Accession Number:

ADA281518

Title:

Alternative Agriculture. Federal Incentives and Farmers' Opinion.

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC PROGRAM EVALUATION AND METHODOLOGY DI V

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1990-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

112.0

Abstract:

Farming in the United States is highly productive, yet several emerging health, environmental, and economic problems associated with conventional farming practices threaten its sustainability. Concerns about conventional farming have led to interest in alternative farming methods that may lower health risks, protect farm resources, reduce environmental damage, and improve long-term farm profitability and competitiveness. To ensure farmers have the flexibility to use a variety of management approaches, particularly those that emphasize low-input, sustainable agricultural methods, te House Agriculture Committee and House Subcommittee of Department of Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture asked GAO to assess how current federal agriculture policies and programs may contribute to, or inhibit, the use of alternative farm production methods.

Descriptors:

• *INCENTIVE CONTRACTS
• *ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
• *FARM CROPS
• *BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
• PUBLIC HEALTH
• PROFITS
• SOIL STABILIZATION
• SOIL EROSION
• AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
• WEED CONTROL
• ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
• PROFITS
• PUBLIC OPINION
• LAND USE

Subject Categories:

• Pesticides Pollution and Control
• Agronomy, Horticulture and Aquiculture
• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE