Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture NAME: __________________

1. What are the goals of sustainable agriculture?

2. Sustainable describes farming systems that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society for what length of time?

3. Name two types of Sustainable Farming.

4. How many farms were lost from 1987 to 1997?

5. Label each of the following statements with an I or a B. Label the statement I if it applies to the industrial model of agriculture. Label the statement B if it applies to the biological model of agriculture.

a. ________ cyclical process

b. ________ farm as ecosystem

c. ________ monoculture

d. ________ higher value products

e. ________ single enterprise

f. ________ farm as a factory

g. ________ linear process

h. ________ energy intensive

6. How does maximizing leaf area for photosynthesis maximize profitability for farms?

7. What management decisions, or actions, on the farm can enhance the natural water cycle?

8. In nature, minerals needed for plant and animal growth are continuously being recycled. How can this cycle be enhanced on the farm?

9. What is the relationship between plant and animal diversity on the farm and the stability of the farm?

10. A cover crop is a crop planted primarily to manage soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem. How do cover crops suppress weeds?

11. Nutrient contribution of manure-based compost is balanced between N-P-K. What do N, P an K stand for?

12. Reduced tillage and no-tillage systems build soil organic matter over a period of years and reach a higher “steady state” level than tilled systems in the same environment. What reasons do farmers have for not choosing to use reduced or no-tillage?

13. Fertilizers are useful as long as they are in balance with the rest of the system. Nutrient inputs should be balanced with nutrient outputs each year. If inputs are greater than outputs you have ____________________ . If inputs are less than outputs you have ________ ______________ .

14. Why should you avoid rotation of crop species that share similar pests and diseases?

15. Why should equipment be thoroughly cleaned before moving it from one farm or location to another?

16. Why should all imported animal manure be thoroughly composted?

17. What are the benefits of rotational grazing?