This a directory to Web sites about the environmental
aspects of agriculture and farming. Links are provided to such topics as:
agricultural biodiversity; animal wastes; biological pest control, livestock
methane emissions, permaculture, soil erosion, and sustainable agriculture.
This page has links to project in several countries
devoted to researching how agriculture can be made to work within environmentally
sound guidelines. Part of Network
for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health (NESH). (University
of Guelph)
This abstracting journal provides lengthy abstracts
on articles covering numerous aspects of sustainable agriculture. The focus
is international and the coverage is from 1988-1994. As they state "The
International Ag-Sieve is dedicated to the development of productive, profitable
and ecologically sound agricultural systems by providing farmers and development
workers with quality information about regenerative agriculture."
This is the home page of CAE, created by the American
Farmland Trust and Northern Illinois University to help protect America's
agricultural lands and to encourage healthy farming practices. CAE works
closely with the academic, environmental and agricultural communities to
raise awareness of issues by providing research and strong academic arguments
for wise public policy. In addition to its research, CAE's oversees and
provides support for its affiliated centers, publishes a working
paper series, and organizes workshops and symposia.
California's rangelands provide habitat for an amazing
variety of plants and animals, as well as the economic foundation for many
rural communities. California ranches include the state's best oak woodlands,
conifer forests, rural streams, grasslands and wildflower ranges.
Represents Ontario's 45,000 growers of field and
horticultural crops on agricultural pesticide use, crops biotechnology
developments, and other related environmental issues.
It's a non-profit society, it promotes urban food
production and environmental conservation. Urban Agriculture is a new and
growing field. It concerns itself with all manner of subjects from rooftop
gardens, to composting toilets, to air pollution and community development.
This article from the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations related to the potential impacts of sea level rise
on the world's coastal populations and agriculture. This is a "global"
study mostly based on national data.
Megasite with lots of information about the unsustainablity
of the current way in which humans use natural resources. Includes discussion
of various agricultural issues.
Manure management in Iowa, IMMAG provides a vehicle for a coordinated and
comprehensive approach to improve manure management. Includes detailed
information on local and federal regulations, and related publications.
Anti-livestock industry group's website includes information and links
about animal waste management, odors, and regulations and proposed rules
intended to protect water quality, air quality, and property values.
Publications and informational links on managing manure generated from
livestock production -- and minimizing environmental problems from manure
management.
Text and background of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed regulations
covering wastewater discharges from animal production areas and land application
areas.
Ruminant livestock such as cattle and sheep are the largest source of methane
emissions resulting from human activity. Methane is a potent greenhouse
gas. RLEP is a joint Environmetal Protection Agency-Dept. of Agriculture
program helping livestock producers improve their operations' efficiency,
preserve natural resources, and reduce methane emissions.
Subtitled "A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America," this website "provides
photographs and descriptions of biological control (or biocontrol) agents
of insect, disease and weed pests in North America. It is also a tutorial
on the concept and practice of biological control and integrated pest management
(IPM)."
This is the website of a professional association representing the biological
pest control industry. The page has links to other biocontrol sites, information
about biocontrol, a directory of biocontrol researchers, a list of research
needs, an article entitled "Biotechnology, good or bad," and the ANBP Code
of Ethics.
"Midwest Biological Control News is a monthly newsletter dedicated to providing
information on the use of beneficial organisms for controlling insect and
mite pests of the farm, garden, and home. The newsletter is compiled and
published at the University of Wisconsin."
Everything you always wanted to know about nematodes. Look under agricultural
issues for biological control of insects, quarantinable nematodes and agricultural
pests. (Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln)
This jouranl publishes refereed articles on biological control of viral,
microbial, nematode, insect, mite, weed, and vertebrate pests in agriculture,
aquatic, forest, natural resource, stored product, and urban environments.
You can read the full text of the most recent issue.
This page is an article about the history of biological pest control from
the 18th century to the present. It includes specifics on the biological
control of pests of medical and veterinary importance. Most of the links
to other pages do no work properly [Dec. 2, 2003] (E.F. Legner, Univ. of
California, Riverside)
North American permaculture periodical, providing a current listing of
upcoming permaculture design courses, and offering articles on permaculture
design, edible landscaping, bioregionalism, aquaculture, natural building,
renewable energy.
This home page of the British Permaculture Association offers information
about the Association, a directory of courses, links and general permaculture
information.
