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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153769
Title: INTRODUCTION TO DYNAMIC CROPPING SYSTEMS AS PART OF INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Author
item Hanson, Jonathan
item Hendrickson, John
item Krupinsky, Joseph
item Tanaka, Donald
item Liebig, Mark
item Merrill, Stephen
item Johnson, Holly

Submitted to: Dynamic Cropping Systems: Principles, Processes and Challenges
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2003
Publication Date: 8/4/2003
Citation: HANSON, J.D., HENDRICKSON, J.R., KRUPINSKY, J.M., TANAKA, D.L., LIEBIG, M.A., MERRILL, S.D., JOHNSON, H.A. INTRODUCTION TO DYNAMIC CROPPING SYSTEMS AS PART OF INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. DYNAMIC CROPPING SYSTEMS: PRINCIPLES, PROCESSES AND CHALLENGES. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: Current practices by agriculture producers generally involved preset strategic plan. For example, farmers decide in advance what crops to grow and in what order to grow them. That methodology worked when the markets supported agricultural products. But the economy is much tighter these days. To compensate, producers are now managing agricultural lands as a multiple enterprise. Thus, rather than just growing one crop, they may add an animal component to multiple enterprise, thereby, creating an integrated agricultural system. In addition, a single crop is not always wise or even two crops in rotation. Rather, producers in today's economy select from eight to ten to twelve different alternative crops. The problem then bcomes one of deciding which crop should be planted at which time. To solve this dilemma, the concept of dynamic cropping systems is presented. A dynamic cropping system is a long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes crop and soil use and attainment of production, economic and resource conservation goals by using sound ecological management principles. The key factors involved in the implementation of successful dynamic cropping system include diversity, adaptability, reduced input costs, multiple enterprise systems, and environmental and informational awareness. The ultimate goal of the producer is to develop agricultural systems that are both economically feasible and environmentally sustainable. The use of dynamic agricultural systems also helps the farmer develop socially acceptable management practices.

Technical Abstract: The Symposium 'Dynamic Cropping Systems: Principles, Processes, and Challenges' is designed to promote new and emerging concepts, theories, and methods of dynamic cropping systems. A dynamic cropping system is a long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes crop and soil use and the attainment of production, economic, and resource conservation goals by using sound ecological management principles. Dynamic cropping systems research is necessary to provide information suitable for making decisions to producers so that farming enterprises remain sustainable in our ever-changing agricultural and economic environment. The Symposium is organized around the key factors of dynamic agricultural systems. These include diversity, adaptability, reduced input costs, multiple enterprise systems, and environmental and informational awareness. The exchange of information between researches is an important aspect of dynamic cropping systems research. The Symposium provides a forum for the interaction and exchange of ideas among U.S. and Canadian researchers.