Author
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Hanson, Jonathan |
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Submitted to: Proceedings from Dynamic Cropping Systems: Prinicples, Processes, and Challenges
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2003 Publication Date: 8/7/2003 Citation: Hanson, J.D. 2003. The challenges and opportunities ahead. Proceedings from Dynamic Cropping Systems: Prinicples, Processes, and Challenges. Interpretive Summary: Dynamic cropping systems are provided as a more management intensive way to manage cropping sequence in diverse agricultural enterprises. Dynamic cropping systems allow the manager to apply principles to the decision making process and those evaluate the entire farming enterprise when making strategic decisions. Using this approach, new and innovative management scenarios will be developed to move agricultural decision making into a holistic realm. This will allow managers to make decisions that are environmentally sustainable, economically feasible, and socially acceptable. Technical Abstract: An agricultural symposium was held to discuss the technical and philosophical aspects of dynamic cropping systems. This paper is a recap of the important issues discussed during the symposium. First, diverse cropping systems are not the same as dynamic cropping systems. Diverse cropping systems are a form of agricultural production that incorporates a number of different crops into a cropping system. The strategic management of these crops is generally predetermined. Management of each crop component is accomplished by following some sort of best management plan. Dynamic cropping systems are a form of agricultural production that relies on an annual strategy to optimize the outcome of production, economic, and resource conservation goals to allow producers to use production components that result in the greatest production with minimum input costs. Dynamic cropping systems do not have predetermined sets of crops or rotations that need to be followed in an annual sequence. Rather, the producer has certain goals and those goals have to be incorporated into an annual strategic plan. Dynamic cropping systems are based on the application of principles that allow the manager to make good management decisions based on the best available information. Several principles regarding dynamic cropping systems are presented and some of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead are provided. |