Permaculture The Earth includes information about sustainable design and
interactive forums for the discussion of topics related to permaculture.
"These web pages will provide the functional connections that link people
to people and people to information. Our "forums" are interactive and help
serve the growing interest in Permaculture Design and all its applications."
The Sustainability Education and Ecological Design (SEED) website has links to environmental planning and design for permaculture and ecologically sound
village designs. Australia.
Provides users with a helpful gateway to permaculture courses, events,
services, and resources. The Portal is also the online home for the Bullocks'
permaculture site in Orcas Island, Washington.
Article describes the permaculture philosophy, outlines its history, and
discusses prospects for its future. From Catalyst, a student magazine
at Brown University.
The Soil and Water Conservation Society is an international organization
that fosters the science and the art of soil and water conservation to
achieve sustained use of land resources.
Links to online brochures about the fertility, compaction, testing and
conservation of soil. (Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
Univ. of Nebraska.
Computer program that estimates rates of soil erosion caused by rainfall and associated overland flow. Free download available together with documentation and manuals.
Non-regulatory organization that works to enhance and protect the Redwood and Cottonwood Rivers. Site includes journals, technical information, news, events, images, and details of how to get involved.
A computer program which provides information about soil erosion and the severity of erosion. Water erosion is explained and detailed descriptions of management and structural practices to control erosion.
Soil Erosion on Farmland -
http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/land-management/erosion-risks/
Online publication from New Zealand government sustainable agriculture program. Intended as a source of information for use by farmers, local government, farmer organisations, farm advisers and others who have an influence on rural land use.
Searchable site with topics including "What is sustainable agriculture?", biologically integrated farming systems, cover crops, earthworms, soil quality, and sustainable agriculture courses, workshops, and events. At this site: What is Sustainable Agriculture?: a detailed account of how sustainable agriculture integrates environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. (UC Davis)
Mission is to increase understanding of plant biology; apply new knowledge to help sustain productivity in agriculture, forestry and allied fields; facilitate the rapid development and commercialization of promising technologies and products; contribute to the education and training of students, scientists and technicians from around the world.
Nonprofit information and data-transfer center promoting economically and environmentally beneficial agriculture and natural resource management. (Purdue Univ.)
This organization is one of premier promoters of organic farming methods. The website provides details of research and promotion of sustainable farming practices.
The subtitel of this website is: Workshops, Discussion, Online Resources. Download the proceedings of a series of conferences (held October 1999 through October 2000 in northern Germany) on future supply and quality of food for humans and animals, animal welfare and health, the effects of animal production on the environment, the influences of new technologies, future animal production sites and global trade.
Partnership between the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota and the Sustainers' Coalition. Cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture.
Information, ideas, and strategies for activists opposed to factory farming. Topics cover the environmental, health, economic, social and animal welfare costs of large-scale animal production, as well as trends toward sustainable alternatives to factory farms.
An explanation of the principles of sustainable farming, the ways in which resource use can be minimised, and local biodiversity preserved. (UC Berkeley, College of Natural Resources)
A personal website which describes how to maintain soil fertility and how to reduce pH, soil erosion, pesticide use and salt levels. Links to other sustainable agriculture pages.
A coalition dedicated to promoting an ecologically sustainable and socially just food system. Describes group news, events and projects, and related headlines.
Information on the making and use of seed balls in natural farming, plus other essays on biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and other environmental issues.
A journal in support of independent family farmers. Offering information on the use of animal-power, organics and sustainable agriculture. Lynn Miller is editor and publisher.
Australian newsletter for social and bioeconomic research on sustainability and economics in agriculture. Contents of past issues, and online articles.
A chapter of Washington Tilth Association, fosters and promotes ecologically sound sustainable agriculture in the interest of environmental preservation, human health and social equity.
Advisory software for consultants and extension workers to provide farmers with sustainable nutrition advice for their crops and cropping systems (organic and ecological farming).
Describes potential new crops, and lost crops, for arid and saline areas, exchanged and field tested by two agricultural environmental schools in Israel and Morocco.
Dedicated to educating the US public on the importance of a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.
A sustainable agriculture information center that provides technical assistance to farmers, market gardeners and extension agents on farming topics: sustainable, organic, alternative, crops, livestock, and pest control.
The center's objectives are to reduce negative impacts of agriculture on natural resources and rural communities, to develop profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources, and to inform the public of new research findings.