Conceptual Model for Sustainable Cropping Systems in the Southeast: Cotton System

Many small to mid-size family farms face an economic and ecological crisis due to the changing face of agricultural production. Increasing production costs and lower revenues are causing many producers to leave the farm. Rural communities face economic hardships due to declining farm numbers and continued loss of the brightest youths who often seek employment in urban areas. Small to mid-size family farms and rural communities can be sustainable if economic and environmental risks are recognized and solutions developed that reach all members of the farm and rural communities. Our project focuses on the involvement of farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders to enhance understanding of sustainable principles at the farm level and extend awareness of the central components to sustainability of rural communities. Conservation tillage with cover crops is being used to modify pest pressures, reduce chemical inputs, improve soil productivity and reduce environmental risks to producers, the community and the environment in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems. Preliminary results indicate that reductions in use of pesticides can be achieved due to enhanced presence of beneficial insects. Cotton offers the best opportunity to enhance the understanding and use of sustainable practices in ecologically-based farming systems because of its predominance in southern farm enterprises. Farmer participation and understanding is being facilitated through the participation of the farmer based Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance. To achieve greater outreach and broaden community participation within the region we are involving at-risk rural youth through the Communities in Schools of Georgia program. Outreach includes the use of traditional and newer internet based technologies through the development of databases and expert systems that allow, farmers, ranchers, and community members an opportunity to evaluate economic and environmental effects of alternative production practices at local and regional scales. Through interactions with existing federal, state, and private organizations we are encouraging expansion of these sustainable approaches regionally.