Farm, Rural Economy, and Policy Implications of Sustainable Agriculture in South Dakota

South Dakota State University (SDSU) has been conducting research since the mid- 1980s on what has come to be called sustainable agriculture. We have been examining farming systems in which producers adopt management-intensive, holistic system orientations in planning their farms. Such farm managers generally view themselves as allies with nature, rather than as conquerors of nature. In addition to economic survivability, these farmers tend to give high priority to (1) being good stewards of the soil, (2) reducing pollution of ground and surface water, (3) raising chemical residue free, high quality products, and (4) reducing possible harmful effects of farm chemicals on their families\u27 health