Compiled by:
Mary V. Gold and Rebecca S. Thompson
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
March 2008
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On this Page...
About this list
What can alternative crops and enterprises do for my farm?
Where can I find information on agricultural alternatives?
What marketing ideas can farms use in the Fall?
The list
Field Crops
›› Feed and Forage
›› Fiber, Fuel, Edible and Industrial Oils
›› Food Grains, Pseudocereals, Legumes, etc.
Specialty and Ethnic Vegetables
Fruits and Nuts
Horticultural/Nursery
Agroforestry/Forest Products
Livestock/Animals
›› Game Related
›› Exotic Livestock/Minor Breeds/Special Uses
›› Poultry
›› Aquaculture/Fishfarming
›› Pet and Medicine Related
Farm and Home Enterprises
›› Services
›› Recreation and Education
›› Value-added Products/On-farm Processing
Resources
›› Extension Office or Land Grant University Directories and Publication Sites
›› Other Resources for Agricultural Alternatives
About this list:
This list of alternatives was compiled using AFSIC reference request files, the subject files in our
office, as well as previously compiled lists, most notably "Innovative Farming Idea List," (1987) compiled by Nancy Grudens Schuck, Farming Alternatives Project, Cornell University and "Ideas for Alternative Agricultural Enterprises," (1996) put together by the Missouri Alternatives
Center. [See their Web site's database of Extension and related on-line publications about alternatives: http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac ]. This list is not comprehensive, but presents some of the more accessible innovations available to farmers.
What can alternative crops and enterprises do for my farm?
The "Diversifying Cropping Systems " Bulletin for farmers and agricultural educators is a primer on planning diversification with alternative crops, agroforestry, and cover crops. This Sustainable Agriculture Network resource features "factors to consider before diversifying, specific diversification strategies and expert sources of information."
[http://www.sare.org/publications/diversify.htm ]
What marketing ideas can farms use in the Fall?
Apples or peaches (pick your own)
Birthday parties
Cider
Corn mazes
Flowers: selling mums; selling cut and dried flowers
Farmers markets
Gifts and crafts (wreaths; Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations)
Hayrides
Horse-drawn wagon rides
Jams and jellies
Petting zoos
Pies
Pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash (pick your own)
Scarecrow workshops
School tours
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Where can I find information on agricultural alternatives?
To find out more about alternatives suited to your area, start by contacting your local or State Extension office. A listing of Extension Office directories and alternative agriculture publication sites is included below.
AFSIC's publication, Great Places to Find Information about Farming Alternatives , offers a selection of information-rich Web sites and organizations.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/findinfo.shtml
Agricultural Sustainability Notes Series: Questions to Ask About Alternative Crops (Washington State Univ. ) lists questions on economic and production issues to explore before selecting a specific crop alternative.
http://pnw-ag.wsu.edu/AgHorizons/notes/sr3no1.html
Evaluating a Rural Enterprise (ATTRA ) provides more detailed discussion about assessing farming alternatives.
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/evalrural.html
Alternative Agriculture in Maryland: A Guide to Evaluate Farm-Based Enterprises (University of Maryland) provides information, worksheets, and inventories on identifying compatible enterprises and required resources, planning specialty enterprise budgets, and other business and marketing considerations.
http://agmarketing.extension.psu.edu/Business/PDFs/farmaltworkbk.pdf
A PRIMER for Selecting New Enterprises for Your Farm
(University of Kentucky), a tool for evaluating new enterprises
for a farm or family business, is based on worksheets used to evaluate the "Profitability, Resource requirements, Information needs, Marketing decisions,
Enthusiasm for, and the Risk associated with a new enterprise."
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/ext-aec/ext2000-13.pdf
The Small Farm Today "The Original How-to Magazine of Alternative and Traditional Crops, Livestock, and Direct Marketing"
http://www.smallfarmtoday.com/
Alternative Crop Suitability Maps (Illinois State Water Survey), presents "climate and soil requirements for alternative and traditional crops."
http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/data/altcrops/
Additional resources on specific agricultural alternatives may be found at your State Department of Agriculture, crop and livestock associations, searchable publication lists and databases, as well as at your local and/or university library.
[See Resources , below]
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The list:
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Field Crops:
Feed and Forage...
Bird seed (sunflower, proso millet, canary grass, etc.)
Forage brassicas - turnips, rutabagas
Kochia
Medics
Sainfoin
Switchgrass
Fiber, Fuel, Edible and Industrial Oils...
