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Submitted to: Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2007 Publication Date: 8/13/2007 Citation: Rotz, C.A. 2007. Modeling Integrated Farm Systems: A Tool for Developing more Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Farming Systems. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems. August 13-15, 2007. Curitiba, Brazil. Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required. Technical Abstract: A number of models have been developed to represent farm systems, but only a few actually integrate all or most of the major biological, physical, and economic processes of a farm. Farm system models are used for decision support, education, and research purposes. Because of differences in the type and level of detail required, research models normally do not serve well in decision support applications and vice versa. Farm scale decision support tools have generally found limited use in farm management, but whole farm simulation models have provided effective research tools for evaluating and comparing farm production systems. Both decision support and research models are being effectively used in classroom, workshop, and individual education. Research applications using integrated farm system models have included analyses of various grazing systems, cropping systems, forage conservation practices, animal feeding strategies, and manure and nutrient management practices. These whole farm evaluations, including the interactions among pasture, crop, animal and other major components, are assisting in the development of more economically and environmentally sustainable farming systems. |
