The Importance of Social Support and Communities of Practice: Farmer Perceptions of the Challenges and Opportunities of Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems on Organically Managed Farms in the Northern U.S.
January 1, 2018
26 pages
Resource Links
Resource Description
This study investigated the challenges and opportunities experienced by farmers interested in integrating crops and livestock on organically managed farms in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Qualitative methods, including focus groups and interviews, generated four categories of challenges: farming norms, complexity of management, biophysical conditions, and financial costs, and four categories of opportunities: increasing support for integrated crop-livestock systems, financial and labor advantages, biophysical improvements, and animal welfare.
Organization:
Sustainability
Authors:
Dr. Jennifer Hayden, Dr. Sarah Rocker, Hannah Phillips, Dr. Bradley Heins, Dr. Andrew Smith, Dr. Kathleen Delate
Categories & Tags
- Farm/Business Management
- Field Crops, Livestock
- Journal Article
- Midwest, Northeast, Upper Midwest