center http://www.kerrcenter.com/publications/organic-philosophyreport.pdf Group 4: Research sustainable soil strategies and write up questions for Ms Graznak that you would like answered Explore her website at http://www.happyhollowfarm-mo.com/ Section 3: Sustainable Agriculture and Economic Viability March Sustainable Economics Sustainable Capitalism in Brief by Dr John Ikerd: http://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/papers/WI-Madison%20Sustain %20Capitalism.htm For more papers check out: http://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/papers/default.htm#Economics Quiz over Section Community Capitals by Jan and Cornelia Flora March 10 Whole Farm Planning: http://education.byu.edu/ellsymposium/documents/community_ capital.pdf “Building a Sustainable Business Plan.” This is a SARE publication available at http://www.sare.org/publications/business/business.pdf Please read pages 11-26 Pp 1-22 and 227-231 in Judy, Gregg 2002 No Risk Ranching —Custom Grazing on Leased Land Green Park Press: Ridgeland, MS March 15 Farming for Profit – A look at business analysis and management of sustainable farms Wiswall, Richard 2009 “Farm for Profit not Production.” Growing for Market, October, pp 1, 7-9 Henderson, Greg 2009 “Complimentary Enterprises.” Drover’s Journal, September Pratt, Dave 2009 “Ranching for Profit in Tough Times.” Drover’s Journal September Pratt, Dave 2000 “Ranching for Profit.” Beef Magazine May –July “Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers” Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Network at USDA and available at: http://www.sare.org/publications/marketing.htm March 17 Marketing March 19 Field Trip Plan to leave at am and be back at pm March 22 Sustainable Cropping Systems Diversifying Crop Systems www.sare.org/bulletin/diversify or Weed Management http://www.attra.org/attrapub/PDF/weed.pdf March 24 Sustainable Agriculture and Pest Management (Guest “A Whole Farm Approach to Managing Pests” Available at http://www.sare.org/publications/farmpest.htm Homework#1 due Homework #3 Due March 29 speaker, Anastasia Becker) No Class Spring Break March 31 No Class Spring Break April Agroforestry (Guest Speaker, Michael Gold) Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry – 2006 edition http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/pubs/training.pdf (pp 115) Field Trip Report Due in class Optional reading: What is Agroforestry?, The key practices of Agroforestry, http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/index.asp April Coffey RanchWhat progress looks like Griffith, Charles, 2000, Grazing management effects on native plant communities Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK (Proceedings of 2000 Missouri Forage & Grassland Council pp 35.) April 12 The Role of Ruminants in Sustainable Farming (Fred along with Guest Speaker Dr Rich Crawford) Hamilton, Stacey and Ron Young “Philosophy of PastureBased Dairying in Missouri.” From the Missouri Grazing Dairy Manual Proctor, Michelle “Sharemilking, an Opportunity for Missouri’s Dairy Future.” Dairy Grazing Resources at http://agebb.missouri.edu/dairy/index.htm Section 4: People and Sustainable Agriculture: Families, workers, communities April 14 Community Food Systems Community Food Systems: Visions of a Different System http://www.foodcircles.missouri.edu/overview.pdf A Primer on Community Food Systems: Linking Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Quiz over Section http://foodsys.cce.cornell.edu/primer.html Martinez, S 2010 “Varied Interests Drive Growing Popularity of Local Foods.” Amber Waves 8(4):10-17 April 19 Urban Winne, Mark 2008 Chapter 4: Community Gardens, in Agriculture Closing the Food Gap and Community City Farmer News at http://www.cityfarmer.info/ Gardening April 21 Community “Promoting Food Security and Building Healthy Food Food Security Systems” http://www.foodsecurity.org/PerspectivesOnCFS.pdf April 26 Sustainable Mello, Felicia 2006 "Hard labor: For farmworkers, it's not Agriculture easy being organic." The Nation 283(7):21-28 and labor issues Section 5: Ethics and Policy in Agriculture April 28 Sustainable Towards Multifunctional Agriculture for Social, Environmental Agriculture and Economic Sustainability Policy at the http://agassessment.org/docs/10505_Multi.pdf International Level May Federal Farm Farm Bill 101: A quick and easy guide to understanding the Policy Farm Bill http://www.oxfamamerica.org/files/OA_Farm%20Bill %20101.pdf May Field Trip: Sanborn Field Website Visit Sanborn Read “Objectives and Management” and “The Second Century Field with Dr Plan Summary” at Randy Miles http://aes.missouri.edu/sanborn/research/index.stm and 1998 Annual Weather and Management Report at http://aes.missouri.edu/sanborn/research/anlrpt/intro.stm May Quiz: Section Homework #4:Reflection on Sustainable Agriculture In-Class Final Exam, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Schweitzer 28