Borage
Broomcorn
Canola
Castor beans
Comfrey
Corn (for oil)
Crambe
Cuphea
Flax
Guayule
Jojoba
Kenaf
Lesquerella
Lupine
Meadowfoam
Milkweed
Perilla
Safflower
Sesame
Sunflowers
Vernonia
Food Grains, Pseudocereals, Legumes, etc... .
Adzuki beans
Amaranth (food and feed)
Barley
Buckwheat
Dry edible beans (fieldbeans)
Einkorn
Emmer
Field peas (food and feed)
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
Hops
Indian corn
Jerusalem artichokes (food and feed)
Kamut
Lentils
Malting barley
Mung beans
Organically grown grains of all types
Peanuts
Pearl millet
Popcorn, white and colored
Psyllium (medicinal)
Quinoa
Seed production - registered and certified seed, turfgrass, etc.
Sesame (seeds)
Sorghum (syrup)
Soybeans, incl. natto soybeans for tofu, tempeh; and Edible soybeans (edamame)
Spelt
Triticale
Wheatgrass
Wild rice
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Specialty and Ethnic Vegetables:
See also Field Crops
Asparagus
Baby vegetables
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Chinese water chestnuts
Cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi)
Corn, miniature
Fenugreek
Edible flowers
Garlic
Gourds, ornamental
Gourmet vegetables
Greenhouse production for out-of-season crops
Heirloom varieties of any vegetable
Herbs - culinary and medicinal
Horseradish
Luffa gourds
Mushrooms- agaricus, shiitake, oyster, morel, etc.
Onions (transplants, shallots, sweet, early)
Organically grown vegetables of all types
Oriental vegetables
Peas and pea shoots
Peppers - specialty types (purple, hot, etc.)
Pumpkins
Red beets
Salad greens - mesclun
Sprouts (alfalfa, bean, etc.)
Squash
Sweet corn
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes - specialty types
Truffles
Wasabi
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Fruits and Nuts:
Apples, esp. Heirloom varieties
Asian pears
Brambles - blackberries, raspberries, loganberries, blackraspberries, etc.
Blueberries
Cranberries, currants
Elderberries
Gooseberries
Kiwi, hardy
Lingonberries
Melons - specialty types
Paw paw
Rhubarb products
Strawberries, day neutral types
Table grapes, seeded and seedless
Wine grapes for home brewing market
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Horticultural/Nursery:
Bedding plants - annual flowers, herbs, etc.
Field grown cut flowers
Field grown mums
Flowers for drying
Greenhouse production
Hydroponic production
Organically grown bedding plants and fruit trees
Potted annuals
Native plants/wild flowers and seeds
Regionally hardy shrubs and perennial flowers
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Agroforestry/Forest Products:
Bamboo
Christmas trees
Firewood
Paulownia
Sawlogs
Tree seed collection
Wild nuts
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Livestock/Animals:
Game Related...
Beefalo (hybrid of buffalo and beef)
Buffalo (American Bison)
Deer - fallow deer, red deer
Elk (wapiti) for meat and antlers
Fish bait - worms, minnows
Pheasant for release/restocking programs and meat
Exotic Livestock/Minor Breeds/Special Uses...
Alpacas and llamas for pack animals, hair, and pets
Boar
Butterflies (for gardeners)
Fox, red, silver, and blue
Goats for milk, meat, and hair (Angora)
Horses - draft horse breeding, miniatures, exotics
Mink
Mules and donkeys
Ostriches, rheas, emus
Rabbits for meat, lab animals, and hair (Angora)
Reindeer
Sheep/Lambs for meat, wool, milk (for cheese)
Veal, conventional and certified
Water buffalo
Worms (for composting)
Poultry...
Balut (duck eggs partially incubated)
Chicken eggs partially developed (for Asian markets)
Doves
Duck - meat and paté
Free range poultry of all types
Geese
Guinea fowl
Organically raised poultry of all types
Peafowl/Peacocks (feathers)
Pigeons
Quail/Squab
Turkey
Aquaculture/Fishfarming...
Aquaponics (combining aquaculture and hydroponic operations)
Bass, Trout, Catfish, Crayfish, Tilapia
Watercress and other aquatic plants
Pet and Medicine Related...
Dogs (guardian)
Guinea pigs
Pet foods - crickets, mealyworms, etc.
