Alternatives in Agriculture
Thompson On-Farm Research Report 2009
Richard and Sharon Thompson have been very important to the development of sustainable agriculture in Iowa, and they are known nationally and internationally for farming that is profitable, beneficial to the environment, and supportive of the community. The Thompsons developed their on-farm research projects to enable farmers to find their own answers.
Thousands have visited the Thompson farm to see their system and to learn from their on-farm investigations. Richard and Sharon have also traveled widely to share their insights on farming and life. They annually publish Alternatives in Agriculture, which provides detailed documentation on their research and other discoveries. They have generously made that report available here in electronic form. Below is the table of contents. (Note: Viewing these chapters requires Adobe Acrobat™ Reader, a free download.)
Table of Contents
- Introduction, What Worked What Didn't, Summary (PDF)
- Ch.1 Inspiration, Documentation, Education (PDF)
- Ch. 2 Fertility (PDF)
- Ch 3. Cover Crops (PDF)
- Ch. 4 Alternative Weed Management (PDF)
- Ch. 5 Crops (PDF)
- Ch. 6 Water Quality, Soil Health (PDF)
- Ch. 7 Economics (PDF)
- Ch. 8 Livestock (PDF)
- Ch. 9 Farming for Better Communities (PDF)
Comments, questions: dickandsharon@practicalfarmers.org