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Farm and Home Enterprises:
Services...
Antique shop/Antique restoration
Boat storage
Direct marketing operations - U-pick, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmstand
Child care in country setting
Composting services and products
Custom machinery work
Custom planting and care of window boxes and container annuals
Custom planting and care of vegetable gardens
Custom slaughter
Farm sitting
Gift shops
Pet motels for large as well as small animals
Religious services held on farm, e.g. sunrise Easter services, weddings
Restaurant
Seed and supplies distributor
Small engine repair
Taxidermy
Recreation and Education...
Barn dances
Bed and breakfast
Campground
Chuck wagon
Fee hunting and fishing/game farms
Hunting, fishing, and nature hike guides
Lectures on herbs, gardening at farm
Museum of old farm equipment on working farm
Petting zoo
Sleigh rides with work horses
Tours for public, school children
Trail rides
Vacations on farm
Wagon trains
Value-added Products/On-farm Processing...
Cheese
Cider and other apple products
Confections and candles
Corn snack foods
Crafts
Dried flowers, e.g., cultivated, arid, wild
Dried Fruits
Fresh or stone ground grains
Furniture, e.g. outdoor chairs, picnic tables
Honey and beeswax products
Meat processing, e.g., jerky
Sawmill
Soapmaking
Tanning hides
Toys from wood
Wheatweaving
Winemaking
Wool processing and spinning
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Resources:
Extension Office or Land Grant University Directories and Publication Sites
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service contacts
E-answers is a searchable Web site for research-based information on a wide range of Extension or Outreach-oriented subjects.
Missouri Alternatives Center and MAC Link List of Extension information on Alternatives
Alabama Cooperative Extension (Auburn Univ. ). Publications (see Agriculture)
Univ. of Arkansas
Univ. of California
Colorado State Univ. Cooperative Extension
Univ. of Florida. Cooperative Extension
Univ. of Georgia. Cooperative Extension
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Publications
Univ. of Hawaii
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Free Publications
Univ. of Idaho
Univ. of Illinois
Iowa State Univ.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Kansas State Univ.
Univ. of Kentucky
Louisiana State University Ag Center
Univ. of Maine
Univ. of Maryland. Extension Publications
Univ. of Massachusetts. Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program . (Select subject, then select the "take me directly to..." link.)
Michigan State Univ. Extension
Univ. of Minnesota. Extension
Mississippi State Univ. Cooperative Extension,
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station
Univ. of Missouri
Montana State Univ.
Univ. of Nebraska. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Rutgers State Univ. of New Jersey Cooperative Extension. Publications
Cornell Univ. Small Farms Program.
North Carolina State Univ. and Cooperative Extension
North Dakota State Univ. Extension
Ohio State Univ. Extension
Oklahoma State Univ.
Oregon State Univ. Extension Service
Penn State Univ.
Clemson Univ. Cooperative Extension
Univ. of Tennessee/Tennessee Farm Bureau
Texas A & M Univ.
Virginia State Univ. , and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ.
Washington State Univ. Cooperative Extension.
Publications
West Virginia Univ. Cooperative Extension
Univ. of Wisconsin. Cooperative Extension
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Other Resources for Agricultural Alternatives
The National Agricultural Library's AGRICOLA database
The Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC ) includes a searchable database.
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC ) identifies directories of value-added agriculture resources.
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA )
Aquaculture information sources include AFSIC's Aquaculture Resources Web page, the Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC ) and
ATTRA's publication, Evaluating an Aquaculture Enterprise .
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
Mid-Atlantic Regional Fruit Loop . (Cooperative project of State universities)
State Departments of Agriculture (USA.gov)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Univ. of California
Univ. of Florida, Southwest Florida Research & Education Center
Illinois State Water Survey
Alternative Crop Suitability Maps
Maryland Small Ruminant Page
Univ. of Minnesota
Minnesota Grown Opportunities. Agricultural Diversification
Univ. of Minnesota. Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Ohio State Univ. PlantFacts Factsheet Database
Oklahoma State Univ. Breeds of Livestock
Permaculture Information Web database
Plants For A Future database or http://www.pfaf.org/
Purdue Univ. , Center for New Crops and Plant Products
Univ. of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, Univ. of Minnesota Extension Service, and the Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products
Alberta Agriculture
Manitoba Agriculture and Food
Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority
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Last Modified: Monday, 18-Aug-2008 13:20:13 EDT